That's What They Say

By Anne Curzan, Rebecca Hector

That's What They Say is a weekly segment on Michigan Public that explores our changing language. Each week University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan will discuss why we say what we say with... more

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FAQs about That's What They Say:

How many episodes does That's What They Say have?

The podcast currently has 398 episodes available.

That's What They Say episodes:

July 28, 2025 TWTS: "Peak" felt fine until it was "peaked"
Mountains may be peaked, collars may be peaked, but when we’re sick, we’re not “peaked” but “peak-ed.”
...more
6min
July 21, 2025 TWTS: Speaking of "bespoke"
This is a bespoke segment of That’s What They Say that focuses on “bespoke.”
...more
6min
July 14, 2025 TWTS: Why "peeves" make great pets
Listeners write to us regularly with their language peeves, which we love. Sometimes they call these peeves their "pet peeves."
...more
5min
July 06, 2025 TWTS: An inquiry into "inquire" and "enquire"
When we inquire about something, it doesn’t really matter if we "inquire" or "enquire." However, with the verb "insure," it matters if we "insure" or "ensure."
...more
5min
June 30, 2025 TWTS: "Disinterested" is "uninterested" but not the other way around
With the words "disinterested" and "uninterested," it’s not that a distinction has been lost, but rather that a distinction has been intentionally created.
...more
6min
June 23, 2025 TWTS: "Crummy" and "lousy" have a crummy relationship
If something is crummy, then we could also call it lousy, which gives us a clue about how crummy came to mean what it means.
...more
6min
June 13, 2025 TWTS: "Primer" is pronounced "primer," unless you prefer "primer"
When we’re talking about a small book for teaching children to read, or really any short book that introduces a topic, there are two competing pronunciations of the word for that book.
...more
6min
June 09, 2025 TWTS: Won't someone think of the kiddos?
The word "kid" is already informal, and now we have the word "kiddo" living alongside it.
...more
6min
June 02, 2025 TWTS: The media is the message, or are they?
When it comes to media, here's the message: It’s time for a truce between the singular agreement people and the plural agreement people.
...more
6min
May 30, 2025 TWTS: Goody goody whose shoes?
Oh goody, it's time to talk about all the goodies!
...more
6min

FAQs about That's What They Say:

How many episodes does That's What They Say have?

The podcast currently has 398 episodes available.

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