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 400 episodes available.

That's What They Say episodes:

January 09, 2022 TWTS: The American Dialect Society picks 2021’s Word of the Year
Though COVID-19 vaccines were one of the most important things to happen in 2021, “vaccine” didn’t emerge as the winner in Friday night’s vote.
...more
6min
January 02, 2022 TWTS: Another New Year's Eve, another round of "Auld Lang Syne"
This New Year’s Eve, we found ourselves wondering, what does “Auld Lang Syne” mean and where does it come from?
...more
5min
December 19, 2021 TWTS: The actual reality of "virtual" vs. "online"
Before there were online possibilities for how students went to class, we just went to class. For many students, that’s simply not the case anymore, especially not during the pandemic.
...more
6min
December 12, 2021 TWTS: What is the "buck" and why is it stopping here?
There are bucks that are dollars, and those are different from the bucks that stop when the buck stops here.
...more
5min
November 28, 2021 TWTS: When spelling rules become a harbinger of mispronunciation
It can be a panic-inducing moment when you're asked to say out loud a word that you have primarily or perhaps only encountered in writing—and you’re not sure how to say it.
...more
5min
November 20, 2021 TWTS: Coinciding incidents might not be a coincidence
It might seem like a fortuitous coincidence is always a good thing, but for some usage commentators, it is at best redundant and at worst misuse.
...more
6min
November 14, 2021 TWTS: Language changes and people have feelings
A living language like English is changing all the time. Sometimes those changes go unnoticed. Sometimes people react, strongly.
...more
6min
November 07, 2021 TWTS: When someone without wants in
If you’re within your car, you’re inside it. If you’re without your car, did you leave your car at home or are you standing outside it?
...more
6min
November 01, 2021 TWTS: Betwixt and between on redundancy? It's not always useless and futile
Expressions like “house and home” and “betwixt and between” are clearly redundant. Don’t cancel them quite yet though -- redundancy isn’t a deal breaker.
...more
6min
October 17, 2021 Pass the muster, er, mustard
While "passing the mustard" is about handing over the Dijon or spicy brown, "cutting the mustard" is the phrase that means to meet expectations, similar to "passing muster."
...more
6min

FAQs about That's What They Say:

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

The podcast currently has 400 episodes available.

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