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 399 episodes available.

That's What They Say episodes:

May 13, 2024 TWTS: It "ghosts" without saying ... well, anything
Social media has made a couple of longstanding English verbs work or mean differently.
...more
5min
April 29, 2024 TWTS: You can pay homage with or without the "h"
If you want to pronounce "homage" to a tee, it may depend what you mean.
...more
5min
April 21, 2024 TWTS: Learning new slang is good "for the plot"
As we live our lives, there's some new slang words that can help us narrate it as we go. That is, if we're in a demographic that allows us to use slang credibly.
...more
6min
April 14, 2024 TWTS: Whether "or not" belongs in "whether or not" or not
We don’t all agree on whether or not we should correct the phrasing "whether or not."
...more
6min
April 07, 2024 TWTS: Going forth and back on "back and forth"
We can talk about sending emails back and forth. But why does it sound odd to talk about sending them forth and back?
...more
5min
April 01, 2024 TWTS: You can tuna fish, but you may not need the "fish"
Given that “tuna” is a fish, some may find it unnecessary to call out that fact out in the compound “tuna fish.” For others, “fish” may be an important distinction.
...more
5min
March 24, 2024 TWTS: Prone to be prone
You can be prone to do something, whether you're lying down or not.
...more
6min
March 18, 2024 TWTS: Attend as many "trainings" as you like
There’s evidence of a new peeve arising. This one is focused on “training” as a countable noun.
...more
6min
March 10, 2024 TWTS: An oft overlooked double possessive
Lots of people don't like the redundancy in "irregardless." However, no one's fussy about the redundancy in a phrase like "a friend of mine."
...more
5min
March 03, 2024 TWTS: An ouster for the ouster
An ouster can be an act of ousting, or it can be the one who does the ousting. But we seem to have opted for one of those meanings over the other.
...more
6min

FAQs about That's What They Say:

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

The podcast currently has 399 episodes available.

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