Some words sound similar but don't have anything to do with each other. Others sound similar and have everything to do with each other. When a listener asked us about "ornery," we had no idea that it fell into the latter category, alongside "ordinary." They do sound similar, but how are they related?

TWTS: The not-so-ordinary world of "ordinary" and "ornery"

Funner, snuck, and LOL are all things that we're hearing people say these days.That's What They Say is a weekly segment on Michigan Public that explores our changing language. University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan studies linguistics and the history of the English language. Each week she'll discuss why we say what we say with Michigan Public All Things Considered host Rebecca Hector.That's What They Say airs Fridays at 4:45 p.m. and Sundays at 9:35 a.m. on Michigan Public and you can podcast it here.Do you have an English or grammar question? Ask us here!

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TWTS: The not-so-ordinary world of "ordinary" and "ornery"

TWTS: The not-so-ordinary world of "ordinary" and "ornery"

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