Words You Should Know

Let’s talk Beyoncé, Gwen Stefani, and a classic Broadway show—and, of course, the words they use. You might not have known it, but they have a major disagreement on the usage of a phrase. Specifically, should it be "if I were" or "if I was"?

Today, we’re going to get down to the root of it, plus answer another big one that I know has been bothering you: Is it "ring in the new year" or "bring in the new year"?

It's time to dive in.

This is the "Words You Should Know" podcast, Season 2: Episode 1.

Words. Language. Communication. Let's do this thing.

There's no metal medal awarded for English language correctness, but a strong command of your words is one way to show your mettle--not that I want to meddle.

The complex language we have today comes with a complex story. And that is before totes, awesomesauce, and hashtag OMG. The "Words You Know podcast" is here to dive in. This season, we "dove" in, or should I say we “dived” in? “Dove” vs. “dived”? The conversation never stops. There are so many words you should know. There are so many words we can handle better. There are so many words that are just simply fascinating.

Smartphone signatures apologizing for typos do not actually make it okay.

This is the "Words You Should Know" podcast, Season 1: Episode 12.

Words. Language. Communication. Let's do this thing.

Calling a North American turkey a “turkey” is up there with the earliest of #fakenews, but then again, accuracy has never been the English language's strong suit. That turkey isn't actually from Turkey, though this confusion has a long history behind it that traces back to roughly the time of the first Thanksgiving.

Who knew this North American fowl’s name would be so fouled up? And speaking of fowls, what is the difference between a "bird" and a "fowl"?

This is the "Words You Should Know" podcast, Season 1: Episode 11.

Words. Language. Communication. Let's do this thing.

Is it possible to be more proud than a peacock? Or, wait, is it "prouder" than a peacock? One is the correct form, but do you know the answer?

Plus, a challenge was just thrown down from one of you about the accuracy of a popular meme. And you know me; I can’t ignore a good writing dispute. It’s like a double-dog dare in the school yard. Just switch out the bold kid with me sitting at my computer, glasses on, jaw steeled with determination. (An intimidating picture, I know)

This is the "Words You Should Know" podcast, Season 1: Episode 10.

Words. Language. Communication. Let's do this thing.

Cowboy slang. Howdy, language innovation.

Who knew talking about the Old Wild West could cover so much about the proper use of the English language? (And who knew how much it would bring out Kris's sometimes-hidden Southern accent?)

We’re getting there through a conversation about how to spell "faze" vs. "phase" and other language confusions straight out of the Old Wild West. When something fazes/phases you, like a wayward cow who’s left the herd, or like perhaps bad spelling, how do you spell that? And once and for all, how should we spell the word "y'all" or remember the distinction between "coral" and "corral"?

This is the "Words You Should Know" podcast, Season 1: Episode 9.

Words. Language. Communication. Let's do this thing.

I just might be catching you using a phrase that doesn’t actually exist with this one. Think fast. Which one is correct? “Shore up” or “sure up”?

When a plan at work needs some extra strategic support, when your offensive line has some major gaps, or when your sandcastle is falling down, what do you need to do?

This is the "Words You Should Know" podcast, Season 1: Episode 8.

Words. Language. Communication. Let's do this thing.

To illustrate the trickery of English language spacing, let me tell you a story about selling books at midnight at the launch of J.K. Rowling’s 5th book in the Harry Potter series, The Order of the Phoenix.

I was in college at the time, working at a bookstore, and the build-up had been growing for weeks. Pre-orders were organized. Boxes were piled up in the back. Everyone working that night had to don at minimum a cape. The one I was given was purple and sparkly. If you know me, you’ll know that purple sparkly capes are not quite my style, but these are the things we do for the love of books and the love of readers.

At midnight, a massive man, Hagrid--I’m still pretty sure he was the actual Hagrid--rolled up into the strip mall parking lot on a motorcycle. His beard hung low. His hair was wild. His capes and animal skins hung off of him proving his expertise of magical creatures. I might have been as entranced as the no-longer sleepy-eyed children queued up outside the bookshop’s doors.

Books are magic. Books about magic are definitely magic. This one time in my life etched that into my being.

This is the "Words You Should Know" podcast, Season 1: Episode 7.

Words. Language. Communication. Let's do this thing.

You can blame Hollywood for the confusion that’s become commonplace around Mary Shelly’s famous monster, commonly known as "Frankenstein." Bookish types and horror aficionados are particular on this point, so it’s time you know the truth.

Plus, it’s good to know that a collection of ravens is an "unkindness" and a collection of crows is a "murder."

This is the "Words You Should Know" podcast, Season 1: Episode 6.

Words. Language. Communication. Let's do this thing.

Just in the (k)nick of time, let’s talk about how you spell that “(k)nick” in the “(k)nick of time.” Is it spelled N-I-C-K or is it K-N-I-C-K? What’s your first reaction? Let’s see if you’re right, and let's see how the correct answer plays into Madeleine L'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time." There is a big wordplay secret to her story that it's time you knew.

This is the "Words You Should Know" podcast, Season 1: Episode 5.

Words. Language. Communication. Let's do this thing.

I’ve got another question for you: Is the expression “you’ve got another think coming” or “you’ve got another thing coming”?

Former President Barack Obama and Judas Priest are tied up in the answer. The Oxford English Dictionary has been correcting people about this expression since 1919—though it wasn’t until the 1980s that mass confusion seemed to have set in. I’m looking at you, Judas Priest. Heavy metal and heavy influence apparently.

This is the "Words You Should Know" podcast, Season 1: Episode 4.

Words. Language. Communication. Let's do this thing.