If you 'fizzle,' at least be smooth about it
On this week's "That's What They Say," host Rina Miller speaks with Professor Anne Curzan from the University of Michigan about the "adorkable" slang of» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
View ArticlePoliteness conventions
We've all experienced it: we're out at a restaurant, or a grocery store, and after we're done with our meal or our shopping we give the clerk a cordial » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
View ArticleLet the creation of 'sniglets' begin!
With the amount of words used everyday for description and communication, it's difficult to believe that there are holes in our vocabulary where certain» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
View ArticleSpelling bees just got a whole lot easier: simplified spelling
On this week's edition of "That's What They Say," host Rina Miller discusses our resistance to change the spelling of certain English-language words with» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
View ArticleWhy do we seldom use the word 'seldom?'
On this week's edition of "That's What They Say," we explore why the word seldom is fading from use. Host Rina Miller talks with Professor Anne Curzan of» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
View ArticleNo French needed to pronounce 'fiancée'
We've all been there: You come across a word in a written text and realize, to your embarrassment, that you haven't a clue how to pronounce it. On this» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
View ArticleOne man's 'arse' is another man's 'ass': taboo words and profanities
Let's face it: profanities and taboo words are sometimes appropriate (and maybe even fun) to use. But does the same level of use apply to politicians or» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
View ArticleEnormous ambiguity when using 'enormous'
In talking about size, should one use "enormity," or "enormous"? For most of us, these two words used to describe the large scope of a situation seem» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
View ArticleAre you a 'pop' or 'soda' person?
Maybe you're the type that likes both in conjunction, or perhaps not at all. On this edition of "That's What They Say," host Rina Miller and Professor» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
View ArticleRedundancies in everyday speech
If a gift is "inherently free," isn't it just free? On this edition of "That's What They Say," host Rina Miller and Professor Anne Curzan discuss those» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
View ArticleGraduate, then commence onward
Where are you graduating from? Or are you just graduating? On this edition of "That's What They Say," host Rina Miller and Professor Anne Curzan discuss» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
View ArticleThe comma problem
The comma may be a very small punctuation mark, but people often have very strong feelings about how it should, and should not be used. On this edition of» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
View ArticleDust kittens, woofinpoofs or frog hair?
On this week’s edition of “That’s What They Say,” host Rina Miller and University of Michigan Professor Anne Curzan revisit regional variations in spoken» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
View ArticleHow many syllables are in the word 'interesting'?
It’s very interesting to consider some people add an extra syllable to certain words when speaking. On this week’s edition of “That’s What They Say,” host» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
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