Could you care less if butter didn't melt in your mouth?
Why do some people say, “I could care less” to mean they don’t care? It doesn't make sense. The expression is, "I couldn't care less," right?“What has happened here, as far as I can tell, is that...
View ArticleThere must be rules
The English language is constantly changing. How do English teachers keep up?Michigan Radio’s Rina Miller recently got a letter from a listener, Bill, from Eaton Rapids who asks why there isn’t a...
View ArticleFan-freaking-tastic
This week on That’s What They Say, Anne Curzan, English professor of the University of Michigan and Weekend Edition host Rina Miller discuss the moving ‘n’ and infixing words. The moving ‘n’ is...
View ArticleThe words of the holidays
This week on That’s What They Say, Anne Curzan, English professor of the University of Michigan and Weekend Edition host Rina Miller discuss the origins of holiday words.Here are a few: Mistletoe used...
View ArticleThat's What They Say: Towards and anyways
This time on “That’s What They Say” Michigan Radio’s Rina Miller and English Professor Anne Curzan discuss adding an ‘s’ to words like ‘anyway’ and ‘toward.’Miller says one of her pet peeves is adding...
View ArticleIs 'actually' the new 'like?'
This week on "That's What They Say," Michigan Radio'sRinaMiller and English Professor Anne Curzandiscuss the surging use of the word "actually" in recent» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
View ArticlePersnickety, and other pronunciation problems
This week on “That’s What They Say” Michigan Radio’s Rina Miller and English Professor Anne Curzan discuss certain words that give people problems with» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
View ArticleStand by your gooma
On this week's "That's What They Say," Michigan Radio's RinaMiller and English Professor Anne Curzandiscuss how the misinterpretation of older words and» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
View ArticleIf 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
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