1027. This week, I talk with forensic linguist Natalie Schilling about how people's language gives them away — in manifestos, ransom notes, text messages, and more.

1026. This week, we look at the origins of words for men, including the ancient roots of "man," the surprising evolution of the word "guy" from being an insult to just another word, and how "guido" to

1025. Have you ever wondered where meeting terms like quorum or proxy come from? In this episode, Jim Slaughter looks at the linguistic origins and historical contexts of these and other common pa

1024. It often sounds weird if you try to end a sentence with a contraction like "you're" and "I'm." We look at why! Then, get ready for Halloween with the language of fear.

1023. I felt like I could write anything after this discussion with Anne Lamott about painful first drafts, beating perfectionism, and the one thing she'd change in "Bird by Bird."

1022. This week, we look at election terms like president-elect and lame duck and how they're used during a U.S. presidential transition. Then, I dig into my favorite kind of hot grammar news: peo

1021. This week, Christopher Penn talks about the role of AI tools like ChatGPT in writing and editing. We look at common misconceptions about how AI works and best practices for writing prompts. We

1020. This week, we shed light on quirky restaurant slang like kill it and Chef Mike. Then, we tackle the long-standing debate over what to call residents of Michigan "Michiganders" or "Michigan

1019. This week, Jonathan Small, author of "Write About Now," shares what he's learned about the common struggles writers face throughout their careers. His book highlights stories from bestselling au

1018. This week, we look at the meanings of the word "board," including the differences between board games, table games, and table-top games. We also look at the punctuation of participial phrases, h