Grammar Minute
258 episodes — Page 1 of 6
Spring Clean Your Commas
How to Read Numbers
S3 Ep 260Quotation Marks Aren't for Emphasis
Quotation marks are for quotes, not emphasis. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 259Eight Parts of Speech in 60 Seconds
Learn the eight parts of speech---and help save the English language in sixty seconds! Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute.
S3 Ep 258Waiting for vs. Waiting on
One of these implies butlers ... and the other implies your friend is late. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 257Grammar Hall of Shame - Double Negatives
There ain't no reason why you wouldn't not want to use no double negatives. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 256Weird English Words
These words are for decoration only, not regular use. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 255What Time Should You Show Up For "Supper"?
This mysterious meal has largely fallen out of favor in most of the US---and it can mean several different things. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 254Nobody Knows What "Biweekly" Means
Avoid confusion by banishing this word. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 253Hoot Owls, Humans, and Who/Whom
Hoot owls and humans have a few words in common. Learn more about the vocab of owls on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 252What's So Bad About Dangling Prepositions?
Probably not as much as you'd think. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 251The Inverted Pyramid
This tip from journalism can help make your writing stick with readers. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 250How to Pluralize "Yes"
Hint: The usual rules still apply. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 249Yes, We Can Tell You Used AI
Exhibit A. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 248You "Really" Don't Need This Word
Here's another word you can almost always cut from your writing. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 247We're Back ... With More Enormities
Most people think "enormity" means huge, but it actually means "huge evil"---which can lead to some hilarious news headlines. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!NOTE ON OUR NEW UPDATE SCHEDULE: We're back from winter break with new episodes on Tuesday and Thursday. Don't forget to tune in each week!
S3 Ep 246How to Use AI the Right Way
AI is like a professional librarian. Learn how to use it the right way on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 245It's Obvious You Used AI
Let's face it ... we can all tell. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 244It "Costed" Less
Is "costed" a word? Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 243A Brief Note on Annotating
Annotation can be helpful for retention. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 242"Between" vs "Among"
The rule you were taught may not be the right one. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 241Why I'm Not an "Alumni"
I'm not an "alumni." Learn why on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 240Make New Cliches
A phrase that's now a cliche was once fresh and interesting. Now, it's old hat. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 239What Counts as Jargon?
What counts as jargon? Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 238The Meaningless Word "Meaningful"
I have a vendetta against the word "meaningful." Find out why on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 237When You Shouldn't Quote
When should you quote other authors in your original research? Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 236Don't Cite Encyclopedias
This may make your paper-writing easier. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 235And Now, Conjunctions
Can you start a sentence with a conjunction? Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 234It's Never "Alot"
Learn how not to spell this word on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 233Eight Parts of Speech in Sixty Seconds
Here's your super-speed review of the eight parts of speech on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 232Bona-Fide Good Grammar
Is "bona-fide" an adjective or a noun? How is it pronounced? Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 231My Parents, Ayn Rand and God
Eliminate confusion with the simple Oxford comma. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 230Never Start a Sentence with a Number
That's one rule all style guides agree on. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 229Is "Percent" Singular or Plural?
This tricky question is more important than you might think. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 228Driver License or Driver's License?
Next time you visit the DMV, you'll be thinking about today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 227Phonics vs. "Whole Word"
Learn the difference between the phonics and whole word methods of reading on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 226In Defense of Bullet Points
Make emails clearerType less... on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 225It's Very Bad to Use the Word "Very"
This irregular adverb is almost always unnecessary. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 224"Further" vs "Farther"
This is your regularly scheduled reminder that "further" and "farther" don't mean the same thing. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 223Antidisestablishmentarianism (Don't Use Long Words)
"Antidisestablishmentarianism" contains a canceling double negative, a long word sandwiched between prefix and suffix, and more confusion than any reader needs. Learn more about this word--and how not to use long words--on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 222Grammar Errors in Song Lyrics
Don't get me wrong: I still like the song. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 221How Long Is Too Long?
Long sentences can be confusing and tough to read. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 220The Longest Word in the English Language
How long is too long for the dictionary? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 219Why Good Reading Makes Good Writing
Read good books--that's how you become a better writer. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Mintue!
S3 Ep 218Why Good Typing Makes Good Grammar
If you want to be a good grammarian, start by being a good typist. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 217How to Differentiate Character Voices
A rare tip about writing fiction on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 216Do You Really Need That Hyphen?
Probably not. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 215What Is an En Dash?
Em dashes and en dashes sound similar--but they're not the same. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 214What Is an Em Dash?
On this podcast, we talk a lot about how to use em dashes correctly--but we rarely talk about what they are. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 213Can Inanimate Nouns Be Possessive?
... Maybe. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!