Grammar Minute

258 episodes — Page 2 of 6

S3 Ep 212The History of the Asterisk

Where does our favorite c*nsorship symbol come from? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Sep 3, 20251 min

S3 Ep 211When to Capitalize "Mom" and "Dad"

When should you capitalize "mom" and "dad"--and "grandpa" and "auntie" and all the rest? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Sep 1, 20251 min

S3 Ep 210"U.S." vs. "US"

Let's turn back to the Chicago Manual of Style for another grammar rule!

Aug 28, 20251 min

S3 Ep 209Why Good Writers Need Editors

If you're looking for an editor for your next project--whether that's a query letter, manuscript, or magazine article--look no further! Visit laurensmythbooks.com to learn more.

Aug 26, 20251 min

S3 Ep 208"Capital" vs. "Capitol"

Hint: They're both locations. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Mintue!

Aug 21, 20250 min

S3 Ep 207Good Grammar Doesn't Prove AI

Em dashes and other grammar tricks aren't proof that text is written with AI. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Aug 19, 20251 min

S3 Ep 206PLEASE USE PARAGRAPH BREAKS.

Let's end this bad typing habit once and for all. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Jul 31, 20251 min

S3 Ep 205Em Dashes, En Dashes, and Hyphens

What's the difference between these three similar-looking punctuation marks? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Jul 29, 20251 min

S3 Ep 204Clean-Cut vs Clear-Cut

What's the difference between these two commonly confused phrases? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Jul 24, 20250 min

S3 Ep 203Y'all vs. All Y'all

Welcome to the Grammar Minute, where we're enjoying the South with all its extreme heat, delicious cooking, and wonderful hospitality!

Jul 22, 20251 min

S3 Ep 202Tips for Effective Foreshadowing

COMING SOON: My fifth dystopian/sci fi novel from Enclave Publishing. Get updates here!

Jul 17, 20251 min

S3 Ep 201"Weary" vs. "Wary"

What's the difference between "weary" and "wary?" Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Jul 15, 20251 min

S3 Ep 200WARSAFE Release Day (& How to Publish a Book)

My fourth science fiction novel, Warsafe, releases today! You can find it on Amazon (where it's the #1 new release in its category!) or directly from the publisher.SYNOPSIS: There’s one building on her island that Halley has never visited: the Mercenary House. Perched atop a mountain, surrounded by unnaturally evergreen foliage, the House is rumored to be a breeding ground for criminals. Mercenaries are liars, cheats, spies . . . and maybe, depending on who you ask, killers.At the Warsafe headquarters in Seattle, Roscoe is beta testing the company’s new video game. It’s her job to track down glitches—but something is different about this one. Lurking behind the lines of malfunctioning code is a secret that threatens to drag her deeper into the game, forcing her to put her life on the line if she ever wants to come home.Worlds collide as Roscoe teams up with Halley to uncover the island’s secret and expose Warsafe’s designs. But some mysteries are better left unsolved. As traitor after so-called traitor is revealed to be on their side, they begin to wonder: Could Warsafe’s mission be critical enough to justify its cruelty?

May 6, 20251 min

S3 Ep 199SPECIAL EPISODE - Interview with Samantha Mendell, Editor & Author

Samantha Mendell is an author and editor at Mendell Studios. Learn more about common writing mistakes, incorporating faith into writing, and more in today's special episode of Grammar Minute!

May 5, 202522 min

S3 Ep 198Thank You, Hillsdale College!

This is (officially) the last episode of Grammar Minute recorded for WRFH Radio Free Hillsdale, 101.7 FM. While we're at it, learn how to write "thank you" when used as an adjective.

May 5, 20251 min

S3 Ep 197How to Speed Read

A common tip for speed reading is suppressing your internal narrator. Learn why this might work for you on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

May 2, 20251 min

S3 Ep 196Making Plurals Possessive (Grammar Hall of Shame)

New to the Grammar Hall of Shame: "You can respond to other's events." Learn why this is wrong on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

May 1, 20251 min

S3 Ep 195World Pilots' Day: A Study in Grammar

What's the proper way to write "World Pilots' Day?" It turns out, you have options. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Apr 30, 20251 min

S3 Ep 194History of the Dollar Sign

Where does the $ sign come from--and should it have one line or two? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Apr 29, 20251 min

S3 Ep 193REBOOT - Interrobang‽

Learn about this weird and wild punctuation mark on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Apr 21, 20251 min

S3 Ep 192REBOOT - How Are You?

What's the proper response to "How are you?" Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Apr 18, 20251 min

S3 Ep 191REBOOT - Antecedents

Learn about antecedents on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Apr 17, 20251 min

S3 Ep 190REBOOT - Run-On Sentences

Learn how to avoid run-on sentences in today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Apr 16, 20251 min

S3 Ep 189This was the first-ever episode.

It's throwback day on Grammar Minute! Hear the first-ever pilot episode of your favorite writing podcast.

Apr 15, 20251 min

S3 Ep 188"Enormity" Returns

You won't want to miss the enormity of this Grammar Minute episode.

Apr 14, 20251 min

S3 Ep 187What Does SOS Stand For? (Backronyms)

What does "SOS" stand for? Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Apr 11, 20251 min

S3 Ep 186Doug Allen's Guide Part 2: Three Tips

Enjoy a continuation of tips from economist Doug Allen's writing guide!

Apr 10, 20250 min

S3 Ep 185Doug Allen's Writing Guide: "Where" vs "In Which"

Enjoy a tip from economist Doug Allen's writing guide in today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Apr 9, 20251 min

S3 Ep 184"In a Nutshell"

Where did this idiom originate? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Apr 8, 20251 min

S3 Ep 183ARCHIVES: Grammar Fun Facts, Part 2

Learn some more fun facts about English grammar in today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Apr 7, 20251 min

S3 Ep 182ARCHIVES: Grammar Fun Facts, Part 1

Learn some fun facts about English grammar in today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Apr 4, 20251 min

S3 Ep 181ARCHIVES: What Does It Mean to "Beg the Question?"

Probably not what you think. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Apr 3, 20251 min

S3 Ep 180ARCHIVES: Every Day vs Everyday

These two words are similar ... but not the same. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Apr 2, 20251 min

S3 Ep 179ARCHIVES: I.E. vs E.G.

We toss around these Latin abbreviations like we know what they mean ... but do we really? Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Apr 1, 20251 min

S3 Ep 177When the Music Turns the Volume Down

Adjectival phrases must match the subject of the sentence. Learn why on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Mar 31, 20251 min

S3 Ep 178SPECIAL EPISODE: Interview with Esther Pipkin, YA Fantasy Author

Esther grew up on a farm in Missouri, where she spent her childhood in the woods playing with Peter Pan and the Pevensies. She graduated from The Author Conservatory with a certification in creative writing, and a certification in business and entrepreneurship. When she’s not writing, you might find Esther baking snickerdoodles and singing showtunes or going on adventures (like visiting bookstores) with her husband.

Mar 30, 202524 min

S3 Ep 176History of the Pound/Hash Sign

What's the history of this social media magic symbol? Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Mar 28, 20251 min

S3 Ep 175Why You Shouldn't Plan

If you're writing something long, like a book or a research paper, I argue you shouldn't bother outlining. Learn why on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Mar 27, 20251 min