Grammar Minute
272 episodes — Page 5 of 6
S3 Ep 76Discrete vs. Discreet (Hint: It's Not British vs. American)
Up next in our series of commonly misused words, poor discrete is finally getting justice.
S3 Ep 75The Enormity of Commonly Misused Words, Part 2
Get ready for more fantastic news headlines that got things wrong with one of my favorite words: Enormity.
S3 Ep 74The Power of Short Sentences
Short sentences pack great punch. Like this. Or this. Discover the magic of varied sentence length on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 73Do you ever get anything "for free?"
Economists say no. Grammarians say no, too - at least, some of them do. Learn more about this wonky phrase on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 72SPECIAL EPISODE: "Haven" Sci-Fi Audio Drama
bonusWelcome to this special episode of Grammar Minute - a short story audio drama by GM's host, Lauren Smyth!A dying star. A one-person shelter. A robot for company. Life on a barely habitable planet might be lonely, but it's also a great way to escape the past--or so Ozero thinks. But when an unfamiliar spaceship crash-lands near his shelter, Ozero is faced with a decision: Will he seek revenge for the destruction of his family, or will he find healing through forgiveness?Performed by Lauren Smyth, Ryan Bagley, Alex Bodnar, & Rachel Moeller.Read the original short story & anthology: https://a.co/d/f4rv2lH
S3 Ep 71Using Foreign Words in English Writing
Change the status quo. Avoid Latin like you avoid cliches - that is, like the plague.
S3 Ep 70A Writer Responds to ChatGPT
I'm a hard news and fiction writer. Here's why I'm not worried about ChatGPT taking my job - plus an (un)grammatical approach to staying ahead of the robot army.
S3 Ep 69Pronoun Abuse - Stop It. Get Some Help.
These two simple tips will make your writing clearer - and once you see this mistake, you'll never fail to notice it. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 68Is It Time to Break the Rules of Grammar?
Grammar Minute usually isn't an opinion show, but could there be room for opinions among the many and often contradictory rules of Grammar? Hear the official opinion on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 67Me Either vs. Me Neither
Since when has Grammar Minute been an opinion show? Since we started talking about "me either" vs. "me neither!"
S3 Ep 66Toward or Towards?
What should you do about those pesky words that sometimes seem to be spelled with "s" but sometimes go without? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 65Based On vs. Based Off
Where's your grammatical foundation - and how solid is it? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 64Dangling Modifiers (In Honor of National Coffee Day)
It's National Coffee Day ... at least, it was the day I recorded this episode. You may not be sure how grammar and coffee are related, but you can find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 63The Golden Rule of Commas
Commas are suffering from severe overuse. Learn how not to use a comma on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 62What's an Interrobang ‽
Meet the interrobang, a non-standard punctuation mark that I wish we'd use more often. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 61How to Answer "How Are You?"
I am well. I am doing well. I am good. I'm not so good now because my English professor is asking about my day and I don't know what to say. Learn how to respond impressively on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 60Words That Don't Exist (So Don't Use Them)
Are there any common words you've been using that actually don't exist? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 59The Sin of Irregardless - Why It's Wrong
You probably already know this word is a travesty, but why? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 58Weird: Apostrophe Direction Matters
Depending on the font you're using, ' and ' don't actually mean the same thing. Find out why you should care (a little bit) on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 57Carrots, Karats, Carats, and Carets - What's the Difference?
Hint: This episode may help you impress your geology professor, if you have one. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 56Each Other vs. One Another
When my cats and I have a staring competition, are we looking at one another or each other? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 55Loose vs. Lose (Grammar Hall of Shame)
If you're not careful, you could ... lose? Loose? something important!
S3 Ep 54Fewer vs. Less (A Quick Review)
Here's your biweekly (ha!) reminder from Grammar Minute that you, too, can be smarter than big name companies. Learn why on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 53Grammar Hall of Shame - Double Negatives
This will never not be one of my favorite topics. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 52Grammar Hall of Shame - Adverbs vs. Adjectives
Dot your "i," cross your "t," and don't forget to write "ly." Learn why on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 51Grammar Hall of Shame - Run-On Sentences
We're pretty sure the national park service didn't really mean for hunters to shoot pedestrians. Or did they? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 50Grammar Hall of Shame - Adjective Verbs
"Tables are for eating customers only." Are you ... sure about that? Find out what went wrong on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 49Book Titles: Underline, Quotes, or Italics?
If you're reading a great book that all your friends are now required to enjoy, too, how should you punctuate the title? Find out in today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 48What Time Should You Show Up for "Supper?"
If your friend invites you over for supper, do you know what time to show up? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 47Waiting For vs. Waiting On
Are you waiting on or for your Amazon package? Find out in today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 46There, Their, They're - Part III
There are only so many different ways to spell "their." Find out if they're your kryptonite on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 45Their, They're (Part II)
There's a lot going on this episode of Grammar Minute ...
S3 Ep 44They're, Their - Part I
Their, they're, there - what's a writer to do? Learn the difference on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 43Catching Tiny Grammar Mistakes (Part II)
What if you're writing an email and you only get one draft to show off your most professional grammar knowledge? Learn some quick editing techniques that can help on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 42Catching Tiny Grammar Mistakes (Part I)
When you're writing something that requires multiple drafts, how do you slow yourself down enough to catch the little mistakes? Learn the best technique I've developed over seven years as a writer on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 41"Lay" vs. "Lie" - A Topic I've Been Avoiding
Okay, it's not THAT hard, but even seasoned writers often get this one wrong. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 40Weird English Words (For Decoration Only)
Hint: Don't use these words in your next English paper. Find out what they are on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 39Flip Phones and Text Abbreviations - Are They Still Appropriate?
When are text abbreviations OK? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 38Creating Emphasis Without Quotation Marks
Last week (and on Instagram) I recommended against using quotation marks to express emphasis. Here's what you should do instead - on this week's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 37"Quotes, Not Emphasis"
Find out what quotation marks are really for - and how to use them - on this episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 36Eight Parts of Speech in Sixty Seconds
Or: "How Fast Can Lauren Talk." Just kidding - you'll be able to easily understand these brief explanations of the eight English parts of speech!
S3 Ep 35How to Write a List
Hint: Semicolons are not your friends. Find out why on this episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 34The Most Tastiest Chocolate Doesn't Exist
"Most" and "-est" don't go together. Find out why on this episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 33Is "No" a Complete Sentence? Maybe.
"No" is a complete sentence when your sworn enemy invites you to a swordfight in the midst of a dark wood under the crescent moon. But is it really a complete sentence? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 32Hoot Owls, Humans, and the Who/Whom Debate
Humans and hoot owls have some vocabulary in common. Learn how to use the "owl words" correctly in today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 31Addressing the Address: Stress and Parts of Speech
How can you instantly know the difference between a noun and a verb, even without hearing the rest of the sentence? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 30The Collar of the Cat (And Why You Shouldn't Say That)
Why does "the house of my parents" sound weird, but "the House of Representatives" doesn't? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 29Double Negatives Part 2: The Sneaky Negatives
Negatives like "nowhere" and "nobody" are easy to spot - after all, most of them start with "no" - but there's another class of negatives that are much harder to identify. Find out what they are and how to use them on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 28Double Negatives Part 1: The "N" Negatives
Everything is good in moderation, and the same goes for negatives. Find out how to use them properly on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 27Weird & Wild English, Part II
Have you ever used one of the words Shakespeare invented in the course of ordinary conversation? Find out on this episode of Grammar Minute!