If you mention my verbiage, it’s no longer clear if I should be insulted.

TWTS: Your verbiage might be your best quality, unless its your worst

If you have more than one head waiter at a restaurant, you run into a funny spelling question in English.

TWTS: An extra maître d' serves up a spelling question

Coaches, referees and gym teachers are probably better authorities than we are, but we've got a feeling that whistles probably aren't very clean.

TWTS: How clean is a whistle, really?

“Off” isn’t just an insect repellant. It’s a versatile word that might not look like much, but it’s amazing how many different ways we use it.

TWTS: Don't blow off "off"

There’s a reason it sounds odd if we say it just got beautifuller and beautifuller.

TWTS: Comparatives need gooder usage rules

Today we broadcast the news. Tomorrow we will broadcast the news. And yesterday? We broadcast the news.

TWTS: Broadcasting doubt about "broadcasted"

There's the hair on on our heads and the hares we see hopping around our yards. There's been some confusion over which of these is the "hare" in "harebrained."

TWTS: Both may come from a hare, but it's still "hide nor hair"

Often we will refer to looking something up in "the dictionary." That suggests that it doesn’t really matter which dictionary we use, and that's just not true.

TWTS: Dictionaries are defined by their editors

If we sanction things with no other context, it’s not clear whether these things will be allowed or whether they will be penalized.

TWTS: We hereby sanction you to use "sanction" as you see fit

Some speakers have come to understand "haphazard" as "half-hazard," because who knows what a "hap" is.

TWTS: What's the "hap" in "haphazard"?

That's What They Say is a weekly segment on Michigan Radio that explores our changing language. Each week University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan will discuss why we say what we say with Michigan Radio Weekend Edition host Rebecca Kruth.

There are so many interesting bits of language in the world, we can’t help but notice. The question is, when you notice someone saying something interesting, should you point it out?

TWTS: Think hard before pointing out language quirks

We can lend things and we can loan things, but when it comes to ears, it's about lending.

TWTS: Lend your ears before you loan your money

There are a lot of rumors out there about the origins of the word "okay." We decided it was time to set things straight.

TWTS: An origin story that's just "OK"

Anyone who’s used to working under a deadline knows it can be stressful. At least today’s deadlines don’t usually involve actual death – that wasn’t always the case.

TWTS: When deadlines were deadly

If you’re on the road less traveled, how many Ls are in the word traveled will depend on whether you’re in the U.S. or, say, the U.K.

TWTS: If you drive a lorry, take the road less “travelled," not "traveled"

If you have “ahold” of something, some people wonder if “ahold” is one word or two words. Other people ask if it’s a word at all.

TWTS: "Ahold" really has a hold on some of us 

"Crimp" is a verb, and it can refer to interfering. Historically though, it's been "cramping" not "crimping" when we say, “Don’t cramp my style!”

TWTS: Unless we’re talking hair, style gets cramped, not crimped

In regard to the use of “in regards to,” there has been some serious criticism, even though many people say it and write it.

TWTS: Give our regards to "regard," even if it's plural  

If we talk about a brand-new brand, both of those brands go back to fire.

TWTS: When breakfast broaches a brand new language question

When you have a language podcast, you come across a lot of usages that make you think, “I would never say that.” A little research and a few contextual examples later, you might just change your mind.

TWTS: When your ancestors are the descendants of your ancestors

Always a worthwhile way to spend 5 minutes a week.

a modest excellence

Fun for English language learners and also English language users!!

Short & Fun language notes!

That's What They Say

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