Ranked #1
6. Sorry, But Shakespeare Didn't Create That Word
6. Sorry, But Shakespeare Didn't Create That Word
One of the most cherished and enduring myths about the English language is that its vocabulary was largely populated thr... Read more
2 Sep 2020
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19mins
Ranked #2
9. In Defense of 'Like'
9. In Defense of 'Like'
'Like' is a wildly versatile, fascinating word and we're here with guest editor Serenity Carr to give it its due. Seriou... Read more
23 Sep 2020
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24mins
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Ranked #3
28. The Onomatopoeia Episode
28. The Onomatopoeia Episode
O-N-O-M-A-T-O-P-O-E-I-A. The forming of a word in imitation of a sound.First, we'll look at some words that first descri... Read more
17 Feb 2021
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26mins
Ranked #4
27. What's the Longest Word in the Dictionary?
27. What's the Longest Word in the Dictionary?
This episode is all about dictionary myths and mysteries. Is the longest word the one you think it is? Probably not. Are... Read more
10 Feb 2021
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15mins
Ranked #5
How do you pronounce 'often'?
How do you pronounce 'often'?
First, we examine the common word 'often.' Is one way of saying it more correct than the other? And does the English lan... Read more
3 Feb 2021
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21mins
Ranked #6
How do you even pronounce 'antennae' anyway?
How do you even pronounce 'antennae' anyway?
After a job well done, you might receive kudos. But today we ask: can you ever receive just one? Or is it just the sound... Read more
19 Aug 2020
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25mins
Ranked #7
14. Everything Is 'Awesome.' Or is it?
14. Everything Is 'Awesome.' Or is it?
On a dark and stormy night many years ago in Springfield, Massachusetts, a fake word rose to take its place among the li... Read more
28 Oct 2020
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30mins
Ranked #8
15. Why are American and British English different?
15. Why are American and British English different?
This week is all about spelling. Some attempts to reform it have succeeded. (You've probably noticed that words are spel... Read more
4 Nov 2020
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24mins
Ranked #9
A Collection of Obscure Words That You Might Find Useful
A Collection of Obscure Words That You Might Find Useful
Few parts of the English language fascinate its users more than obscure and obsolete words. Today, our in-house collecto... Read more
14 Aug 2020
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10mins
Ranked #10
12. A Collection of Obscure Words for People Who Annoy You
12. A Collection of Obscure Words for People Who Annoy You
If there's one activity that has bonded English users throughout the centuries, it is the creation of new words to descr... Read more
14 Oct 2020
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9mins
Ranked #11
'Scofflaw' and Inventing Words for Money
'Scofflaw' and Inventing Words for Money
It's nothing personal, but most of the time, the word you invented won’t make it into the dictionary. Except, on occasio... Read more
26 Aug 2020
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26mins
Ranked #12
11. Can something be 'very unique'?
11. Can something be 'very unique'?
Most adjectives can be ranked — something can be good, better, or best — but are there some that can't? Are some adjecti... Read more
7 Oct 2020
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22mins
Ranked #13
13. What's up with 'biweekly'? And Other Listener Questions
13. What's up with 'biweekly'? And Other Listener Questions
You asked, we answered. This week, we go to the mailbag to look into some of the questions, complaints, and vexing langu... Read more
21 Oct 2020
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16mins
Ranked #14
How *Not* to Start a Sentence
How *Not* to Start a Sentence
You've probably, at some point, been taught that there are certain words that should never, ever start a sentence. Today... Read more
30 Sep 2020
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21mins
Ranked #15
21. Oops: Words Born Out of Mistakes
21. Oops: Words Born Out of Mistakes
Some words are borrowed from elsewhere. Some are created for a purpose. Others are, well, a bit of an accident. Today we... Read more
16 Dec 2020
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22mins