Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers.

Last week, I talked about "MacGyvering" things, so this week, I explain what I meant. Plus, I talk about one of the most contentious punctuation marks: the semicolon.FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRLTwitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirlFacebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirlPinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirlInstagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girlSPONSORShttp://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR)http://bit.ly/grammarwebinarGRAMMAR POP iOS GAMEOptimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPadFor iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopGRAMMAR GIRL BOOKShttp://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, I have more evidence that "quick and dirty" is from the Pacific Northwest, why we say "to boot," whether the correct name is "duct tape" or "duck tape," whether it's really wrong to say "Can I go to the bathroom," and an excerpt from an interview with June Casagrande about pronouns.FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRLTwitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirlFacebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirlPinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirlInstagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girlSPONSORShttp://TakeCareOf.com (offer code GRAMMAR)http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR)http://bit.ly/grammarwebinarGRAMMAR POP iOS GAMEOptimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPadFor iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopGRAMMAR GIRL BOOKShttp://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For everyone who has wondered why we're called the "Quick and Dirty Tips" podcast network, I have the origin story. Plus, we'll talk about how annoyed you should get when people use "momentarily" to mean "in a moment" and why you should favor shorter subjects and backload your sentences.FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRLTwitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirlFacebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirlPinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirlInstagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girlSPONSORShttp://blinkist.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR)http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR)http://bit.ly/grammarwebinarGRAMMAR POP iOS GAMEOptimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPadFor iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopGRAMMAR GIRL BOOKShttp://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know that "wrack" is a word for seaweed? I didn't! Also, getting rid of adverbs usually improves your writing, but not always.FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRLTwitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirlFacebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirlPinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirlInstagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girlSPONSORShttp://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR)http://bit.ly/grammarwebinarGRAMMAR POP iOS GAMEOptimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPadFor iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopGRAMMAR GIRL BOOKShttp://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hear one of my favorite segments from a recent Stitcher Premium bonus episode. These are normally available for only Stitcher Premium subscribers, but we want you to see what you're missing! Subscribe to Grammar Girl at Stitcher Premium and use the code GRAMMAR for a free month to get ad-free episodes and bonus episodes as well as premium content from other podcasts such as Freakonomics and Tell Me Something I Don't Know.Read the transcript at https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/fascinating-words-for-colors-and-the-battle-of-magentaCheck out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows:www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcastsFOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRLTwitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirlFacebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirlSnapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirlPinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirlInstagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is That Comment Facetious, Sarcastic, or Sardonic? Cleft Sentences.FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRLTwitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirlFacebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirlPinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirlInstagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girlSPONSORShttp://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR)http://bombas.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR)http://bit.ly/grammarwebinarGRAMMAR POP iOS GAMEOptimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPadFor iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopGRAMMAR GIRL BOOKShttp://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we answer a listener question about "the ask" and look at whether it's OK to call boats, cars, and countries "she."FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRLTwitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirlFacebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirlPinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirlInstagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girlSPONSORShttp://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR)http://blinkist.com/grammarGRAMMAR POP iOS GAMEOptimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPadFor iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopGRAMMAR GIRL BOOKShttp://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the 12th anniversary of the Grammar Girl podcast! Or is that the 12-year anniversary? No! In honor of this illustrious event, we look at why people say they "conversate" and why they may want to think twice about it.FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRLTwitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirlFacebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirlPinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirlInstagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girlSPONSORShttp://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR)http://bombas.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR)TED Talks DailyGRAMMAR POP iOS GAMEOptimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPadFor iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopGRAMMAR GIRL BOOKShttp://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-pageGRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we talk about who wrote the alphabet song that helps people learn their ABCs, and we investigate six silly idioms about sharks. #SharkWeekFOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRLTwitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirlFacebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirlPinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirlInstagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girlSPONSORShttp://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR)http://babbel.com/GG (offer code GG)GRAMMAR POP iOS GAMEOptimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPadFor iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopGRAMMAR GIRL BOOKShttp://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-pageGRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In honor of Bastille Day (July 14), we talk about the difference between a gourmet and a gourmand, and we talk about words the French and English use to insult each other.FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRLTwitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirlFacebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirlPinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirlInstagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girlSPONSORShttp://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR)http://blinkist.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR)GRAMMAR POP iOS GAMEOptimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPadFor iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopGRAMMAR GIRL BOOKShttp://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.