Grammar Girl Quick And Dirty Tips For Better Writing

I debate what the plural of "Batman" should be (it's not straightforward!) and explore why the language of Shakespeare is hard to understand, even if you're smart. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts

We explore the origin of English (and other languages) all the way back to the language known as Proto-Indo-European. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts

This week, we talk about the difference between "sofa," "couch," and all the other words for that piece of furniture. Plus, to get in the mood for Halloween, we explore four idioms about skeletons. SPONSOR http://topcashback.com/grammar FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts

This week, we talk about the difference between "cannot," "can not," "can't," and (horrors!) "cant." Plus, in honor of Halloween, we reveal the origin of three idioms about death. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://topcashback.com/grammar http://blinkist.com/grammar GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts

How to avoid the worst apologies (the "if" apology, the passive voice apology, the reverse apology, and the florid fauxpology) and write a good apology letter. THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts

This week, I talk about what's up with the weird apostrophe in "Ruth's Chris Steak House" and where we get placeholder names like "thingamajig" and "doohickey." FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG SPONSORS http://magoosh.com offer code: GRAMMAR http://barkbox.com/grammar Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts

This week, I talk about why we mimic accents, about how to pronounce "espresso," about interesting idioms that include the number six. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG SPONSORS http://babbel.com/grammar offer code: GRAMMAR http://blinkist.com/grammar Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts

Quotation Marks with Periods and Commas FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon GRAMMAR GIRL AP STYLE WEBINAR http://bit.ly/2u9wuPn Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts

Unusual differences I noticed between British and American English on a recent trip. Plus, why you should say you "feed bad" and not that you "feed badly." FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon GRAMMAR GIRL AP STYLE WEBINAR http://bit.ly/2u9wuPn Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts

This week, we talk about rainy idioms and when to use "because" for "due to" and "since." FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon GRAMMAR GIRL AP STYLE WEBINAR http://bit.ly/2u9wuPn Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts

The woman who won more than $750 million in the Powerball lottery described it as a "pipe dream," so we look at the origin of the term. Also, whether to use a comma to introduce a quotation is probably more complicated than you think. We have four rules (and examples) to help you get it right. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon GRAMMAR GIRL AP STYLE WEBINAR http://bit.ly/2u9wuPn Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts

This week I tell you why you can ignore people who don't like "more importantly," and we talk about words that were new in 1555, 1967, 1977, and more. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon GRAMMAR GIRL AP STYLE WEBINAR http://bit.ly/2u9wuPn Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts

What do you call yourself? A grammar lover, grammar peever, stickler, grammar grouch, grammando, grammar Nazi? Sure, it's all in fun, but it's time to rethink that last one. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon GRAMMAR GIRL AP STYLE WEBINAR http://bit.ly/2u9wuPn Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts

Worcestershire is pronounced nothing like it is spelled, and Gloucester and Leicester are the same way. We'll talk about some linguistic phenomena that explain the drastic changes. Also, did you know there's a different between riffling through something and rifling through something? You will after this week's show! FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon GRAMMAR GIRL AP STYLE WEBINAR http://bit.ly/2u9wuPn Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts

Listeners sent in many more interesting phrases from obsolete technologies, and we also talk about how to write a great introductory paragraph and tricky sentence that include "one of the [plural nouns]"--which verb do you use? FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts

We talked about "jury-rigged" a few months ago, and everybody wanted to know about "jerry-built," so here you go! Also, we have lots of listener feedback about non-English language games that are like Pig Latin. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon GRAMMAR GIRL AP STYLE WEBINAR http://bit.ly/2u9wuPn Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts

Some words survive long after the technology that made us use the words in the first place. Today, we look at words we get from typewriters, old telephones, and more. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon GRAMMAR GIRL AP STYLE WEBINAR http://bit.ly/2u9wuPn Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts

FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon GRAMMAR GIRL AP STYLE WEBINAR http://bit.ly/2u9wuPn Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts

Do you "critique" a novel or "criticize" it? People used to object to one of these two words. And you told me about Pig-Latin-type games in your languages, and I have the run down! This segment is just for fun. Or should that be unfay? Or fubun? Or fulfun? FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts

Knowing when to capitalize a directional word such as "south" can be tricky. I have some guidelines. We also explain why we tell people to use "elbow grease" and review some research on gesturing that will blow your mind. Do you wonder why you talk with your hands, even when you're on the phone? Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon TAKE OUR PODCAST LISTENER SURVEY http://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.