Uploaded December 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago

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Linguist Anne Curzan has thoughts on your language pet peeves, including “these ones,” “dilly-dally,” and “sneaked” versus “snuck” (or would it be sneaked “versing” snuck?). She looks into historical examples of language changes that were once controversial and now are no bigs – and how we can be more kind by celebrating diversity in language rather than judging it.

SHOW NOTES:

Read the podcast transcript.



PHOTO: Author photo of Anne Curzan.



READ:

Anne Curzan, Says Who? A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Words



LISTEN:

That’s What They Say podcast



WATCH:

What makes a word "real"? TED Talk

Jennifer Garner Corrects Conan's Grammar – Late Night with Conan O’Brien

Whoever or Whomever? – The Office



EXPLORE:

Google Books Ngram Viewer

Lizzie Skurnick, “Grammando”

“Lincoln Riley Thinks Your Quiet”

Richard Grant White

Thomas De Quincey

Samuel Rogers

George Lakoff

John McWhorter



Live event programmed by Michael Green

Live event produced by Jesse Swanson

Live event stage managed by Juju Laurie and Devonte Washington

Live event produced and mixed by Jeff Kolar

Podcast edited and mixed by Alisa Rosenthal

Podcast story editing by Alexandra Quinn



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