A Way with Words is starting a brand-new season! Find out what a motorcyclist wears to keep from getting sunburned– is it a do-rag or a dew-rag? A listener wonders “Why is an undesirable task called a g-job?” Martha shares a trick for remembering the answer to that perennial question: Does a comma go inside or outside of quotation marks? Also, the origin of pinkie, podsnicker, the name for a society ruled by children, and a recap of 2007—in limericks! This episode first aired November 24, 2007.
Wit’s War
It’s a brand-new season here on A Way with Words! To celebrate, Martha and Grant are noodling with anagrams— including the one in the title of this episode.
Pinkie Etymology
A New York City schoolteacher asks, “Why do we call our little finger a pinkie?” and relates his invented etymology.
Six Ways to Pronounce Homage
Another caller snickers over a newscaster’s attempt to pronounce the word homage. Which of the six ways is best?
The Grammar Behind “Very Fun”
The hosts weigh in on whether the expression “very fun” is grammatically correct.
Limericks News Quiz
Puzzle-man Greg Pliska joins us for a recap of 2007—in limericks!
Slon Doon
Join us for another slang quiz, in which DeeDee picks “slon doon” as her favorite slang word.
This episode is hosted by Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett, and produced by Stefanie Levine.
Photo by Steve Jurvetson. Used under a Creative Commons license.
