When it comes to joining Facebook affinity groups, grammar lovers have lots of choices. Take, for example, the group whose motto is “Punctuation saves lives.” It’s called “Let’s Eat Grandma!” or “Let’s eat, Grandma!” Martha and Grant talk about...
“Too much sugar for a dime” can mean either “too good to be true,” or “more trouble than it’s worth.” Merle Travis and Judy Hayden sing about it. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Too Much Sugar” Hello, you have A Way with Words...
Martha argues in favor of the serial comma, citing a recent newspaper caption: “The documentary was filmed over three years. Among those interviewed were his ex-wives, Kris Kristofferson and Robert Duvall.” How’s that again? This is part of a...
The mother of a boy named Hendrix wonders how to punctuate the possessive of his name. Should she add an apostrophe or apostrophe with an “s”? Hendrix’ or Hendrix’s? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Names Ending in “X”” Hi, you...
slash cash n.— «If your employer has a policy against moonlighting—or one of your side jobs creates a conflict of interest—you have what I call a “slash clash,” and I suggest you get started on finding a more compatible combination.» —“When the...
cheater n.— «“Guitarists who use capos are cheating and using them as a crutch.” “OK… once and for all… lots of guys used to call them ‘cheaters.’ It was just slang. They didn’t necessarily mean the players were cheating, just that they were a way...