The SAT is changing things up, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Just because words like membranous are no longer in the verbal section doesn’t mean kids aren’t learning important vocabulary. And speaking of useful terms...
The P/U dialect, common in the South, is marked by distinct emphasis on the first syllable of words such as police and umbrella. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “P/U Dialect” Did you know there’s a dialect of...
Quiz Guy John Chaneski has a puzzle involving expressions that pair famous people with the last syllables of their names. For example, what kind of drinking vessel might a mustachioed genius named Albert use? This is part of a complete episode...
Hi, all — In this week’s archive edition, we discuss not-so-smartphones, “Erin” vs. “Aaron,” “who” vs. “whom,” what happens when you “overegg the pudding,” and what it means to...
What’s the one word that comes to mind when you hear the name J. D. Salinger? Masterpiece? Recluse? How about the F-word? An Indianapolis listener came across an article about Salinger’s use of that word, and that got him wondering about...
Kevin in Lakewood, California, was riding his unicycle on a bike path when a girl yelled, “I want your bike,” and he let bike stand. Even though bike is shortened from bicycle, dictionary definitions can be broad enough for any foot-powered wheeled...