'I.e.' versus 'e.g.' What Shakespeare actually added to English. Four schnitzels.
22 April - 18 mins1075. People often confuse "i.e." and "e.g." We'll help you get them right — no Latin required. Then, in honor of Shakespeare’s birthday, we look at five common myths about his contributions to the English language, including whether he coined thousands of words and how much Latin he actually knew.
The "Shakespeare" segment was by Jonathan Culpeper, a chair professor in English Language and Linguistics at Lancaster University, and Mathew Gillings, an assistant professor at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. It originally appeared in The Conversation and appears here through a Creative Commons license.
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Series Episodes
The secret to writing ‘the same but different,’ with Mary Robinette Kowal
1078. Mary Robinette Kowal talks about going from writing magic-filled Regency romances to Hugo-nominated science fiction, what it's like to work with an agent, and how she keeps her career moving forward. Plus, she gave us three great book recommendations (and I've already read and loved one of them!).
20 mins
1 May Finished
'Lit' vs. 'lighted.' The mysteries of the dollar sign. Redd up.
1077. Is it “lit” or “lighted”? Both are correct, but we look at how their popularity has switched over time. Then we investigate four of the competing theories about the origin of the dollar sign and end with tips about how to use it.
19 mins
29 April Finished
Ghostwriters, book deals, and AI: What you didn’t know about publishing, with Dan Gerstein
1076. Dan Gerstein, founder of Gotham Ghostwriters, looks at how ghostwriting fiction really works, who’s hiring ghostwriters, and why AI can’t replace human storytelling. We also talked about how ghostwriters negotiate royalties, film rights, and what makes a great collaboration work.
22 mins
24 April Finished
AI and the future of dictionaries, with Erin McKean
1074. Is AI good enough to replace lexicographers? Wordnik founder Erin McKean shares what works, what doesn’t, and why the future of dictionaries is far from settled.
26 mins
17 April Finished
Better paragraph breaks. The story behind 'mad money' and 'pin money.' Bruce bad.
1073. Today, we have practical tips for writing better paragraphs (and it's not the formulaic topic-sentence structure). Then, we look at the surprising history of phrases like “mad money” and “pin money” and what they show about women’s roles and financial independence through time.
15 mins
15 April Finished
