Mignon Fogarty
@grammargirl.bsky.social
Grammar Girl. Podcaster. Author of seven books about language. Quick and Dirty Tips founder. Bad skier. she/her http://linktr.ee/grammargirl
#AmWriting The 2/17 GG podcast
#AmReading The Invisible Life of Addie Larue (Schwab)
#AmWriting The 2/17 GG podcast
#AmReading The Invisible Life of Addie Larue (Schwab)
I do this too!
When I'm writing a book, I have three songs I listen to on repeat, depending on my mood:
1. Out of my Head (the main one, Fastball)
2. Blue Skies (Willie Nelson)
3. I Don't Wanna Stop (Ozzy)
Instrumentals don't work for me.
h/t @mashedradish.bsky.social
When I'm writing a book, I have three songs I listen to on repeat, depending on my mood:
1. Out of my Head (the main one, Fastball)
2. Blue Skies (Willie Nelson)
3. I Don't Wanna Stop (Ozzy)
Instrumentals don't work for me.
h/t @mashedradish.bsky.social
In a recent episode of "Hard Fork" my colleague Kevin Roose had the crazy writing tip (via, apparently, Michael Lewis) of listening to a single song on repeat. Damned if it doesn't work! Currently playing: www.youtube.com/watch?v=F49y...
The New Pornographers- "The Electric Version" (Official Audio)
YouTube video by The New Pornographers
www.youtube.com
February 8, 2026 at 2:53 AM
I do this too!
When I'm writing a book, I have three songs I listen to on repeat, depending on my mood:
1. Out of my Head (the main one, Fastball)
2. Blue Skies (Willie Nelson)
3. I Don't Wanna Stop (Ozzy)
Instrumentals don't work for me.
h/t @mashedradish.bsky.social
When I'm writing a book, I have three songs I listen to on repeat, depending on my mood:
1. Out of my Head (the main one, Fastball)
2. Blue Skies (Willie Nelson)
3. I Don't Wanna Stop (Ozzy)
Instrumentals don't work for me.
h/t @mashedradish.bsky.social
Reposted by Mignon Fogarty
This is the switchboard for Congress. An automated voice will ask you which senator or representative you want to reach and will transfer you to that person's line.
If you call today, you'll get voicemail but will usually be able to leave a message: (202) 224-3121.
If you call today, you'll get voicemail but will usually be able to leave a message: (202) 224-3121.
January 24, 2026 at 5:27 PM
This is the switchboard for Congress. An automated voice will ask you which senator or representative you want to reach and will transfer you to that person's line.
If you call today, you'll get voicemail but will usually be able to leave a message: (202) 224-3121.
If you call today, you'll get voicemail but will usually be able to leave a message: (202) 224-3121.
Did you know ChatGPT's earlier versions barely used em dashes at all? This week, I talked with Sean Goedecke, a software engineer who's looked at *why* AI models went em-dash wild.The shift may have happened when companies started digitizing public domain books from years when em dash use peaked.
February 5, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Did you know ChatGPT's earlier versions barely used em dashes at all? This week, I talked with Sean Goedecke, a software engineer who's looked at *why* AI models went em-dash wild.The shift may have happened when companies started digitizing public domain books from years when em dash use peaked.
National Grammar Day is one month from today: March 4!
February 4, 2026 at 9:37 PM
National Grammar Day is one month from today: March 4!
Have you heard of playing "the dozens"?
It's an African American game where two people trade increasingly inventive insults, usually in front of an audience. I look at the competing origin stories in today's podcast.
Listen: pod.link/173429229
It's an African American game where two people trade increasingly inventive insults, usually in front of an audience. I look at the competing origin stories in today's podcast.
Listen: pod.link/173429229
pod.link
February 4, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Have you heard of playing "the dozens"?
It's an African American game where two people trade increasingly inventive insults, usually in front of an audience. I look at the competing origin stories in today's podcast.
Listen: pod.link/173429229
It's an African American game where two people trade increasingly inventive insults, usually in front of an audience. I look at the competing origin stories in today's podcast.
Listen: pod.link/173429229
Reposted by Mignon Fogarty
A short field report about youth slang in the K-8 school where I teach:
- CITY BOY is on the rise as a brain-rot expression
- W (short for "win") has currency as a term for "excellent, high quality, cool"
- AI is variously used to call out something as fake or too good to be true
1/3
- CITY BOY is on the rise as a brain-rot expression
- W (short for "win") has currency as a term for "excellent, high quality, cool"
- AI is variously used to call out something as fake or too good to be true
1/3
February 3, 2026 at 7:28 PM
A short field report about youth slang in the K-8 school where I teach:
- CITY BOY is on the rise as a brain-rot expression
- W (short for "win") has currency as a term for "excellent, high quality, cool"
- AI is variously used to call out something as fake or too good to be true
1/3
- CITY BOY is on the rise as a brain-rot expression
- W (short for "win") has currency as a term for "excellent, high quality, cool"
- AI is variously used to call out something as fake or too good to be true
1/3
Love it!
who the hell called them "podcast hosts with whom I've developed an unhealthy parasocial relationship" and not
. . .
earbuds.
. . .
earbuds.
February 3, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Love it!
THE SLOPPER BOWL! What wonderful wordplay.
I wish this would have come out a day sooner because I was on WOSU just yesterday talking about the word "slop" and how one thing that makes it special is the way people play with it to make other words like "slopaganda."
I wish this would have come out a day sooner because I was on WOSU just yesterday talking about the word "slop" and how one thing that makes it special is the way people play with it to make other words like "slopaganda."
February 3, 2026 at 7:23 PM
THE SLOPPER BOWL! What wonderful wordplay.
I wish this would have come out a day sooner because I was on WOSU just yesterday talking about the word "slop" and how one thing that makes it special is the way people play with it to make other words like "slopaganda."
I wish this would have come out a day sooner because I was on WOSU just yesterday talking about the word "slop" and how one thing that makes it special is the way people play with it to make other words like "slopaganda."
Ever confidently use a word your whole life, only to discover you're wrong? F-O-R-T-E is TWO different words. One from French (your strong point), and one from Italian (loud in music). And wow, do people ever struggle with the pronunciation!
Listen: pod.link/grammargirl
Listen: pod.link/grammargirl
February 3, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Ever confidently use a word your whole life, only to discover you're wrong? F-O-R-T-E is TWO different words. One from French (your strong point), and one from Italian (loud in music). And wow, do people ever struggle with the pronunciation!
Listen: pod.link/grammargirl
Listen: pod.link/grammargirl
Reposted by Mignon Fogarty
'Icicle' doesn't mean "little ice." It's "ice ickle." And an 'ickle'? That's an old word for 'icicle.'
So, 'icicle' is literally, redundantly, delightfully "ice icicle."
So, 'icicle' is literally, redundantly, delightfully "ice icicle."
I find it both remarkable and, on a deeper, intuitive level, unsurprising that English's core vocabulary for winter weather has been so durable. Largely unchanged from Old English. Instantly recognizable Germanic cousins. Shared, hoary proto-forebears.
mashedradish.com/2026/01/31/w...
mashedradish.com/2026/01/31/w...
A blizzard of wintry word origins
English’s core vocabulary for winter weather has largely been frozen—or as we used to say, “froren”—in place.
mashedradish.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:10 AM
'Icicle' doesn't mean "little ice." It's "ice ickle." And an 'ickle'? That's an old word for 'icicle.'
So, 'icicle' is literally, redundantly, delightfully "ice icicle."
So, 'icicle' is literally, redundantly, delightfully "ice icicle."
I'm going to be on All Sides with AmyJuravich on WOSU in Ohio tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern talking about familects, misheard song lyrics, and eggcorns like "windshield factor" for "windchill factor."
Get your story ready and call in!
www.wosu.org/show/all-sides
614-292-8513
Get your story ready and call in!
www.wosu.org/show/all-sides
614-292-8513
All Sides with Amy Juravich
All Sides with Amy Juravich is WOSU Public Media’s daily news program that dives deep into issues important to Central Ohio. Hosted by Amy Juravich, All Sides explains how the most complicated issues ...
www.wosu.org
February 2, 2026 at 3:45 AM
I'm going to be on All Sides with AmyJuravich on WOSU in Ohio tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern talking about familects, misheard song lyrics, and eggcorns like "windshield factor" for "windchill factor."
Get your story ready and call in!
www.wosu.org/show/all-sides
614-292-8513
Get your story ready and call in!
www.wosu.org/show/all-sides
614-292-8513
Reposted by Mignon Fogarty
Grammar Girl #podcast: Scrabble strategy and tournament culture, with John Chew
Scrabble strategy and tournament culture, with John Chew
Podcast Episode · Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing · 01/22/2026 · 45m
podcasts.apple.com
January 29, 2026 at 9:44 PM
Grammar Girl #podcast: Scrabble strategy and tournament culture, with John Chew
Reposted by Mignon Fogarty
It. Has. Not. Stopped.
The Australian National Dictionary's #WotY2025 is
social media ban
reporter.anu.edu.au/all-stories/...
The Australian National Dictionary's #WotY2025 is
social media ban
reporter.anu.edu.au/all-stories/...
World-first social media age restriction laws behind Australia's Word of the Year
Wordsmiths at The Australian National University (ANU) have chosen the phrase social media ban as their Word of the Year for 2025.
reporter.anu.edu.au
January 30, 2026 at 3:40 PM
It. Has. Not. Stopped.
The Australian National Dictionary's #WotY2025 is
social media ban
reporter.anu.edu.au/all-stories/...
The Australian National Dictionary's #WotY2025 is
social media ban
reporter.anu.edu.au/all-stories/...
With all the snow in the northern hemisphere right now, it's a great time to ask whether the Inuit really have more words for snow — and I did just that in this week's interview with linguist Charles Kemp.
We also talked about words for rain, dance, and even chocolate.
Listen: pod.link/173429229
We also talked about words for rain, dance, and even chocolate.
Listen: pod.link/173429229
January 30, 2026 at 8:54 AM
With all the snow in the northern hemisphere right now, it's a great time to ask whether the Inuit really have more words for snow — and I did just that in this week's interview with linguist Charles Kemp.
We also talked about words for rain, dance, and even chocolate.
Listen: pod.link/173429229
We also talked about words for rain, dance, and even chocolate.
Listen: pod.link/173429229
I'm ASTONISHED by how many people say they write an ellipsis with no space on the left and a space on the right!
I feel like I've never seen it until recently, but clearly, I'm mistaken.
I definitely defend your right to have a "house style," but AP & Chicago both call for a space on both sides.
I feel like I've never seen it until recently, but clearly, I'm mistaken.
I definitely defend your right to have a "house style," but AP & Chicago both call for a space on both sides.
What's with people writing ellipses like this lately... with a space on only one side?
I suspect it's an AI thing because I've never seen it before, and suddenly, it's everywhere — so much so that I doubted myself and just checked AP & Chicago. But nope, they still do a space on both sides.
I suspect it's an AI thing because I've never seen it before, and suddenly, it's everywhere — so much so that I doubted myself and just checked AP & Chicago. But nope, they still do a space on both sides.
January 30, 2026 at 12:32 AM
I'm ASTONISHED by how many people say they write an ellipsis with no space on the left and a space on the right!
I feel like I've never seen it until recently, but clearly, I'm mistaken.
I definitely defend your right to have a "house style," but AP & Chicago both call for a space on both sides.
I feel like I've never seen it until recently, but clearly, I'm mistaken.
I definitely defend your right to have a "house style," but AP & Chicago both call for a space on both sides.
What's with people writing ellipses like this lately... with a space on only one side?
I suspect it's an AI thing because I've never seen it before, and suddenly, it's everywhere — so much so that I doubted myself and just checked AP & Chicago. But nope, they still do a space on both sides.
I suspect it's an AI thing because I've never seen it before, and suddenly, it's everywhere — so much so that I doubted myself and just checked AP & Chicago. But nope, they still do a space on both sides.
January 30, 2026 at 12:12 AM
What's with people writing ellipses like this lately... with a space on only one side?
I suspect it's an AI thing because I've never seen it before, and suddenly, it's everywhere — so much so that I doubted myself and just checked AP & Chicago. But nope, they still do a space on both sides.
I suspect it's an AI thing because I've never seen it before, and suddenly, it's everywhere — so much so that I doubted myself and just checked AP & Chicago. But nope, they still do a space on both sides.
Reposted by Mignon Fogarty
January links! Credits: @mashedradish.bsky.social @marthabarnette.bsky.social @paperairplane.pub @stancarey.bsky.social @stronglang.bsky.social @grammargirl.bsky.social & more! fritinancy.substack.com/p/january-li...
January linkstack
New newsletters, a new print magazine (!), the AI naming crisis, and more.
fritinancy.substack.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Reposted by Mignon Fogarty
January 28, 2026 at 8:01 AM
You may not have noticed, but "scarecrow" is a grammatical outlaw — it describes what the object does, not what it is.
Linguists call these "exocentric compounds."
They're also called "cutthroat compounds" because they have a surprising history as medieval insults.
Listen: pod.link/173429229
Linguists call these "exocentric compounds."
They're also called "cutthroat compounds" because they have a surprising history as medieval insults.
Listen: pod.link/173429229
January 27, 2026 at 10:52 PM
You may not have noticed, but "scarecrow" is a grammatical outlaw — it describes what the object does, not what it is.
Linguists call these "exocentric compounds."
They're also called "cutthroat compounds" because they have a surprising history as medieval insults.
Listen: pod.link/173429229
Linguists call these "exocentric compounds."
They're also called "cutthroat compounds" because they have a surprising history as medieval insults.
Listen: pod.link/173429229
Now I want to know which CNN reporter or producer doesn't know the word "sycophant."
January 26, 2026 at 8:10 PM
This is the switchboard for Congress. An automated voice will ask you which senator or representative you want to reach and will transfer you to that person's line.
If you call today, you'll get voicemail but will usually be able to leave a message: (202) 224-3121.
If you call today, you'll get voicemail but will usually be able to leave a message: (202) 224-3121.
January 24, 2026 at 5:27 PM
This is the switchboard for Congress. An automated voice will ask you which senator or representative you want to reach and will transfer you to that person's line.
If you call today, you'll get voicemail but will usually be able to leave a message: (202) 224-3121.
If you call today, you'll get voicemail but will usually be able to leave a message: (202) 224-3121.
I needed some books this morning, so I bought them from @moonpalacebooks.bsky.social in Minneapolis.
You could too! Just pick them as your bookstore at bookshop.org.
You could too! Just pick them as your bookstore at bookshop.org.
January 24, 2026 at 4:22 PM
I needed some books this morning, so I bought them from @moonpalacebooks.bsky.social in Minneapolis.
You could too! Just pick them as your bookstore at bookshop.org.
You could too! Just pick them as your bookstore at bookshop.org.
Reposted by Mignon Fogarty
I had a lot of fun chatting again (after ten years) with @grammargirl.bsky.social for her Grammar Girl podcast about competitive Scrabble, and on her subscription-only (but now would be a good time to try the 14-day free trial option) Grammarpalooza about the Canadian English Dictionary.
Scrabble strategy and tournament culture, with John Chew
YouTube video by Grammar Girl
www.youtube.com
January 22, 2026 at 10:36 PM
I had a lot of fun chatting again (after ten years) with @grammargirl.bsky.social for her Grammar Girl podcast about competitive Scrabble, and on her subscription-only (but now would be a good time to try the 14-day free trial option) Grammarpalooza about the Canadian English Dictionary.
Ever wonder why Scrabble feels like a word game *and* a strategy game?
In today's podcast, I find out with John Chew, a mathematician and a big name in competitive Scrabble. 1/3
WATCH: youtu.be/tlPBkn86CAA
READ: grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/105...
LISTEN: pod.link/173429229
In today's podcast, I find out with John Chew, a mathematician and a big name in competitive Scrabble. 1/3
WATCH: youtu.be/tlPBkn86CAA
READ: grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/105...
LISTEN: pod.link/173429229
January 22, 2026 at 6:29 PM
Ever wonder why Scrabble feels like a word game *and* a strategy game?
In today's podcast, I find out with John Chew, a mathematician and a big name in competitive Scrabble. 1/3
WATCH: youtu.be/tlPBkn86CAA
READ: grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/105...
LISTEN: pod.link/173429229
In today's podcast, I find out with John Chew, a mathematician and a big name in competitive Scrabble. 1/3
WATCH: youtu.be/tlPBkn86CAA
READ: grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/105...
LISTEN: pod.link/173429229
Reposted by Mignon Fogarty
Another secret! Book reviews don't have to be extensive and thoughtful and deep. You can give a book 5 stars and say nothing, or you can say, "Really enjoyed it!" or "Lovely worldbuilding!" or "One of my favorite authors!" No one expects a thesis. Every review helps.
January 21, 2026 at 8:48 PM
Another secret! Book reviews don't have to be extensive and thoughtful and deep. You can give a book 5 stars and say nothing, or you can say, "Really enjoyed it!" or "Lovely worldbuilding!" or "One of my favorite authors!" No one expects a thesis. Every review helps.