That's What They Say
Sunday at 9:35 AM
That's What They Say is a weekly segment on Michigan Radio that explores our changing language. Each week University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan will discuss why we say what we say with Michigan Radio Weekend Edition host Rebecca Kruth.
Latest Episodes
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Depending where you live, the thought of football season might conjure images of shin guards and knee socks or helmets and shoulder pads. -
If you’ve been watching the U.S. Open tennis tournament during the last couple of weeks, you’ve probably been hearing a lot of “love” and “let.” But where did those terms come from?
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"Nonplussed" is one of those words that historically doesn't have a particularly complicated meaning, but it's one that people frequently misuse.
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When we inquire about something, one could argue that it doesn't really matter if we inquire with an "i" or enquire with an "e."
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The phrase “without further ado” has itself been unable to escape ado. In other words, there’s been some to-do about it.
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If you mention my verbiage, it’s no longer clear if I should be insulted.
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If you have more than one head waiter at a restaurant, you run into a funny spelling question in English.
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Coaches, referees and gym teachers are probably better authorities than we are, but we've got a feeling that whistles probably aren't very clean.
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“Off” isn’t just an insect repellant. It’s a versatile word that might not look like much, but it’s amazing how many different ways we use it.
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There’s a reason it sounds odd if we say it just got beautifuller and beautifuller.
