Grammar Girl
Today: #60 in Education, India on our combined chart.
Today: #168 in Education, Philippines on our combined chart.
Chart positions today · United States
Not on the United States charts we track today.
Not on the United Kingdom charts we track today.
Not on the Canada charts we track today.
Not on the Australia charts we track today.
Not on the Germany charts we track today.
Not on the Brazil charts we track today.
Not on the Mexico charts we track today.
Not on the New Zealand charts we track today.
Not on the Ireland charts we track today.
Not on the Japan charts we track today.
Not on the South Africa charts we track today.
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Ranking history · United States
Latest episodes
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Beowulf’s ‘you know,’ Shakespeare’s ‘prithee,’ and the myth of Valley Girl ‘like,’ with Dr. Laurel Brinton
October 22, 2026 · 38 min1231. This week, Valerie Fridland steps in for Mignon and sits down with linguist Laurel Brinton to talk about little words like “well,” “you know,” and “like.” They look at why “well” signals bad news, how “Beowulf” may open with the Old…
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What's a familect? The words only your family uses
October 20, 2026 · 20 min1230. This week, the whole show is about familects, the words and phrases you only use with your family. We look at where they come from and what they do, how the same thing happens among friends and fans, and why borrowing someone else's…
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Your college essay doesn't need an extraordinary story, with Ethan Sawyer
October 15, 2026 · 30 min1229. This week, we talk with Ethan Sawyer, the College Essay Guy, about AI and college admissions essays. We look at why admissions officers told him “don’t” when it comes to AI, what he calls the “disembodied voice” of AI writing, and…
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Why does 'Here comes he' sound so wrong?
October 13, 2026 · 11 min1228. This week, we look at why "Here comes the bride" sounds right but "Here comes he" sounds wrong. Then we have an update on Zipf's law: after whales and dolphins, researchers may have found it in birdsong too. The "here comes he"…
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Famous quotes we've been getting wrong, from Robert Frost to 'Don't mess with Texas,' with Eli Burnstein
October 8, 2026 · 45 min1227. This week, we talk to Eli Burnstein, author of "Phrased & Confused." We look at why Robert Frost's "road less traveled" wasn't really less traveled, and why the other half of Stewart Brand's "information wants to be free" will make…
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Is it 'try and' or 'try to'? What does an epilogue do?
October 6, 2026 · 10 min1226. This week, we look at why so many people say "try and" instead of "try to," including why it may be the older form, why it turns up more in speech than in writing, and why it bothers Americans more than Brits. Then we look at what an…
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'Rizz,' 'lost in the sauce,' and Dictionary.com's newest words, with Steve Johnson
October 1, 2026 · 21 min1225. This week, we talk to lexicographer Steve Johnson from Dictionary.com. We look at how slang like "no cap" and "throw hands" works its way up from a separate slang dictionary, why one lexicographer fought against adding "rizz," and…
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Why are ships called 'she'?
September 29, 2026 · 13 min1224. This week, we look at why English speakers call ships "she," even when the ship is named Henry. Then we have a follow-up on "maxxing" from two listeners, including its roots in 1990s gaming and a cameo in the "Fresh Prince of Bel…
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What's in a word? Mapping America's regional vocabulary and the Linguistic Atlas Project, with Allison Burkette
September 24, 2026 · 35 min1223. This week, Valerie Fridland steps in for Mignon and sits down with linguist Allison Burkette of the Linguistic Atlas Project at the University of Kentucky. They look at what "lightwood" and "chifforobe" reveal about landscape and…
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How often do you use 'the'? Meet Zipf's law
September 22, 2026 · 10 min1222. This week, we look at Zipf's law, a pattern that shapes how often you use your most common words, and why SETI researchers think it could help identify alien communication. Save the date for Grammarpalooza — The Game Show: Thursday…
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Min-maxxing, looksmaxxing, and Nixon-maxxing, with Roger Kreuz
September 17, 2026 · 17 min1221. This week, we talk to Roger Kreuz, associate dean at the University of Memphis, about the "maxxing" craze. We look at how it started with min-maxxing in 1990s gaming culture, how looksmaxxing spread from the manosphere, and why it…
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Why do pirates say 'Arr'? Is it 'none is' or 'none are'?
September 15, 2026 · 13 min1220. This week, in honor of Talk Like a Pirate Day, we look at the history of eight pirate words, and then we look at whether the right pairing is "none is" or "none are." Save the date for Grammarpalooza — The Game Show: Thursday…

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