In Tuesday’s podcast, we look at election terms like “president-elect” and “lame duck” and how they're used during a U.S. presidential transition. Then, I dig into my favorite kind of hot grammar news: people in Germany are angry about apostrophes!
On Thursday’s interview, ANNE LAMOTT! You'll feel like you can write anything after this discussion about painful first drafts, beating perfectionism, and the one thing she'd change in "Bird by Bird."
Since the late 1800s, journalists have avoided using "over" to mean “more than” in phrases such as "more than twenty people." However, this rule existed only within newsrooms. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of English Usage called it a “hoary American newspaper tradition,” Garner’s Modern American Usage called it a “baseless crotchet,” and the American Heritage Guide to Contemporary Usage and Style says it may be “safely ignored.”
Even the Associated Press recently backed off and now allows its writers to use "over" to mean “more than.”
You can still use "more than" if "over" bothers you, but don’t criticize people who use "over." They aren’t wrong.
While working at Yale's Beinecke Rare Books & Manuscript Library, a Ph.D. student tasked with responding to conspiracy theorists found herself absorbed by one of the library’s biggest puzzles. Lisa Fagin Davis stumbled upon a mysterious parchment known simply as the Cipher Manuscript — and better known as the Voynich Manuscript. Although several scholars have said they’ve deciphered the manuscript over the years, it still remains largely a mystery. Digging into its 234 pages, Davis found herself absorbed by the manuscript's unreadable language and the fantastical illustrations. — The Atlantic [gift link]
Do you want to transform your writing over the course of a weekend? Don’t miss the Writers Rising 2024retreat later this month, hosted by acclaimed author (and this week’s interview guest!) Anne Lamott and other writing legends. From October 25-27, writers of all levels will join to hear talks from the greats and stoke their inner fire for storytelling. It is not too late to join them! Get your spot by going to Writers Rising and using the code GRAMMARGIRL10 for 10% off your registration for either the in-person event or the robust online version.
Understand Common Mix-Ups
Is it "a lot" or "alot"? "Affect" or "effect"? "Capital" or "capitol"? English is full of words that are easy to confuse. There are words that sound the same, look similar, and are just commonly mistaken for each other. Over the years, I have come up with memory tricks to keep them straight, and I think the techniques that have worked for me will help you too.
This LinkedIn Learning course on commonly confused words is designed to improve your writing by clarifying the differences between these – and many other – tricky words, making it easier for you to write with confidence.– LinkedIn Learning
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Tell Me Your Familect Story
Have a comment or question for Grammar Girl? Ask a question or tell a story about your family's kitchen table lingo. Leave us voice memo using the chat function on WhatsApp. You could hear your message in a future podcast!