A retired professor wants to know if Latin grammar holds any clues about whether a female professor is properly addressed as “professor emeritus” or “professor emerita.” This is part of a complete episode.
The hosts weigh in on whether the expression “very fun” is grammatically correct. This is part of a complete episode.
And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for: The results of the “A Way with Words” Collective Noun Contest! What collective noun would you apply to groups of 1) tennis players, 2) aliens from outer space, and 3) language-loving...
whimperative
n.— «Sadock, Jerrold M. 1970. Whimperatives. In: Studies presented to R.B. Lees by his students. Edited by Sadock and Vanek Edmonton, Linguistic Research, Inc. 223-228.» —, 1970. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
In our latest online-only episode, Martha’s been putting together a collection of your favorite collective nouns and Grant joins her to swat around a caller’s question about what to call a game of tennis when you have only three players...
vomit draft n.— «And you can join them—even if your grammar grates and your spelling stinks. Your only goal is to finish what’s fondly called the “vomit draft.” Be assured that much of your novel will reek. But just as a slimy oyster...