That's What They Say is a weekly segment on Michigan Public that explores our changing language. Each week University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan will discuss why we say what we say with Michigan Public Weekend Edition host Rebecca Kruth.
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TWTS: In America, it's always hot dog season
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Major League Baseball playoffs and football tailgate season both mean the smell of hot dogs is in the air.Af Anne Curzan, Rebecca Kruth
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TWTS: Petards are for hoisting, not stabbing
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We don't encounter petards very often anymore. That’s unless we’re being, metaphorically speaking, “hoisted with our own petard.”Af Rebecca Kruth, Anne Curzan
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TWTS: Should we stop utilizing "utilize" and just use "use"?
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There are plenty of people out there who see "utilize" as a pretentious substitute for "use." However, some people are completely comfortable utilizing the verb "utilize."Af Rebecca Kruth, Anne Curzan
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TWTS: Yeah, we need to talk about "yay"
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There’s the “yea” in voting “yea” or “nay," and then there’s the celebratory “Yay!" Oh yeah, there's also "yeah."Af Anne Curzan, Rebecca Kruth
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TWTS: Whoa, is that how you spell "whoa"?
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Whoa, whoa, whoa. There are a lot of ways to spell "whoa."Af Rebecca Kruth, Anne Curzan
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TWTS: Your caring about gerunds is noble, but you caring is nice too
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You could say, "I don't like him singing," or you could say, "I don't like his singing." Believe it or not, some folks have very strong feelings about which of those is correct.Af Anne Curzan, Rebecca Kruth
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TWTS: The case of "pleaded" v. "pled"
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It's all so grammatically straight forward in the present tense if you plead innocent. Later on though, should you tell people you "pleaded" innocent or "pled" innocent?Af Rebecca Kruth, Anne Curzan
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TWTS: Goods in the can may not always be "canned"
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The sign at the grocery store said “can goods,” not “canned goods.”Af Anne Curzan, Rebecca Kruth
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TWTS: Keeping track of “track” and “tract"
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We keep track of things, we lose track of things, we run track, and listen to tracks. Sometimes though, we confuse “track” with “tract.”Af Anne Curzan, Rebecca Kruth
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TWTS: The “all” in “alls” is just another tough one to call
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Alls our listener wanted to know is what's going on with the “alls” in “alls I know.”Af Rebecca Kruth, Anne Curzan
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Technically, not everyone you buy real estate from is a realtor.Af Rebecca Kruth, Anne Curzan
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TWTS: The day sped by when time speeded up
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The summer sped by and the car sped off, but perhaps we speeded up the process.Af Rebecca Kruth, Anne Curzan
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A bare-faced lie may also be bald. Sometimes, it may even be bold.Af Rebecca Kruth, Anne Curzan
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TWTS: When "thank you" is your only option
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It doesn't seem like coming up with a response to "thank you" should be that complicated. When you think about it though, there are a lot of options.Af Rebecca Kruth, Anne Curzan
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TWTS: When it comes to "lie" and "lay," even English professors get confused
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Even for speakers who feel solid about the distinction between "lie" and "lay," they may lose that distinction when "low" is added to the mix.Af Anne Curzan, Rebecca Kruth
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TWTS: We're not done talking about "alright," all right?
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All right, last week, we got distracted by the versatility of "all right." This week, we look at why spelling it as one word, "alright," makes some people really mad.Af Rebecca Kruth, Anne Curzan
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TWTS: "Alright" is not just all right with everyone
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All right, all right. It's time for us to start talking about whether "alright" is all right.Af Anne Curzan, Rebecca Kruth
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