Five-time winner of Best Education Podcast in the Podcast Awards. Grammar Girl provides short, friendly tips to improve your writing and feed your love of the English language. Whether English is your first language or your second language, these grammar, punctuation, style, and business tips will make you a better and more successful writer. Grammar Girl is a Quick and Dirty Tips podcast.

1086. What does it really take to earn a living as a writer? Jane Friedman explains the multiple paths writers take — from speaking and consulting to newsletters and hybrid publishing—and offers grounded, practical advice for navigating the business of writing in 2025 and beyond.<a href="janefriedman.com">Jane Friedman</a> is the author of "The Business of Being a Writer."🔗 Share your familect recording in a <a href="https://wa.me/message/LTNZOVFAQJK6B1">WhatsApp chat.</a>🔗 Watch my <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/mignon-fogarty">LinkedIn Learning writing courses</a>.🔗 Subscribe to the <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe">newsletter</a>.🔗 Take <a href="https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR">our advertising survey</a>. 🔗 Get the edited <a href="https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/jane-friedman/transcript">transcript</a>.🔗 Get <a href="https://amzn.to/3LULzLb">Grammar Girl books</a>. 🔗 <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscription/">Join Grammarpalooza</a>. Get ad-free and bonus episodes at <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grammar-girl-quick-and-dirty-tips-for-better-writing/id173429229">Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href="https://joinsubtext.com/grammar">Subtext</a>. <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscription/">Learn more about the difference</a>. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty| VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475).| Grammar Girl is part of <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts">the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network</a>.| Theme music by <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/episodes/cfec9501-0b7a-415c-a558-213d584f3fa1/beautifulmusic.co.uk">Catherine Rannus</a>.| Grammar Girl Social Media: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/episodes/cfec9501-0b7a-415c-a558-213d584f3fa1/YouTube.com/grammargirl">YouTube</a>. <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl">TikTok</a>. <a href="http://facebook.com/grammargirl">Facebook</a>.<a href="https://www.threads.net/@thegrammargirl">Threads</a>. <a href="http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl">Instagram</a>. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl">LinkedIn</a>. <a href="https://mastodon.social/@grammargirl">Mastodon</a>. <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/grammargirl.bsky.social">Bluesky</a>.

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

​​The publishing world is changing. Jane Friedman tells us how.

1085. Do abbreviations like “plz” and “ty” actually make your texts feel less sincere? New research suggests they might. We explore how shortened words affect how your messages are received — even in romantic conversations. Then, we offer practical tips for writing thoughtful, specific thank-you notes that reflect real gratitude.The texting segment was written by David Fang, a PhD student in marketing at Stanford University. Sam Maglio, an Associate Professor of Marketing and Psychology at the University of Toronto, also contributed to the writing. <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-you-should-think-twice-before-using-shorthand-like-thx-and-k-in-your-texts-248812">It originally ran on The Conversation</a>, and appears here through a Creative Commons license.The "thank-you" segment originally ran on the <a href="https://blog.oup.com/2016/06/how-to-write-a-thank-you-note">OUP Blog</a> and appears here with permission. Edwin Battistella taught linguistics and writing at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, where he served as a dean and as interim provost. He is the author of "<a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/do-you-make-these-mistakes-in-english-9780195367126?q=The%20Logic%20of%20Markedness&lang=en&cc=us">Do You Make These Mistakes in English</a>?" (OUP, 2009), "<a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/bad-language-9780195172485?lang=en&cc=us">Bad Language</a>" (OUP, 2005), and "<a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-logic-of-markedness-9780195103946?q=The%20Logic%20of%20Markedness&lang=en&cc=us">The Logic of Markedness</a>" (OUP, 1996).🔗 Share your familect recording in a <a href="https://wa.me/message/LTNZOVFAQJK6B1">WhatsApp chat.</a>🔗 Watch my <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/mignon-fogarty">LinkedIn Learning writing courses</a>.🔗 Subscribe to the <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe">newsletter</a>.🔗 Take <a href="https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR">our advertising survey</a>. 🔗 Get the edited <a href="https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/plz/transcript">transcript</a>.🔗 Get <a href="https://amzn.to/3LULzLb">Grammar Girl books</a>. 🔗 <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscription/">Join Grammarpalooza</a>. Get ad-free and bonus episodes at <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grammar-girl-quick-and-dirty-tips-for-better-writing/id173429229">Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href="https://joinsubtext.com/grammar">Subtext</a>. <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscription/">Learn more about the difference</a>. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty| VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475).| Grammar Girl is part of <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts">the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network</a>.<ul><li>Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend</li><li>Director of Podcast: Holly Hutchings</li><li>Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson</li><li>Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes</li></ul>| Theme music by <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/episodes/cfec9501-0b7a-415c-a558-213d584f3fa1/beautifulmusic.co.uk">Catherine Rannus</a>.| Grammar Girl Social Media: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/episodes/cfec9501-0b7a-415c-a558-213d584f3fa1/YouTube.com/grammargirl">YouTube</a>. <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl">TikTok</a>. <a href="http://facebook.com/grammargirl">Facebook</a>.<a href="https://www.threads.net/@thegrammargirl">Threads</a>. <a href="http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl">Instagram</a>. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl">LinkedIn</a>. <a href="https://mastodon.social/@grammargirl">Mastodon</a>. <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/grammargirl.bsky.social">Bluesky</a>.

Why 'plz' might be pushing people away. How to write better thank-you notes. Studaloo

1084. This week, Gabe Henry talks about his new book, "Enough Is Enuf," and the long, strange quest to simplify English spelling. Learn why the "Chicago Tribune" made simplified spelling its house style for decades and why Roosevelt's attempt to make it law backfired.Find Gabe Henry at <a href="http://GabeHenry.com">http://GabeHenry.com</a>.🔗 <a href="https://bit.ly/GrammarGirlJuneWebinar">Use the code MACMIL for $50 off my Ragan AP style webinar</a>.🔗 Share your familect recording in a <a href="https://wa.me/message/LTNZOVFAQJK6B1">WhatsApp chat.</a>🔗 Watch my <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/mignon-fogarty">LinkedIn Learning writing courses</a>.🔗 Subscribe to the <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe">newsletter</a>.🔗 Take <a href="https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR">our advertising survey</a>. 🔗 Get the edited transcript.🔗 Get <a href="https://amzn.to/3LULzLb">Grammar Girl books</a>. 🔗 <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscription/">Join Grammarpalooza</a>. Get ad-free and bonus episodes at <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grammar-girl-quick-and-dirty-tips-for-better-writing/id173429229">Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href="https://joinsubtext.com/grammar">Subtext</a>. <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscription/">Learn more about the difference</a>. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty| VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475).| Grammar Girl is part of <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts">the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network</a>.<ul><li>Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend</li><li>Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius</li><li>Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson</li><li>Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings</li><li>Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes</li></ul>| Theme music by <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/episodes/cfec9501-0b7a-415c-a558-213d584f3fa1/beautifulmusic.co.uk">Catherine Rannus</a>.| Grammar Girl Social Media: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/episodes/cfec9501-0b7a-415c-a558-213d584f3fa1/YouTube.com/grammargirl">YouTube</a>. <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl">TikTok</a>. <a href="http://facebook.com/grammargirl">Facebook</a>.<a href="https://www.threads.net/@thegrammargirl">Threads</a>. <a href="http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl">Instagram</a>. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl">LinkedIn</a>. <a href="https://mastodon.social/@grammargirl">Mastodon</a>. <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/grammargirl.bsky.social">Bluesky</a>.

Why simplified spelling nearly took over America (and why it didn't), with Gabe Henry

1083. Is it "woke," "woken," or "waked"? We break down why the verb "wake" is one of the trickiest in English, with four competing forms and centuries of change. Then, we lighten things up with a look at vacation vocabulary—from "staycation" to "glamping."The "wake" segment was written by Natalie Schilling, a professor emerita of linguistics at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and who runs a forensic linguistics consulting firm. You can find her on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-schilling-11aa491a/">LinkedIn</a>.The "vacation" segment was written by Samantha Enslen, who runs Dragonfly Editorial. You can find her at <a href="dragonflyeditorial.com">dragonflyeditorial.com</a>.🔗 <a href="https://bit.ly/GrammarGirlJuneWebinar" target="_blank">Grammar Girl AP style webinar</a> (use the code MACMIL for $50 off).🔗 Share your familect recording in a <a href="https://wa.me/message/LTNZOVFAQJK6B1">WhatsApp chat.</a>🔗 Watch my <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/mignon-fogarty">LinkedIn Learning writing courses</a>.🔗 Subscribe to the <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe">newsletter</a>.🔗 Take <a href="https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR">our advertising survey</a>. 🔗 Get the edited <a href="https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/wake/transcript">transcript</a>.🔗 Get <a href="https://amzn.to/3LULzLb">Grammar Girl books</a>. 🔗 <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscription/">Join Grammarpalooza</a>. Get ad-free and bonus episodes at <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grammar-girl-quick-and-dirty-tips-for-better-writing/id173429229">Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href="https://joinsubtext.com/grammar">Subtext</a>. <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscription/">Learn more about the difference</a>. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty| VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475).| Grammar Girl is part of <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts">the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network</a>.<ul><li>Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend</li><li>Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius</li><li>Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson</li><li>Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings</li><li>Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes</li></ul>| Theme music by <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/episodes/cfec9501-0b7a-415c-a558-213d584f3fa1/beautifulmusic.co.uk">Catherine Rannus</a>.| Grammar Girl Social Media: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/episodes/cfec9501-0b7a-415c-a558-213d584f3fa1/YouTube.com/grammargirl">YouTube</a>. <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl">TikTok</a>. <a href="http://facebook.com/grammargirl">Facebook</a>.<a href="https://www.threads.net/@thegrammargirl">Threads</a>. <a href="http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl">Instagram</a>. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl">LinkedIn</a>. <a href="https://mastodon.social/@grammargirl">Mastodon</a>. <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/grammargirl.bsky.social">Bluesky</a>.

QuickAndDirtyTips.com

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing by QuickAndDirtyTips.com

Episodes