On rare occasion you may perhaps wonder where the expression “Once in a Blue Moon” comes from. This week Paul Brians discusses the true origin.
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Links:
Moody Blues, by Paul Brians
The Eggcorn Database
Why Did People Once Think the Moon was Made Out of Cheese? (from Today I Found Out)
Choosing the right word is more than a matter of looking up synonyms. In this episode Paul Brians talks about word choice, with a smattering of etymology and linguistic discussion of “snow words” thrown in.
Links:
Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
“Eskimo Words for Snow”: A Case Study in the Genesis and Decay of an Anthropological Example, by Laura Martin (also see Bad science reporting again: the Eskimos are back, by Geoffrey K. Pullum).
Ever thought you’d like to hear two middle-aged married men’s advice on dating? No? Too bad—in this week’s episode we talk about something that’s been in the news lately: English usage in online dating profiles.
Links:
“What’s Really Hot on Dating Sites? Proper Grammar”
“On Dating Sites, Good Writing Matters”
“In Journalism, Grammar Is Everything”
The Common Errors in English Usage Blog – all posts
This week we discuss shades of meaning between US and UK English, focusing on two common words that are used differently on the two sides of the Atlantic.
Link:
Brilliant in Britain
The Common Errors in English Usage Podcast 