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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Major League Baseball playoffs and football tailgate season both mean the smell of hot dogs is in the air.Door Anne Curzan, Rebecca Kruth
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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.”Door Rebecca Kruth, Anne Curzan
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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."Door Rebecca Kruth, Anne Curzan
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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."Door Anne Curzan, Rebecca Kruth
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Whoa, whoa, whoa. There are a lot of ways to spell "whoa."Door Rebecca Kruth, Anne Curzan
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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.Door Anne Curzan, Rebecca Kruth
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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?Door Rebecca Kruth, Anne Curzan
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The sign at the grocery store said “can goods,” not “canned goods.”Door Anne Curzan, Rebecca Kruth
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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.”Door Anne Curzan, Rebecca Kruth
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Alls our listener wanted to know is what's going on with the “alls” in “alls I know.”Door Rebecca Kruth, Anne Curzan
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Technically, not everyone you buy real estate from is a realtor.Door Rebecca Kruth, Anne Curzan
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The summer sped by and the car sped off, but perhaps we speeded up the process.Door Rebecca Kruth, Anne Curzan
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A bare-faced lie may also be bald. Sometimes, it may even be bold.Door Rebecca Kruth, Anne Curzan
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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.Door Rebecca Kruth, Anne Curzan
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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.Door Anne Curzan, Rebecca Kruth
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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.Door Rebecca Kruth, Anne Curzan
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All right, all right. It's time for us to start talking about whether "alright" is all right.Door Anne Curzan, Rebecca Kruth
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