Anne Curzan, Rebecca Hector

That's What They Say

Education EN ↓ 20 episodes

Funner, snuck, and LOL are all things that we're hearing people say these days. That's What They Say is a weekly segment on Michigan Public that explores our changing language. University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan studies linguistics and the history of the English language. Each week she'll discuss why we say what we say with Michigan Public All Things Considered host Rebecca Hector. That's What They Say airs Fridays at 4:45 p.m. and Sundays at 9:35 a.m. on Michigan Public and you can podcast it here. Do you have an English or grammar question? Ask us here!

Author

Anne Curzan, Rebecca Hector

Episodes

TWTS: Understanding the depth of "fathom" 10.07.2026 5:12

We can count fathoms when we’re measuring things. We can also metaphorically fathom or not fathom things.

TWTS: Speaking of "bespoke" 03.07.2026 5:21

This is a bespoke segment of That’s What They Say that focuses on “bespoke.”

TWTS: Up and down your alley... and your street 26.06.2026 4:59

If it’s up your alley, it might also be up your street. And perhaps it’s down rather than up.

TWTS: One rank, two pronunciations 22.06.2026 5:17

You say "lieutenant," I say “leftenant” but let’s not call the whole thing off.

TWTS: The wonky journey of "wonky" 12.06.2026 5:21

There’s more than one way to be wonky, and not all of them are bad.

TWTS: Are we canceling adverbs? 05.06.2026 5:14

Adverbs don’t always get a lot of love, captured powerfully in the writing tip “Abolish the adverbs.”

TWTS: Scrimping, skimping, and the degrees of frugality 29.05.2026 4:59

We scrimp and we save, and we skimp and we still save, which makes one wonder whether scrimping is different from skimping

TWTS: From fishmongers to warmongers - and warmongerers 22.05.2026 5:01

Cheesemongers sell cheese, and gossipmongers usually start the gossip or spread it, rather than sell it.

TWTS: The death of doornails 15.05.2026 4:58

Many of us don’t talk about doornails very often, but sometimes we will when things are really, well, dead.

TWTS: When "f" and "v" were sort of one 08.05.2026 5:06

If you know how the sound "f" worked in Old English, it suddenly isn’t mysterious why the "f" in "leaf" turns into a "v" in the plural form "leaves."

TWTS: "Peak" felt fine until it was "peaked" 01.05.2026 5:23

TWTS: Why no one is "gonna Pittsburgh" 24.04.2026 5:10

If I say I’m gonna do it, I don’t necessarily mean I’m headed out the door right now to do it.

TWTS: From "6-7" to sixes and sevens 20.04.2026 5:24

2025 had lots of people talking about sixes and sevens, but not in the loose ends kind of way.

TWTS: A hangout is a great place to hang out 13.04.2026 5:18

Next time you’re hanging out with friends, you can debate just how slangy the phrasal verb ‘hang out’ is.

TWTS: Fore! It's a lightning round 06.04.2026 5:16

This may be one of the only times that throw pillows, golf, and curling all get wrapped into the same discussion.

TWTS: Humbled in victory, humbled in defeat 30.03.2026 5:19

When we get schooled at something, we may feel humbled by the experience; but when we win something, we may also say we feel humbled by the experience.

TWTS: When a reign becomes rain 23.03.2026 5:25

When terror rains down, we suddenly have a spelling question.

TWTS: The Declaration of ... Independency? 13.03.2026 5:25

The Declaration of Independence could readily have been the Declaration of Independency.

TWTS: Bereft or just lacking? 09.03.2026 5:18

We can be bereaved, we can be bereft, and sometimes we can be both bereaved and bereft.

TWTS: The wonky journey of "wonky" 28.02.2026 5:21

There are a few different ways to be wonky, some of which are positive and some of which, not so much.