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That's What They Say

That's What They Say

By: Michigan Public
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About this listen

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 All Things Considered host Rebecca Kruth.

2026 Michigan Radio Art Literary History & Criticism
Episodes
  • TWTS: Staving off questions about "staffs" and "staves"

    TWTS: Staving off questions about "staffs" and "staves"
    Sep 12 2021
    If you have one staff, as in a stick, and then you add another staff, you now run into the question of whether you have two staffs or two staves. At least, that’s the question that popped into our heads when listener Nadia Luis asked us about the verb “stave off.”

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    5 mins
  • TWTS: Prior to adding "to," no one cares about "previous" and "prior"

    TWTS: Prior to adding "to," no one cares about "previous" and "prior"
    Sep 5 2021
    The words "previous" and "prior" are synonyms and don’t get much attention from language commentators. That is, they don’t get much attention unless “to” is part of the mix.

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    5 mins
  • TWTS: All available uses of "avail"

    TWTS: All available uses of "avail"
    Aug 29 2021
    We do things more often "to no avail" than "of no avail." These constructions have been on our minds since a listener asked about the relationship between "to avail one's self" and "to no avail." As it’s our habit to make ourselves available for such inquiries, we decided to take a closer look.

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    5 mins
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