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#14 – The plural form of “you” already exists (and other words you’ve always wanted)

Words You Should Know podcast by Kris Spisak

This podcast is on one of my favorite explorations. It’s all about words you wish existed.

Sometimes the world seems annoyed that there just isn’t a word to express exactly what you want. There’s no English word for that intimate feeling of sitting around a fire in the winter with close friends (though it exists in Danish: hygge). There’s no word for the feeling of anticipation when you’re waiting for someone to show up at your house and you keep going outside to see if they’re there yet (though it exists in Inuit: iktsuarpok). Or what about the word for that panicky hesitation just before you have to introduce someone whose name you can’t quite remember? (The Scots call this tortle.)

What’s the word for the act of annoying older brothers (vybafnout)? Or the scratching of your head in order to help you remember something you’ve forgotten (pana po’o)? Or that old trick where you tap someone lightly on the opposite shoulder from behind to fool them (mencolek)? Just look at Czech, Hawaiian or Indonesian respectively, and they have your answers.

Of course, sometimes the word you need seems simple. How do you differentiate a singular versus plural “you”?

But here’s the secret. For this one, at least, the English language already has an answer.

To “Wet” or “Whet” Your Appetite? — Drool-worthy, right? But what does that mean for your appetite?

When people talk about enticing you, they aren’t talking about making you drool. The question about how do you spell “whetting” your appetite comes up often, and I think it often comes back to confusion about that saliva.

You see something delicious and you salivate. Sure, I get it, but that has nothing to do with this expression.

#13- When Grammar Goes Big: Beyoncé, Gwen Stefani & Broadway

Words You Should Know podcast by Kris Spisak

This is the start of season 2. How to start with that bang? Let’s talk Beyoncé, Gwen Stefani, and a classic Broadway show—and, of course, the words they use. You might not have known it, but they have a major disagreement on the usage of a phrase. Specifically, should it be “if I were” or “if I was”?

Today, we’re going to get down to the root of it, plus answer another big one that I know has been bothering you: Is it “ring in the new year” or “bring in the new year”?

It’s time to dive in.

Writing Tip 370: “Beyond the Pale” vs. “Beyond the Pail”

“Beyond the Pale” vs. “Beyond the Pail” If we’re mixing idioms, there might be something about kicking a bucket then going beyond the pail, but whatever the origin story your mind is making up for that one, don’t give it a second more of contemplation.

“Beyond the Pail” isn’t an expression. It could be where you walk past if you’re retrieving water from your spigot, but there are no pails or buckets involved in this old phrase.
“Beyond the pale” is the correct idiom, meaning something that is out of bounds or beyond what is acceptable. It speaks sometimes to the bizarre and sometimes to a lack of propriety or even the offensive.

The origin of “beyond the pale” seems to harken back to a definition of “pale” that you might not have heard of. We’re not talking about the skin of someone who has seen a ghost or who stays clear of the sun. We’re talking about a definition that comes from the Old English word pāl, and as a hint, the word “pole” derives from this same word.

Historically, a “pale” is a pointed wooden stake that creates a barrier or marks off an enclosure. It can sometimes reference the enclosed area or jurisdiction itself, such as an Irish Pale or the Pale of Calais in France (note the capitalization), which were both historical districts.

If you’re going to the beach, don’t stress about going beyond the pail. If you spend some time soaking up the sun, you might go beyond the paleness of your winter-weary skin, but be sure not to act beyond the pale or the lifeguard might ask you to leave.

Kicking buckets—both literal and metaphorical—is probably best to be avoided. As for pails and pales, it’s good to know the difference and, when necessary, to act (and spell) accordingly.

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Writing Tip 369: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (yes, the comma goes there)

We’re not talking about any “merry gentlemen” here, folks. Did you ever notice the correct comma placement within this opening line of the classic Christmas carol?

From Rudolph to the Grinch to Deck the Halls, yes, my holiday song breakdown continues…

Plus, you now have some nostalgic new slang to drop with your friends. What’s not to love?

Rest ye merry, everybody!

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Writing Tip 368: Should you “Toll” or “Troll” the Yuletide Carol? (video)

Think fast: how do you sing this classic holiday song?

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Editing Flash Sale!

Every year at the end of NaNoWriMo, a celebration is in order. So many writers did so much great work. It’s astounding.

But that work is not yet ready for querying or self-publishing. Wait, writers! Don’t do it yet! (As someone who always cautions against too many exclamation points, you can tell how serious I am about this.)

Books need time to breathe. They need the eyes of people besides the author (and besides the author’s mom). Because I want to make sure every book gets the best chance possible, I’m holding a 5-day-only manuscript critique and substantive edit flash sale. All 2019 manuscript critiques and substantive edits booked by December 5, 2018 for fiction projects will have a 10% discount.

Yes, this is the moment every year where I have to share my reminder about how to make your last name plural on your Christmas cards (hint: no apostrophe—please, no apostrophe!), but that’s not the end of our holiday punctuation conversation.

Forget the question of whether to say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays.” Is it “Season’s Greetings” or “Seasons Greetings”? Should we just return all those holiday card apostrophes like that awkward office Secret Santa present that joyously came with a gift receipt?

Maybe this seems tricky, but there’s no reason for overthinking this one. If you’re wishing someone greetings of the season, you’re wishing “season’s greetings.” The apostrophe is correct. It’s possessive.

The exact origin of “season’s greetings” is unclear, going perhaps as far back as the 1500s according to some sources, but it’s been used commonly at least since the mid-1800s. And the waves of confusion over this expression’s apostrophe have returned time and time again, peaking between 1907 and 1926, again in the 1940s, and then pretty consistently since 1977. Personally, I’m curious about the moment in 1926 and in 1949 that brought the population back to clarity on this issue, and how can we repeat that?

Sure, I have lots of missions this time of year. They range from teaching everyone to be as educated about nausea as the Grinch to questioning the word choice and punctuation of your favorite holiday songs (Are we “tolling” or “trolling” those Yuletime carols? Is Rudolph really the most famous reindeer of all? Where does the comma go in “God bless you merry gentlemen“?).

We don’t need to wait until New Year’s Resolutions—ooh, look another possessive comma!—to get our communications right.

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#12 – Don’t Meddle with My Metal Medal (or my Oranges)

Words You Should Know podcast by Kris Spisak

At twelve months old, babies are already beginning to recognize “adjacent relationships” of words, how language fits together to organize itself. The learning process with listening, speaking, and writing, begins there and often lasts for a lifetime.

There’s no medal awarded for correctness, but a strong command of your words is one way to show your mettle. But we’ll get back to that.

#11 – That “turkey” isn’t from Turkey

Words You Should Know podcast by Kris Spisak

Now that we’ve established whether it’s “prouder” or “more proud” than a peacock in last week’s episode, I want to keep talking about birds. Why? Because calling a North American turkey a “turkey” is up there with the earliest of #fakenews. But, accuracy has never been the English language’s strong suit.

It’s the week of Thanksgiving in the United States, and this is the time of year one question is asked time and time again:

Why on earth do we call a turkey a “turkey”?