Podcast
You're Saying It Wrong
Hosted by KMUW · EN
From KMUW Studios and part of the NPR Podcast Network, You're Saying It Wrong is a podcast that looks at what we get wrong—and what we sometimes get right—when it comes to this English language. Hosted by KMUW's Fletcher Powell, each episode features a conversation with the sister and brother who wrote the book on it. Literally. You're Saying It Wrong: A Pronunciation Guide to the 150 Most Commonly Mispronounced Words and Their Tangled Histories of Misuse is by Kathryn Petras and Ross Petras.On June 24, 2022, You’re Saying It Wrong received first place in Division B for Interview Podcasts from the Public Media Journalists Association. The awards recognize the best work in public media journalism from across the country.You're Saying It Wrong is available to public radio stations through PRX.
34episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Common Grammar Controversies
5d ago00:30:10Tap to summarizeTo split infinitives or to not split them? (Ir)regardless, we'll dive into some everyday language arguments that get people all worked up.
Transcribe →How Tiny Differences Can Make a Huge... Difference
2w ago00:34:28Tap to summarizeOh, so you think those two words mean exactly the same thing? Not. Even. Close.
Transcribe →A Lowdown Dirty Spelling Quiz (Part 2)
3w ago00:33:38Tap to summarizeKathy and Ross did their darndest to stump Fletcher in last week's spelling quiz, to moderate success. How will things go this week? The thrilling conclusion...
Transcribe →A Lowdown Dirty Spelling Quiz
4w ago00:29:24Tap to summarizeKathy and Ross pull out all the stops to try to trick Fletcher with a new spelling quiz. Fletcher does his best to upset them.
Transcribe →Cymraeg
May 200:31:32Tap to summarizeKathy, Ross, and Fletcher try to tackle the Welsh language, with... questionable results. Look, we're all doing our best here.
Transcribe →Phonotactics!
Apr 2500:30:55Tap to summarizeThink you don't know what phonotactics are? Even our youngest English speakers do! You might just not realize it...
Transcribe →What's in a Name?
Apr 1800:33:33Tap to summarizeThis week, Kathy and Ross challenge Fletcher to an epic eponym quiz, and somehow they detour again into an analysis of pavement. How? You'll have to listen to find out!
Transcribe →[Encore] Where Are the Beeves?
Apr 1100:32:22Tap to summarizeThe plural of thief is thieves, so why isn't the plural of chief chieves? And as the old woman once said, where are the beeves??? On today's show, we tackle the tricky nuance of plurals and synonyms that aren't actually synonyms.
Transcribe →Euphemisms
Apr 400:30:34Tap to summarizeWe'll be happy to tell you what this episode is about just as soon as we get back from using the bathroom—I mean, the restroom—I mean, the washroom—I mean, the facilities—I mean…
Transcribe →If We Knew You Were Comin' We'd've Baked a Cake
Mar 2800:37:07Tap to summarizeToday we address a couple of listener questions, including one about the Third Conditional (???), before moving on to a quiz about Middle English vs. Latin spellings.
Transcribe →