You're Saying It Wrong

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From KMUW Studios, 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…

KMUW Studios


    • May 31, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 29m AVG DURATION
    • 216 EPISODES

    4.8 from 141 ratings Listeners of You're Saying It Wrong that love the show mention: brother and sister, fletcher, language, english, nerds, learn something, words, entertaining, loved, easy, fun, interesting, informative, always, new, listen, like, great, saying it wrong.


    Ivy Insights

    The You're Saying It Wrong podcast is an absolute gem for language lovers and those who appreciate a good laugh. Hosted by Fletcher, along with siblings Kathy and Ross, this show combines humor, education, and genuine passion for words and language. Each episode explores the quirks and contradictions of the English language in a lighthearted and entertaining manner, making it a truly delightful listening experience.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is the chemistry between the hosts. Kathy, Ross, and Fletcher have fantastic rapport and their infectious laughter adds an extra layer of enjoyment to each episode. Their love for language is palpable, making it easy for listeners to get swept up in their enthusiasm. The discussions are not only informative but also relatable, as they tackle everyday language issues that many people can relate to.

    Another great aspect of The You're Saying It Wrong podcast is its educational value. The hosts dive into various topics related to spelling, definitions, vocabulary, etymology, and more. They provide useful tips on pronunciation and help debunk common misconceptions about certain words or phrases. Listeners will not only learn something new with each episode but also gain a greater appreciation for the intricacies of the English language.

    While there aren't many negative aspects to this podcast, one potential downside is that it may not be everyone's cup of tea. Those who are not particularly interested in language or grammar might find some episodes less engaging than others. Additionally, some listeners may prefer a more serious tone when discussing linguistic topics rather than the playful banter that characterizes this show.

    In conclusion, The You're Saying It Wrong podcast is a must-listen for anyone who enjoys exploring the fascinating world of language while having a good laugh along the way. With its knowledgeable hosts, amusing conversations, and informative content, this podcast strikes a perfect balance between entertainment and education. Whether you are a grammar nerd or simply curious about how we communicate, this show is sure to entertain and enlighten.



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    Latest episodes from You're Saying It Wrong

    Pet Peeves, Oxymorons, and Other Unusual Animals

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2025 29:25


    Get ready for some (barely) controlled chaos as we look at phrases that seem to contradict themselves, and others that just get under our skin.

    Colorless Green Mailbags Sleep Furiously

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2025 35:27


    We dip back into the mailbag to answer some listener questions, including one about a famous nonsense phrase.

    The Spell-a-Thon From Hell-a-Thon (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2025 29:22


    This week: The thrilling conclusion of one of the most deceptively difficult spelling tests you're ever likely to come across.

    The Spell-a-Thon From Hell-a-Thon (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2025 33:27


    Kathy and Ross give Fletcher one of the most deceptively difficult spelling tests you're ever likely to see.

    Who Gets Credit, Anyway?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2025 31:59


    This week, we're looking at words with literary origins. You may not know this, but sometimes writers just make words up.

    We're Gonna Party Like It's 1985

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2025 35:04


    1985 may not seem like a long time ago, but people back then had some pretty different ideas about how to speak "properly."

    Tulip Mania!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2025 35:50


    What does the stock market have to do with piracy in the West Indies? The Dutch, of course! (Really!)

    Where Are the Beeves?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2025 32:20


    The 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.

    The Letter of the Day is E!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2025 33:01


    We return to our series looking at the most enigmatic, evil words ever found on the SAT.

    Spring Has Sprung!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2025 33:50


    We're talking about some words of the season as the temperatures have fortunately turned for the better and allergies unfortunately have not.

    We're looking to the past

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2025 29:22


    Today we're taking a trip back into the past — past tense, past participles... When we try to tell someone about something that already happened, it can be trickier than we might think.

    Happy 200!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2025 30:56


    We celebrate our 200th episode (!) by taking a trip back in time to look at some words that popped up 200 years ago.

    Let's Get Fancy

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2025 29:23


    Put on your best evening wear, we're getting fancy! Or maybe we're just getting stuffy. This week we're looking at language that's grammatically correct, but that sounds like you're just trying to impress.

    Mailbag Day!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2025 36:07


    We answer listeners' most burning language questions, including one about how the letter "R" seems to disappear and reappear in the strangest places, and about whether or not anything can ever be called "epic" ever again.

    Enough With the Latin Already!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2025 29:23


    Latin may be a dead language, but it sure seems to come up a lot! This week, we'll look at some common Latin phrases that we think we understand, but that we may not get quite right.

    Getting a D on the SAT

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2025 30:47


    We return to our series looking at the most devilish words ever found on the SAT.

    We'll Never Give You the Cold Shoulder

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2025 31:06


    We celebrate the season by looking at some winter-related idioms.

    Canadian English

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2025 29:23


    We've tackled the differences between American and British English, but let's not forget Canadians also have a language of their own.

    The Norman Conquest of the English Language

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2025 30:28


    The year is 1066: William the Conqueror lands upon the shores of England and changes the course of the English language forever. So what does that mean for us?

    Idioms: They're Not Rocket Science

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2025 29:14


    We take a look at some modern-day idioms, where they came from, and what they could possibly mean.

    Get These Words Outta Here!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2025 29:14


    We look at a list of words people want to banish in this new year. Some of them we agree with, some of them we won't let go without a fight!

    Getting a C on the SAT

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2025 29:12


    We continue our alphabetical trip through the most challenging words from the SAT.

    The Words of 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2024 29:11


    We'll run through the various dictionaries' selections for the words of the year and offer up a few of our own.

    A Plethora of Plurals!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2024 29:14


    What could be more fun for the holidays than digging into the bizarre world of Latin and Greek plurals? Nothing! That's what!

    Is This Socially Acceptable??

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2024 29:13


    We wade into the social media wars as we take a look at some of the most common language mistakes people make when they're posting online.

    Grab-bag Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2024 23:36


    We hit a number of language-related topics this week, kicked off by a listener question about what the heck a participle actually is.

    It's All Relative

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2024 29:12


    This week, Kathy and Ross quiz Fletcher on words that are surprising relatives– and some that are surprisingly not.

    ENCORE: These Names Have Snob Appeal

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2024 30:26


    We look at some names of famous people that, when you pronounce them correctly, can let people know you're an expert... or a snob.

    Getting a B on the SAT

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2024 29:13


    The letter of the week is "B," as we move on to the second part in our series looking at the hardest words on the SAT.

    A Little Stress Relief

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2024 29:12


    This week, we're here to help you relax a little bit by telling you that some of those little language mistakes that raise your blood pressure might not actually be mistakes.

    Electoral Confusion

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2024 29:13


    With the U.S. election upon us, Kathy and Ross quiz Fletcher on the pronunciation and origins of some words related to our democratic process.

    It's Getting Spoooooky Again

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2024 29:23


    Just in time for Halloween, we're talking about some of the creepy parts of the language world, including ghost words and some horrifying hyphens.

    Italian Food!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2024 29:22


    We're looking at the differences between what people in Italy call their food and what they call it in one very specific place in the world (here's a hint: Tony Soprano has a lot to say about this).

    Make No Mistake

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2024 29:23


    We return to one of our favorite topics: mistakes that aren't really mistakes, even though a whole lot of people will tell you they're mistakes.

    The "Most" Words

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2024 29:24


    A Merriam-Webster poll sets off our conversation today as we make our picks for the most overrated word, the most underrated word, the most pleasant word to say, and a number of other mosts, bests, and worsts.

    Of Course! A Mere Trifle.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2024 29:22


    There are a whole lot of things you can say when someone thanks you for something... But what do they all really mean?

    The Hidden World of Syllable Stress

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2024 29:24


    We continue our fascination with rules we don't know we know with a look at the importance of where we put the stress when we say words out loud.

    Let's Hop Across the Pond

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2024 29:23


    Jump in your estate car and head to the chemist, this week we're looking at some British equivalents of American English words.

    Getting an A on the SAT

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2024 29:22


    The letter of the day is "A"! We're getting you (or your kids) ready for the SATs with some tricky vocabulary from the beginning of the alphabet.

    We Simply Must Talk About Modal Verbs

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2024 29:23


    Must, could, should, shall, might, may... We dig into the weird, wiggly, weaselly world of modal verbs.

    Let's Hit the Beach

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2024 29:24


    Grab your swimsuit! Or your bathing suit. That's up to you. We're heading to the beach for a look at the language of tides, waves, and other things beachy.

    Now is the winter of our discontent made brat summer

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2024 29:01


    With Charli XCX sparking a summer phenomenon, we take a look at the nature of slang: who uses it, why we use it, and how we need to be very careful with it.

    Back-formations

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2024 29:24


    Today we look at words that came from other words even though we think the second word should have come first.

    Silly Rules (Or, the Unpredictability of the English Language)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2024 29:25


    Today, we look at language rules that are rules sometimes, and rules that don't make sense. Well, they make some sense. Whatever. They're rules, anyway.

    The Etymology Olympics

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2024 29:24


    With the world's greatest sporting event upon us, we look at the origins of some sports-related words.

    Is This a Fossil? Or Just Some Dumb Old Rock?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2024 29:23


    A listener question prompts us to think about words like rehabilitate, revamp, and nonplussed, and whether we can be plussed about habilitating and vamping, or if we're just talking nonsense.

    The Ambiguity of English (Is the Name of My Jazz Band)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2024 29:24


    This week, we're talking ambiguous words and ambiguous phrases– sometimes we think we know what we're saying and sometimes we're really wrong.

    It's a Dead Language, I Always Say

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2024 29:24


    Latin may be dead, but we still use it every day. This week we look at some common Latin phrases and what they actually mean.

    Cranberry Morphemes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2024 29:23


    We know what a berry is, we know what a cranberry is, but what the heck is a "cran?" We enter the sometimes murky world of the cranberry morpheme...

    cranberry morphemes
    Final Exams

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2024 29:23


    As we head into summer, we'll take a look back to see if we can remember what we've learned over the past year.

    The Defining Words of the Spelling Bee

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2024 29:23


    After this year's thrilling spell-off in the National Spelling Bee, we try to tease out the definitions of some of the words that won the contest.

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