Where did the phrase "suss out" come from? And why didn't Sherlock Holmes ever say it? Plus lots of other fun words from the detective and police industry, like Scotland Yard, Local Yokel, and the Fuzz.

Plus, I give you a nifty trick to help you remember how to spell elementary and cemetery, without needing to use spell checker.

And in book news (12:55) is the upcoming National Book Festival; a theme park based on beloved stories called Storyville Gardens in Nashville, Tennessee; and places to go to buy books and games and textbooks that are NOT Amazon... and why you should!

There are lots of errors that are considered 'bad grammar,' such as comma splicing, run-on sentences, sentence fragments, and dangling modifiers. But do you know which one(s) actually have some merit and can be used in your writing if you do it correctly?

I have a section on the number one way to beat writer's block every single time!

In the news section (23:05), we talk about trade publishers and academic publishers, the difference (in size) between the two industries (guess which one absolutely dwarfs the other one!), and why further mergers between the Big Five is really not a good idea.

There are 4 sentence structures and 4 types of sentences in the English language. We'll cover each structure and type with plenty of examples.

Soundbites, sayings, mantras, and mottos--what do they do for us and why do we use them?

In the news section (13:25), we discuss subscription models for books (they're here to stay), and book piracy (what to do?!).

The various words we use to describe the ways we throw things have been in their modern form for centuries. We talk about fling, chuck, throw, hurl, heave... and six other throwing words. What is the difference between hurl and hurtle? And which word has been used to create dozens of new meanings?

Then a quick history about the game of hot potato, and why "a political hot potato" has become an overused idiom.

Plus a bit about Navar's acquisition of WattPad and a discussion on the business model of WattPad. (News section starts at 18:01)

For transcripts and resources, visit Ploppletop.com/GeoGram

Find out what it means to be a sophomore... and why this seemingly contradictory word fits perfectly after 'freshman.' And with Constitution Day coming up on September 17th, who did the Founding Fathers turn to as they figured out what type of government to write into the Constitution?

If you love English trivia or you simply hope to learn English better, this is the podcast for you. We hope you enjoy it!

If you're most interested in the news portion, it begins at: 13:10

Transcripts and show notes are available at www.ploppletop.com/geogram. If you want to contact me, you can write to me at alwicks@protonmail.com or through my publisher at contactus@ploppletop.com. You can also find me on Instagram or other social media sites (I'm most active on Instagram). Thank you for listening!

What is the connection between grammar rules and The Odyssey? How has geography shaped English? How is the Kindle Vella changing the publishing industry?

Whether you enjoy a bit of English language trivia or you want to understand English better, we hope you enjoy this episode of GeoGram!

If you're most interested in the news portion, it begins at: 15:08

Transcripts and show notes are available at www.ploppletop.com/geogram. If you want to contact me, you can write to me at alwicks@protonmail.com or through my publisher at contactus@ploppletop.com. You can also find me on Instagram or other social media sites (I'm most active on Instagram). Thank you for listening!

What is a flavoring word and why don't Americans use them the way Germans do?

What does Jim Gaffigan's snippet on whales have to do with grammar?

Can you spell onomatopoeia without looking?

Water butt or rain barrel? School and schedule?

With a dash of grammar humor and an in-depth look at the long range of history that has led to the way we use English today, this podcast will entertain, educate, and surprise you.