Smash Notes
Language Rules!

Science Rules! with Bill Nye

Language Rules!

Language, especially English, has a lot of rules. We tackle how and why those rules apply to English with Copy Chief at Random House Benjamin Dreyer, who reminds us that while rules are important, we have to change our minds about some rules. We hear from a few callers, including Allyson who wants to know why the classic "i before e" rule barely applies…

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Notes

  1. Who Is Benjamin Dreyer on Science Rules! With Bill Nye? at 3:24

    Benjamin Dreyer is the copy chief at Random House and the author of Dreyer's English, a New York Times bestseller. On Science Rules! Full answer

  2. What Is the Difference Between Editing and Copyediting at 4:10

    The editor works with the author for however many drafts to tackle the big picture issues. Full answer

  3. What Brings So Much Satisfaction From Grammar at 5:43

    Bill Nye is not sure, but he says in order for it to be clear, you want it to be logical. The rules are developed in a logical way. Full answer

  4. Why Do Some Words Break the "i After E, Except After C" Rule at 13:27

    Benjamin's opinion is that this rule is major elementary bs because there are some words that apply, but many other words that don't apply to this rules. Full answer

  5. Where Did the Hierarchy of Curse Words Come From at 24:30

    The words that are least offensive tend to be the nursery words. There are many childish euphemisms to substitute for the curse words. Full answer

  6. Where Did the Singular Use of “they” Come From at 30:24

    It has had a presence in the English language for many, many centuries. Just because it exists doesn’t make it useful or correct. Full answer

  7. How Do Writers Avoid Using “they” as a Singular Pronoun at 32:27

    Benjamin has noticed that writers will make their subjects plural in order to justify using “they.” Full answer

  8. Is It “a Historic” or “an Historic” at 36:30

    Benjamin says a historic because there is an “h” in front of the word. You have to also sound it out. Full answer

  9. Does Thinking About Nothing Make a Person Focus More During a Game or Event at 42:10

    Yes. Full answer

  10. What Is One Rule That the Spelling Bee Champions Applied at 42:47

    For Shruthika Padhy, she states that there are some very phonetic languages— Spanish, for example— so she would spell out a word phonetically. Full answer

  11. How Does Someone Spell a Word at 45:47

    Rohan Raja pictures what he hears from just hearing the word. Full answer

  12. What Is Something That Breaks Grammatical Rules at 47:01

    Rohan states that poetry breaks all the rules. Full answer

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