Rephonic
Artwork for You're Saying It Wrong

You're Saying It Wrong

KMUW
English Language
Etymology
Grammar
Language Evolution
Pronunciation
Language
British English
Linguistics
Latin Phrases
American English
Pet Peeves
SAT
Spelling
Language Change
Language Usage
Fossil Words
Rhetoric
Language Pronunciation
Auxiliary Verbs
Artificial Intelligence

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 Commonl... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes200Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Language LearningEducationComedy

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for You're Saying It Wrong

Latest Episodes

We return to one of our favorite (and sometimes most confusing) topics: rules of English that we know instinctively, but that we have no idea we know.

Today we make a lot of noise by exploring nonverbal vocalizations: all those sounds that aren't words, exactly, but that still carry a lot of meaning.

YouTube

To split infinitives or to not split them? (Ir)regardless, we'll dive into some everyday language arguments that get people all worked up.

YouTube

Oh, so you think those two words mean exactly the same thing? Not. Even. Close.

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Kathryn Petras
New York Times bestselling author
Authors of You're Saying It Wrong
Episode: Common Grammar Controversies
Kathy Petras
New York Times bestselling co-author of You're Saying It Wrong
Author, You're Saying It Wrong
Episode: [Encore] Where Are the Beeves?
Ross Petras
New York Times bestselling co-author of You're Saying It Wrong
Author, You're Saying It Wrong
Episode: [Encore] Where Are the Beeves?

Hosts

Fletcher Powell
Host and producer at KMUW in Wichita, Kansas (longstanding host), known for guiding discussions and curating content.
Kathy Petras
New York Times bestselling author and language expert; co-presenter and co-author on pronunciation and etymology topics.
Ross Petras
New York Times bestselling author; language expert; co-host and co-author, contributing pronunciation history insights.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 254 ratings
  • What fun!

    This is such an entertaining show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ninky333
    United Statesa month ago
  • Generally unbearable

    Too much irritating laughing. Just get to it.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Alfman91
    United States3 months ago
  • But what about…?

    Decimate? Due to its careless mis-use, this word needs to go… and not just a tenth of it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Timothy J. Castle
    United States4 months ago
  • Enjoyable and Informative

    As a New Zealander, I was initially uncertain about listening to this, mainly because of my preconceived ideas about American English. However, I gave it a try and I’m now chipping away at the back catalogue of episodes. I have learnt so much about the English language listening to this podcast. I have also managed to shed many of my preconceived ideas about American English. Fletcher Powell, hosts the podcast with exactly the right balance of professionalism, humour and common sense. He has hel... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rarawa
    New Zealand4 months ago
  • Break from the World

    I love listening to the gang to laugh and learn. It’s not only fun and informative, but a much-needed break from the stress of daily life. I look forward anxiously to the new episode every week. Keep up the great work!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kara-girl
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The trio's chemistry is a standout; the episodes are entertaining and informative.
Listeners praise accessible language explanations paired with humor.
Audio quality feedback is mixed, but content quality is consistently appreciated.
Guests and hosts are described as knowledgeable and relatable, with strong banter.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Lowdown Dirty Spelling Quiz (Part 2)
Q: The question, are ED endings to verbs always the past tense?
ED endings can mark past tense, but they also appear in past participles and in participial/adjectival forms; the hosts explain the distinction and provide examples.
Cymraeg
Q: What is the origin of the word silhouette according to the episode discussion?
The term silhouette was linked to the French finance minister silhouette de Silhouette, with a debate whether the name or the brief tenure in office led to the association with cheap likenesses.
Cymraeg
Q: How did the hosts approach Welsh pronunciation in the quiz and what rules were highlighted?
They demonstrated that Welsh spelling uses heavy consonant clusters and sounds like CH as a guttural and LL as a lateral sound, with guidance on how W and Y behave in Welsh words and where vowels commonly produce OO or EE sounds.
Cymraeg
Q: What is the origin of the phrase 'see a man about a dog' and how has it evolved over time?
The earliest confirmed publication is in a 1866 play, and the expression expanded in Prohibition-era usage to refer to purchasing or consuming alcohol; later pop culture references reinforced the dual dog/horse variants.
[Encore] Where Are the Beeves?
Q: What happened to the plural F changing to V, and why does it happen?
The F often changes to V due to intervocalic voicing where the fricative becomes voiced when flanked by vowels after plural formation, a process rooted in Old English changes that were reinforced by Norman-era spelling conventions.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About You're Saying It Wrong

What is You're Saying It Wrong about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A witty, education-forward discussion about the quirks of English—its pronunciation, spelling, etymology, and evolving usage. From word origins to common mispronunciations, the show blends expert insight with playful banter, and frequently features two well-known language authors as co-hosts. Episodes balance practical tips (pronunciation, spelling, usage) with entertaining storytelling, making complex linguistics accessible to a broad audience of language enthusiasts, educators, and curious listeners. A standout angle is the friendly, chemistry-filled dynamic among three hosts, including the degree of humor that keeps deep dives approachable. Listeners can expect lively quizzes, etymology nuggets, and real-world examples tied to everyday s... more

Where can I find podcast stats for You're Saying It Wrong?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for You're Saying It Wrong. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to You're Saying It Wrong and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does You're Saying It Wrong get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for You're Saying It Wrong, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for You're Saying It Wrong?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for You're Saying It Wrong, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does You're Saying It Wrong have?

To see how many followers or subscribers You're Saying It Wrong has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to You're Saying It Wrong?

These podcasts share a similar audience with You're Saying It Wrong:

1. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
2. The Sporkful
3. How To Do Everything
4. The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes For Curious Cooks & Eaters
5. A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

How many episodes of You're Saying It Wrong are there?

You're Saying It Wrong launched 8 years ago and published 200 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact You're Saying It Wrong?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for You're Saying It Wrong?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for You're Saying It Wrong from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for You're Saying It Wrong?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of You're Saying It Wrong. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on You're Saying It Wrong?

Recent guests on You're Saying It Wrong include:

1. Kathryn Petras
2. Kathy Petras
3. Ross Petras

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days