
Why are ships called 'she'?
Get every episode summarized
Each time Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
About this episode
1224. This week, we look at why English speakers call ships "she," even when the ship is named Henry. Then we have a follow-up on "maxxing" from two listeners, including its roots in 1990s gaming and a cameo in the "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" theme song.
The ships segment was written by Karen Lunde. Find her on igofirst.org.
A hearty thank-you to our Keepers of the Commas on Patreon. We appreciate your support!
- Larry Rosenblum
- Mahala Russell
- George Wilson
- Laurel Paul
- Linda Cox
- Birna Anna Björnsdóttir
- Kate Wade
🔗 Share your familect recording in Speakpipe or by leaving a voicemail at 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses.
🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter.
🔗 Find an edited transcript.
🔗 Get Grammar Girl books.
| HOST: Mignon Fogarty
| Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.
- Audio Engineer: Castria Communications
- Director of Podcast: Holly Hutchings
- Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson
- Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes, Rebekah Sebastian
- Podcast Associate: Maram Elnagheeb
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus.
| Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook. Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Get every episode summarized
Each time Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

'Rizz,' 'lost in the sauce,' and Dictionary.com's newest words, with Steve Johns...
Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

What's in a word? Mapping America's regional vocabulary and the Linguistic Atlas...
Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

How often do you use 'the'? Meet Zipf's law
Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Min-maxxing, looksmaxxing, and Nixon-maxxing, with Roger Kreuz
Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing