1067. Think "'til" is a valid alternative to "until"? Think again! We learn about the difference between "till" and "until" and why many style guides frown on "'til." Then, we uncover the hidden power of interjections—words like "um," "huh," and "mm-hmm"—and how they help us negotiate meaning, keep conversations flowing, and even challenge artificial intelligence.

The "interjections" segment was written by Bob Holmes, a science writer living in Edmonton, Canada and who until recently, had no idea how often he uses interjections.

The piece originally appeared in Knowable Magazine, a digital publication dedicated to making scientific knowledge accessible to all. And they've produced a special standalone episode of their podcast about interjections, so if you want to learn more, check that out too.

You can find their podcast and explore new articles at knowablemagazine.org.

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What’s wrong with ‘"'til"? Why tiny words control conversations. How many cookies?

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers.

What’s wrong with ‘"'til"? Why tiny words control conversations. How many cookies?