Lexicon Valley

Irregardless Make You Cringe? Relax.

English is full of redundancies—so why are we bothered by only a select few?

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Episode Notes

Sink down? Each and every? We put up with countless repetitions and redundancies in our language, but seem to get irritated by only a handful or so. Take irregardless, for example. Try using it in polite conversation—if you dare!—and watch as people clench their fists and wince.

Podcast production by Mike Vuolo.

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About the Show

If you’ve ever had curious thoughts and questions about the ways we speak, read, and write, Lexicon Valley is the show for you. Hosted by linguist John McWhorter.

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