Home
Welcome to Grammar Badgers, a project created by students in English linguistics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison under the direction of Professor Anja Wanner. On this site, you can learn about tricky grammar topics in videos and podcasts, and find interviews with linguists and writing instructors. Each year, we’re adding new projects to this website. You can explore our website by clicking on the tabs at the top – you can also find some of the highlighted contents down below – or read more about our work here.
These 1-min short videos look into how different people react to controversial grammar constructions. You can find more videos HERE.
[Created by students in English 905: Bad Grammar]
You can find more videos HERE.
[Created by students in English 412: Bad Grammar and Metalinguistic Awareness]
Try our experiment to see if your mother tongue has an impact on the way you think of the world! You can also find more quizzes HERE.
[Created by students in English 413: English Words. Grammar, Culture, Mind.]
What’s great about studying dialects
Learn about the history and application of the Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE). You can also find more podcasts with linguists HERE. Grammar Badgers also asked dozens of linguists what they love about their field and if there are any misconceptions about language that drive them crazy.
[Created by students in English 516: English Grammar in Use.]
Do you think it’s harmful to stereotype others based on how they speak? Check out the Pledge against Prescriptivism
project in this video.
[Created by students in English 412: Bad Grammar.]
Grammar and Teaching:
Teaching assistants talk about their grammar pet peeves. Go HERE for more teaching-related material.
[Created by students in English 905: Bad Grammar.]
Get quick advice on matters of language use by a linguistics student.
You can find more videos of this kind HERE.
[Created by students in English 905: Bad Grammar]
This video shows students’, parents’, and professors’ responses to contemporary English slang. (Note: You may find some words in this video offensive. Words were chosen to allow for different readings of a text message. Grammar Badgers classes discuss the impact of linguistic stereotypization. If you’d like to see a video that explains the effect of texting on children’s grammar, go HERE.)
[Created by students in English 413: English Words. Grammar, Culture, Mind.]
This video addresses research that shows that texting doesn’t have a negative impact on middle schoolers’ grammar. Go HERE for more videos on ‘how stuff works.’
[Created by students in English 516: English Grammar in Use.]
Grammar Badgers 