Mignon Fogarty
Encyclopedia
Mignon Fogarty is a former science writer who produces an educational podcast
Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
, which promotes the proper use of the English language
and was named one of the best podcasts of 2007 by iTunes. She is also the founder of the Quick and Dirty Tips network.
Fogarty graduated with a B.A. in English from the University of Washington
in Seattle and an M.S. in biology
from Stanford University
.
Her career has focused on science and writing. She has been the editor-in-chief and producer for the LongerLiving website before becoming the editorial director of CaregiverZone. Later, she became the editorial director and executive producer of GeneticHealth.com.
She was the producer and co-host of the podcast Absolute Science.
In January 2007, CNN featured Fogarty and her podcast calling her a "a quick and dirty success."
Mignon Fogarty appeared on the March 26, 2007 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show
as a grammar expert. She was on the show to answer a viewer question about the use of possessive apostrophes. The viewer thought a previous show should have been titled "Oprah's and Gayle's Big Adventure," but Fogarty confirmed that "Oprah and Gayle's Big Adventure" was a correct use of compound possession. She went on to discuss several other common grammar errors, including "Affect vs. Effect" and "Who vs. Whom."
In July 2008, Holt released Fogarty's first paperback book, Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing. In August 2008, the book was named number nine on the New York Times Best Seller List. In March 2009, the audiobook version was nominated for a 2009 Audie Award, and in July 2009, "O, The Oprah Magazine
" listed the audiobook as one of its "must-hear audiobooks."
Her second book, The Grammar Devotional, was published by Holt in October 2009.
In July of 2011, Henry Holt published Grammar Girl Presents the Ultimate Writing Guide for Students, and St. Martin's Griffin published Grammar Girl's 101 Words Every High School Graduate Needs to Know and Grammar Girl's 101 Misused Words You'll Never Confuse Again, which was a "Washington Post" bestseller the week of July 31, 2011.
, a radio program on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
, announced that Fogarty would be joining their team for a special series.
On July 7, 2011, Fogarty was interviewed by Neal Conan
for the NPR
program Talk of the Nation
. In the 17-minute segment, Fogarty discussed a number of examples from her 2011 book, Grammar Girl's 101 Misused Words You'll Never Confuse Again (New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2011), and answered listeners' questions.
series It's All Geek to Me
, New York Times technology writer David Pogue
dressed up as Fogarty—hair, glasses, and all—and lip-synched one of her actual podcasts as part of a "visual demonstration" of what podcasts were in that program's episode about the iPod
. He also gave the same treatment to Grammar Girl's fellow Quick and Dirty Tips podcaster Legal Lad.
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
"Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing" is an educational podcast that was launched in July 2006 and the title of a print book that was released in July 2008. The podcast, which has ranked as high as #2 on iTunes, offers short one-topic English grammar lessons at no charge to...
, which promotes the proper use of the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and was named one of the best podcasts of 2007 by iTunes. She is also the founder of the Quick and Dirty Tips network.
Fogarty graduated with a B.A. in English from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in Seattle and an M.S. in biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
.
Her career has focused on science and writing. She has been the editor-in-chief and producer for the LongerLiving website before becoming the editorial director of CaregiverZone. Later, she became the editorial director and executive producer of GeneticHealth.com.
She was the producer and co-host of the podcast Absolute Science.
Television appearances
Mignon Fogarty appeared on the March 26, 2007 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
as a grammar expert. She was on the show to answer a viewer question about the use of possessive apostrophes. The viewer thought a previous show should have been titled "Oprah's and Gayle's Big Adventure," but Fogarty confirmed that "Oprah and Gayle's Big Adventure" was a correct use of compound possession. She went on to discuss several other common grammar errors, including "Affect vs. Effect" and "Who vs. Whom."
Books
In September 2007, Fogarty and Holt/Holtzbrinck agreed to produce books coordinated with the podcasts. The first audiobook to come from the Holt agreement, Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips to Clean Up Your Writing, was named one of the top five audiobooks of 2007 by iTunes.In July 2008, Holt released Fogarty's first paperback book, Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing. In August 2008, the book was named number nine on the New York Times Best Seller List. In March 2009, the audiobook version was nominated for a 2009 Audie Award, and in July 2009, "O, The Oprah Magazine
O, The Oprah Magazine
O: The Oprah Magazine, sometimes simply abbreviated to O, is a monthly magazine founded by Oprah Winfrey and Hearst Corporation.-Overview:...
" listed the audiobook as one of its "must-hear audiobooks."
Her second book, The Grammar Devotional, was published by Holt in October 2009.
In July of 2011, Henry Holt published Grammar Girl Presents the Ultimate Writing Guide for Students, and St. Martin's Griffin published Grammar Girl's 101 Words Every High School Graduate Needs to Know and Grammar Girl's 101 Misused Words You'll Never Confuse Again, which was a "Washington Post" bestseller the week of July 31, 2011.
Radio
In August 2009, SparkSpark (radio show)
Spark is a Canadian radio talk show about technology and Internet-related topics. Hosted by Nora Young, the program made its CBC Radio One début on September 5, 2007. The show is also broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio 159 and, since January 9, 2010, on Vermont Public Radio's network of stations...
, a radio program on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
, announced that Fogarty would be joining their team for a special series.
On July 7, 2011, Fogarty was interviewed by Neal Conan
Neal Conan
Neal Conan is an American radio journalist, producer, editor, and correspondent. He is senior host of the National Public Radio talk show Talk of the Nation....
for the NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
program Talk of the Nation
Talk of the Nation
Talk of the Nation is a talk radio program based in the United States, produced by National Public Radio, and is broadcast nationally from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Its focus is current events and controversial issues....
. In the 17-minute segment, Fogarty discussed a number of examples from her 2011 book, Grammar Girl's 101 Misused Words You'll Never Confuse Again (New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2011), and answered listeners' questions.
Tributes
On his Discovery Science ChannelThe Science Channel
Science is a United States cable, satellite and IPTV Television Network produced by Discovery Communications. Science features programming in the fields of space, technology, prehistory and animals.-History:...
series It's All Geek to Me
It's All Geek to Me
It's All Geek to Me is a television program created and hosted by David Pogue that is broadcast on HD Theater and Science Channel. It first aired on May 18, 2007....
, New York Times technology writer David Pogue
David Pogue
David Welch Pogue is an American technology writer, technology columnist and commentator. He is a personal technology columnist for the New York Times, an Emmy-winning tech correspondent for CBS News Sunday Morning, weekly tech correspondent for CNBC, and a columnist for Scientific American...
dressed up as Fogarty—hair, glasses, and all—and lip-synched one of her actual podcasts as part of a "visual demonstration" of what podcasts were in that program's episode about the iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
. He also gave the same treatment to Grammar Girl's fellow Quick and Dirty Tips podcaster Legal Lad.