DiscoverGrammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers.Scarecrows and other 'cutthroat' compounds. Reading versus listening. Squirrel Hill Tunnel.
Scarecrows and other 'cutthroat' compounds. Reading versus listening. Squirrel Hill Tunnel.

Scarecrows and other 'cutthroat' compounds. Reading versus listening. Squirrel Hill Tunnel.

Update: 2026-01-272
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1154. This week, we look at "headless" nouns like "scarecrow," "pickpocket," and "breakfast." We look at why these "cutthroat compounds" break the normal rules of English grammar. Then, we look at the science of reading versus listening, including how our brains process text differently from audio and why multitasking can affect your comprehension.

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Scarecrows and other 'cutthroat' compounds. Reading versus listening. Squirrel Hill Tunnel.

Scarecrows and other 'cutthroat' compounds. Reading versus listening. Squirrel Hill Tunnel.

Karen Lunde, Mignon Fogarty