Anne Curzan is the Geneva Smitherman Collegiate Professor of English, Linguistics, and Education at the University of Michigan, where she also served as the dean of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts from 2019 – 2024. Her most recent book is Says Who? A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Words (2024).
An award-winning scholar and teacher, Anne is an expert on English usage and the history of the English language, including changes we’re seeing and hearing all around us. Anne can be found talking about language on the weekly show “That’s What They Say” on local NPR affiliate Michigan Public. Her TED talk “What makes a word ‘real’?” has more than 2 million views on the national TED talk site. She speaks to audiences across the country about how to use our words wisely and navigate our own and others’ language peeves.