Why do we hammer with a hammer, rake with a rake, but sweep with a broom? This viral TikTok question sparked today’s conversation—a replay of my interview on Miss Beth’s podcast, The Play on Words Podcast. If you’ve ever wondered why English feels impossible to decode, this episode will finally give you clarity you can use with your child right away. You’ll learn how understanding word origins can instantly take the pressure off both you and your reader, plus a simple mindset shift that makes tricky spelling patterns a whole lot less intimidating.

Miss Beth breaks down why English spelling is so inconsistent, using her favorite example: the word “healthy.” Since the root word is “heal,” the spelling stays the same—even though the pronunciation shifts. She also explains why English loves turning nouns into verbs and how this shows up in everyday language without us noticing.

We explore why the word “Pacific” contains three different sounds for the letter C, whether we’ve all been mispronouncing “longevity,” and why we drink a drink but definitely don’t “food a food.” Miss Beth also confirms that struggling with reading out loud in school doesn’t mean anything about your reading ability—and she shares the actual purpose of oral reading, which should happen one-on-one with a teacher, not in front of a whole class.

We’re already planning a part two, so start sending in the words that confuse you most. Whether it’s the spelling, the meaning, or the pronunciation, we’ll break it down and help make English make sense—one word at a time.