Anne Curzan

Anne Curzan is the Geneva Smitherman Collegiate Professor of English Language and Literature, Linguistics, and Education at the University of Michigan, holding a joint appointment in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA). With a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan (1998), she specializes in the history of the English language, language attitudes, and pedagogy. Her research explores how English has evolved over 1,500 years and how societal perceptions of grammar and usage have shifted. She is also an award-winning teacher, recognized with the Henry Russel Award (2007), John Dewey Award (2012), and the Linguistics, Language, and the Public Award (2016).

Curzan’s work bridges academic scholarship and public engagement. She hosts the radio show That’s What They Say on Michigan Public Radio and has authored best-selling books such as Says Who?, Fixing English, and the textbook How English Works. Her TED Talk on word legitimacy has garnered over 2.1 million views. She has created educational courses for Wondrium, including Secret Life of Words and English Grammar Boot Camp.

Her teaching contributions include co-authoring First Day to Final Grade, a guide for graduate teaching assistants. Research interests span medieval literature, rhetoric, gender studies, and sociolinguistics. She has edited volumes honoring scholars like Richard W. Bailey and collaborates widely on lexicography and language education.