Is it 'try and' or 'try to'? What does an epilogue do?

In short

The phrase "try and" is a common and acceptable alternative to "try to," particularly in informal speech, and its usage has historical roots in the concept of testing or examining.

Key takeaways

• The phrase "try and" likely originated from the older meaning of "try" as in to test or examine, as seen in phrases like "try your luck" or "tried and true."
• Studies show "try and" appears more often in speech than in writing and is frequently used before shorter, simpler verbs.
• British English speakers use "try and" more frequently and with less stigma than American English speakers.
• Epilogues, afterwords, postscripts, and codas are all distinct but related ways to provide concluding information or commentary after the main body of a text.

Chapters

1. 00:00

   Introduction: Try and vs. Try To

   The episode begins by introducing the common grammatical question of whether to use "try and" or "try to," setting the stage for a discussion on its origins and usage.

2. 01:00

   Historical Roots of "Try and"

   Exploring the etymology, the speaker explains that "try and" likely stems from the older meaning of "try" as in to test or examine, citing examples like "try your luck" and "tried and true."

3. 02:30

   Usage Patterns and Informality

   The discussion delves into why "try and" is often preferred in speech, suggesting it flows more easily and sounds more informal than "try to."

4. 03:45

   Regional Differences: UK vs. US English

   The speaker highlights that "try and" is more prevalent and accepted in British English compared to American English, where it might be considered less formal or even incorrect by some.

5. 05:00

   Introducing Epilogues and Related Terms

   The podcast transitions to a new topic, introducing the concept of epilogues and related literary devices like afterwords, postscripts, and codas.

6. 06:00

   Defining the Epilogue

   An epilogue is defined as a concluding section that rounds out the design of a literary work, often providing information about events that occurred after the main narrative.

7. 07:30

   Epilogues in Collections and Single Essays

   The speaker addresses a listener's question about using an epilogue for a single essay within a collection, confirming it's a valid option to provide closure or further context.

8. 08:30

   Afterwords, Postscripts, and Codas

   The distinctions between epilogues and other concluding elements like afterwords (writer's commentary), postscripts (added notes), and codas (musical or literary concluding parts) are explored.

9. 09:30

   Family Anecdote: "Ark-y Ark-y"

   A listener shares a humorous family anecdote about a made-up word, "Ark-y Ark-y," used for copying or duplicating, stemming from a Simpsons episode.

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