# Why 'Tonka' sounds big and 'bitty' sounds small. Why you CAN start a sentence with 'because.'

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/grammar-girl-for-writers-and-language-lovers-159700/why-tonka-sounds-big-and-bitty-sounds-small-why-you-can-start-a-sentence-with-because
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/grammar-girl-for-writers-and-language-lovers-159700/why-tonka-sounds-big-and-bitty-sounds-small-why-you-can-start-a-sentence-with-because.md
Podcast: [Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers.](https://stenobird.com/podcast/grammar-girl-for-writers-and-language-lovers-159700)
Published: 2026-02-24T13:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/69c1476c007cdcf83fc0964b/e/758b659e-fd2a-4c18-a3ad-aa73c846a526/media.mp3
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Duration seconds: 784

## Resource

1162. This week, we look at why some names just "feel right" while others don't and how vowels like "ee" create associations with smallness and sweetness while back vowels like "ah" sound bigger and more serious. Then, we look at dependent clauses and when it's OK to start a sentence with "because." The baby names segment was written by Valerie Fridland . 🔗 Join the Grammar Girl Patreon. 🔗 Share your familect recording in Speakpipe or by leaving a voicemail at 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter . 🔗 Take our advertising survey . 🔗 Get the edited transcript . 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend, Maram Elnagheeb Director of Podcast: Holly Hutchings Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes, Rebekah Sebastian Podcast Associate: Maram Elnagheeb | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon . Bluesky . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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