Dictionary.com also chooses "pandemic" as its word of the year

Posted on 12/01/2020 at 02:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

It’s perhaps fitting that in a year where many days feel the same, Dictionary.com chose the same word of the...

Categories: Today in Books

Tagged As: coronavirus / COVID-19, Language

No surprise: "Pandemic" is Merriam-Webster's 2020 word of the year

Posted on 11/30/2020 at 10:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Merriam-Webster’s selection of a word of the year for 2020 is the least shocking thing that has happened all year....

Categories: Today in Books

Tagged As: coronavirus / COVID-19, Language

Thanksgiving eve fun and games

Posted on 11/25/2020 at 03:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Ready for a holiday challenge that isn’t about how much you can cook, how much you can eat, or how...

Categories: Today in Books

Tagged As: Just for fun, Language

Oxford English Dictionary won't choose a word of the year for 2020

Posted on 11/23/2020 at 02:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

The Oxford English Dictionary editors have decided not to declare a word of the year for 2020. Instead, the team...

Categories: Today in Books

Tagged As: Language, The Guardian

Editor: Short and simple words aren't always better

Posted on 11/18/2020 at 10:18 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Several notable authors have expressed their disdain for flowery language. Mathina Calliope — an author, editor, and writing coach who...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Jane Friedman, Language

"Lockdown" is Collins Dictionary's word of the year

Posted on 11/10/2020 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

This will shock no one: Collins Dictionary’s word of the year is “lockdown.” And still unsurprisingly, other contenders for that...

Categories: Today in Books

Tagged As: coronavirus / COVID-19, Language

Nonfiction writer: Let's keep our language simple

Posted on 11/08/2020 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Another installment in our series of forget-high-school-English-class posts comes courtesy of Joseph C. Kunz. Kunz recommends that his fellow nonfiction...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Language, Nonfiction

Comma class is in session at editor Louise Harnby's blog

Posted on 10/30/2020 at 03:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Falling leaves, Halloween parties, discussions of when to use commas — it really feels like back-to-school season around here at...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Editing, Language, Louise Harnby

Grammar Girl: You get to choose how to format internal dialogue

Posted on 10/23/2020 at 03:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

The rules for formatting external dialogue are fairly straightforward — sure, they vary in different countries, but at least each...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Grammar Girl, Language

“Whoa” or “woah”? The answer might surprise you

Posted on 10/12/2020 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

A frustrated reader wrote to Grammar Girl to complain about seeing a particular exclamation of emotion spelled “woah” and not...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Grammar Girl, Language