The fight for the modern dictionary, with Stefan Fatsis

The fight for the modern dictionary, with Stefan Fatsis

1123. This week, we talk with author and self-described “word freak” Stefan Fatsis about his book "Unabridged." He shares his experience embedding at Merriam-Webster to become a lexicographer, sharing the contrast between the company's 1940s headquarters and the modern digital business. We look at the tension between updating old words (like the surprising original meaning of "pompom girl") and the need to add new, "sexy" words to generate web traffic.

Find Stefan Fatsis on his website, Bluesky or Facebook.

Get the book, Unabridged.

🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat.

🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses.

🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter.

🔗 Take our advertising survey.

🔗 Get the edited transcript.

🔗 Get Grammar Girl books.

🔗 Join Grammarpalooza. Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext. Learn more about the difference.

| HOST: Mignon Fogarty

| VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475).

| Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.

  • Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend
  • Director of Podcast: Holly Hutchings
  • Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson
  • Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes, Rebekah Sebastian

| Theme music by Catherine Rannus.

| Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episoder(963)

048 April Fools' Day Episode

048 April Fools' Day Episode

April Fools' Day Episode Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1 Apr 20074min

266 When Should You Capitalize Cocktail and Food Names?

266 When Should You Capitalize Cocktail and Food Names?

When Should You Capitalize Cocktail and Food Names? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

11 Mar 20074min

042 Semicolons

042 Semicolons

Semicolons Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

21 Feb 20076min

036 Grammar Manners

036 Grammar Manners

Grammar Manners Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

12 Jan 20074min

031 The Lord Is Come?

031 The Lord Is Come?

The Lord Is Come? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

15 Des 20064min

024 Who Versus That

024 Who Versus That

Who Versus That Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

4 Nov 20063min

021 Proofreading Tips

021 Proofreading Tips

Proofreading Tips Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

20 Okt 20067min

165 Abbreviations, Acronyms, And Initialisms

165 Abbreviations, Acronyms, And Initialisms

Abbreviations, Acronyms, And Initialisms Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

10 Okt 20064min

Populært innen Fakta

fastlegen
dine-penger-pengeradet
hanna-de-heldige
fryktlos
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
treningspodden
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
foreldreradet
dypdykk
rss-sunn-okonomi
jakt-og-fiskepodden
rss-mann-i-krise-med-sagen
sinnsyn
hverdagspsyken
rss-kunsten-a-leve
takk-og-lov-med-anine-kierulf
tomprat-med-gunnar-tjomlid
bedragere
rss-impressions-2
anlegg-og-sjau-med-lothepus-og-pilgaard