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.

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Episoder(967)

351 GG Pronouns: Is a Company a "Who" or a "That"?

351 GG Pronouns: Is a Company a "Who" or a "That"?

What pronoun should you use when referring to a company? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

11 Jan 20135min

350 GG "Who" Versus "That"

350 GG "Who" Versus "That"

Is Your Dog an "It" or a "She"? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

4 Jan 20135min

349 GG A Word Lover's Highlights of 2012

349 GG A Word Lover's Highlights of 2012

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

28 Des 20128min

348 GG How Webster's Screwed Up

348 GG How Webster's Screwed Up

How an editor who hated the word "radical," became a radical. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

21 Des 20127min

347 GG How to Use a Hyphen

347 GG How to Use a Hyphen

Learn how to use properly use hyphens with compound adjectives. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

14 Des 20129min

346 GG Tuxedo Verbs

346 GG Tuxedo Verbs

Use rich verbs, but don't put them in tuxedos. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

7 Des 20127min

342 GG Writing for Dyslexic Readers

342 GG Writing for Dyslexic Readers

Tricks to make make your writing more accessible to people with dyslexia and visual impairments. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

9 Nov 20126min

341 GG Google Ngram and "Impact" as a Verb

341 GG Google Ngram and "Impact" as a Verb

The updated Ngram Viewer gives new insight into word usage. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

2 Nov 20126min

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