Ask the Editors @ Merriam-Webster's
November 20, 2009 12:07 PM Subscribe
Merriam-Webster's Ask the Editors blog is the centerpiece of the Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary site. It is an excellent source of sensible advice about English language and usage. Editor-at-large Peter Sokolowski also has a Twitter feed where he highlights various interesting things about words. Finally, Merriam-Webster has started producing Ask the Editor videos, four so far, where they've tackled the subjects of i before e, classical roots, affect vs. effect and how news stories affect what words people look up online, in this case focusing on the effect of the coverage of Michael Jackson's death. Incidentally, Merriam-Webster have released their top ten words of 2009 list, which is based on what words people looked up.
Good lord, videos?
I mean, um... why are dictionary editors so sexy?
posted by rokusan at 12:28 PM on November 20, 2009
I mean, um... why are dictionary editors so sexy?
posted by rokusan at 12:28 PM on November 20, 2009
Wow, this is great, thanks!
The video on the connection between Michael Jackson's death and the most looked-up words was remarkable. Not least because it gave me hope for our species that people are actually looking up words they don't know.
I think everyone who hears an unfamiliar word and goes to look it up deserves a gold star for the week, seriously!
posted by ErikaB at 12:43 PM on November 20, 2009 [2 favorites]
The video on the connection between Michael Jackson's death and the most looked-up words was remarkable. Not least because it gave me hope for our species that people are actually looking up words they don't know.
I think everyone who hears an unfamiliar word and goes to look it up deserves a gold star for the week, seriously!
posted by ErikaB at 12:43 PM on November 20, 2009 [2 favorites]
[This is good]
posted by Effigy2000 at 12:49 PM on November 20, 2009
posted by Effigy2000 at 12:49 PM on November 20, 2009
Kattullus's job here is to explain all my bad jokes.
posted by rokusan at 12:57 PM on November 20, 2009
posted by rokusan at 12:57 PM on November 20, 2009
Also, to provide a little bit of wind in the sails of the "why are librarians so" autocomplete movement.
posted by Kattullus at 1:03 PM on November 20, 2009
posted by Kattullus at 1:03 PM on November 20, 2009
Yeah, Michael Jackson. Search terms are such a rich mine: this is why Google will rule us all someday. Well, more than they already rule us, anyway.
Google's Flu Trends is a neat and worthwhile application of that.
posted by rokusan at 1:07 PM on November 20, 2009
Google's Flu Trends is a neat and worthwhile application of that.
posted by rokusan at 1:07 PM on November 20, 2009
Don't you mean, why are librarians so nougatty?
(sweet and creamy on the insides, so I hear)
posted by explosion at 1:20 PM on November 20, 2009
(sweet and creamy on the insides, so I hear)
posted by explosion at 1:20 PM on November 20, 2009
Most looked-up yesterday: 'rogue.' 'Rouge' fell to 5th place.
about 1 hour ago from web
Heh.
posted by bondcliff at 1:24 PM on November 20, 2009 [2 favorites]
about 1 hour ago from web
Heh.
posted by bondcliff at 1:24 PM on November 20, 2009 [2 favorites]
M-W's list of Words of the Year is a lot LESS nugatory than the Oxford American words I recently posted about. Good for them.
Interesting that last year we had Maverick, this year Rogue, both of which Sarah Palin's fans had to look up to figure out. With any luck, next year they'll be learning the meaning of Sociopath.
Was M-W doing this back when the Simpsons introduced the word "cromulent"?
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:00 PM on November 20, 2009 [1 favorite]
Interesting that last year we had Maverick, this year Rogue, both of which Sarah Palin's fans had to look up to figure out. With any luck, next year they'll be learning the meaning of Sociopath.
Was M-W doing this back when the Simpsons introduced the word "cromulent"?
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:00 PM on November 20, 2009 [1 favorite]
« Older Cormac McCarthy on The Road, fatherly love, the... | How Tyler Cowen Would Fix the Current Healthcare... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by bearwife at 12:24 PM on November 20, 2009