A tweet from Merriam-Webster defending “mad” as “angry” sparked backlash, emphasizing the descriptivism vs. prescriptivism debate that has long fueled heated language arguments.
Articles Tagged dictionary
The Copyeditor’s One-Reference-Work Challenge
Books—especially style guides and dictionaries—are a copyeditor’s best friend. If you could only afford one reference book, which would you choose?
AP Stylebook Partners with Merriam-Webster
Check out some of the most important changes coming to the 18th edition of the AP Stylebook, including its new preferred dictionary, Merriam-Webster!
On Account of My Pet Peeve
I’m not usually peevish about language use, but “on account of” is a pet peeve of mine. Here’s why it’s okay to use it anyway.
Is ‘Alternate’ an ‘Alternative’?
Are you taking an “alternate” route or an “alternative” route? We tackle this common grammar debate with a little help from the dictionaries.
Hyphenating “X-Year-Olds” Part 1: What the Experts Say
Would you write 56-years-old, or 56 years old? Hyphenation can be confusing for editors, especially when certain style guides disagree.
“Social” vs. “Sociable”: Another Zombie Rule Bites the Dust
Before deciding whether to replace “social” with “sociable,” learn about this centuries-old zombie rule that stumps copyeditors to this day.
Do We Appreciate the Breadth of Appreciate?
A rule exists claiming that the word “appreciate” should not be used to mean “value.” Interestingly, multiple dictionaries beg to differ.
Getting Rid of “Get”?
Sometimes, copyediting rules can be subjective. The common yet controversial use of the word “get” is no exception.
“Of Which” as the Starch in Your Collar
Of which, or whose? Here’s what history has to say about the grammatical correctness of these commonly used phrases.
