Word by Word cover

Word by Word

12 min read 15 min listen Narrated by Sophie
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What’s it about?

A lexicographer reveals the messy, human art of defining words—from slurs to 'irregardless'—and why dictionaries describe, not dictate, language.

You’ll learn

  • Dictionaries describe, not prescribe
  • How words earn a place in the dictionary
  • The agony of defining 'the' and 'run'
  • Why 'irregardless' is in the dictionary