
Word by Word
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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