This week’s language headlines include the publication of new slang dictionary, and an entire book devoted to that tiny piece of punctuation, the period, and a tip-off about audio recordings of famous authors whose voices would otherwise be...
The world of politics tops this week’s language headlines, including an explanation of the Bradley effect, and the ongoing debate over bilingual education. Also, what does the word fubsy mean? Grant has the answer and reports about a new...
historical rhyme n.— «Take George Bush. By whom I mean George Bush (1796-1859), first cousin of the president’s great-great-great-grandfather. It would be hard to find a more unlikely forebear.…He published his first book...
walker n.— «Twenty years ago, men who went out constantly in high society were known as “walkers,” a quippy term coined by John Fairchild, then the publisher of Women’s Wear Daily, to describe Jerry Zipkin, the steadfast...
Authorgeddon n.— «“Authorgeddon” one publisher has dubbed it—the dreaded day when authors will outnumber readers—and all indications are it’s coming fast.» —“Everybody has a story, but who wants to read it?” by John...
Orange Curtain n.— «Tom Johnson, ironically an L.B.J. protégé, was brought in from a Texas farm team in 1980 to become Times publisher with the specific mission of penetrating the Orange curtain.» —by Mike Davis City...