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Word by Word

the Secret Life of Dictionaries
Nov 20, 2017mammothhawk229e rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Author sure broke my stereotype of quiet boring lexicographer! Now I understand why new edition take so long with say 200+ people, review x words, add y new words within say 10 years. Internet a boon & bust because it forced some for profit publishers to kill print edition & they get instant feedback on customers/amateur volunteers looking in obscure publications. I'm jealous lexicographers throw out grammar average person pounded in high school as "rules by writers with pet peeves". Chuckled at conservatives E-mail barrages on Merriam-Webster as last dictionary to change marriage with same-sex amendment incident or author's daughter groaning at her mother taking pictures of nude lipstick packaging at department store as example for tweaking definition. Ditto dictionary deleting "snollygoster" as dead word bite dictionary editor in the ass when certain famous person used it to describe politicians. Offbeat book on "boring industry & profession" highly recommended.