And here's today's puzzle! Feedback welcome, or just let me know if you enjoy! www.mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/3693

For devotees of #cryptic crosswords: how do we feel about indirect anagrams? For instance this clue I've seen in puzzle today: Radically vocalize timeless truth of humanity's beginnings. (6) The intended answer here is AFRICA: Radically = anagram; vocalize = AIR; timeless truth = FAC(t)

Morning folks. Here is today's crossword for anyone interested: www.mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/3681

Good morning all from Magpie HQ. I've published another Cryptic, complete with checking and fully annotated solutions, available on the frankly excellent MyCrossword site - grateful thanks for those who made me aware of its existence. Happy solving! www.mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/3677

My entire degree, TBF

Here's the link for the cryptic I made at 8am (thanks, summer. Thummer). xlufz.ratnakar.org/exost/xwd-ae...

Sorry for quietness. Now the summer break is here for those of us fortunate enough to get one, I'll be back to posting language trivia and perhaps other things. I've been compiling cryptic crosswords lately. Would that be something people would be interested in? If so, let me know!

Today at Magpie Linguist HQ I have been thinking about the Discworld guild mottos. For those not familiar, it's a well-known phrase, translated none-too-accurately into Latin to give it an edge. Examples from Pratchett's work include "fabricate diem, punc" (make my day, punk) for the Watch 1/x

No language trivia for the moment but the Magpie Linguist would like to know if anyone has a heated clothes airer and if they're any good please and thank you

Little thread on rebracketing to brighten up (probably not) your miserable Friday. If you've not come across it, rebracketing is the phenomenon by which a word either gains or loses a letter due to what precedes or follows it. It derives from elision, which is a natural part of sound-change.

This is Sky, the official Magpie Linguist dog. Sky would like you to know that the oft-repeated fact that the butterfly used to be known as the flutterby, while charming, is in fact certifiably nonsense. She would also like you to know that she once ate one and wasn't very impressed.

Good morning from Magpie HQ. Today I thought I'd do a thread on backronyms. These are words which have evolved as words in their own right, but which humans have come up with (often very pleasing, sometimes trite) things that they supposedly stand for. Strong language ahead in a couple of examples.

Goodness, thanks for all the love and follows as a result of my little thread about Lichfield. I'll try and do them regularly - they won't always be about place names, it's likely just to be anything that steals my attention momentarily. 😊

This weekend we found ourselves in Lichfield, which has always struck me as an odd name for a place.