Yesterday was jam-packed with exciting moments! From -slop being named the ADS Word of the Year, to the insightful Five-Minute Linguist session, to vibrant networking in the poster session & exhibit hall—there truly was something for everyone. We can’t wait to see what today has in store! #LSA2026

The 2025 Word of the Year is "slop," both as a noun for low-quality AI-generated content and as a combining form for anything of little value. Read the full press release. #WOTY2025 #ADS2026 #LSA2026 americandialect.org/2025-word-of...

Now posted: The full list of nominees for ADS Word of the Year 2025. The final vote will be held this evening at 6:45 pm CST at the New Orleans Marriott. #WOTY2025 #ADS2026 #LSA2026 americandialect.org/nominations-...

On @thebrianlehrershow.bsky.social,’ linguist @benzimmer.bsky.social breaks down the words that encapsulate 2025 from ‘parasocial’ to ‘rage bait.’ Listen here: harkaudio.com/year-words-2...

The Internet Archive has a playable version of the NY Times Crossword Puzzle app from 1992. It ran on Windows 3.1 and included a few hundred puzzles. (Click on Game/Open to select a puzzle.) [archive.org]

WATCH: youtu.be/BX9FCGR-CaY?... READ: grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/104... LISTEN: pod.link/173429229

If you're traveling this weekend, download this interview with @benzimmer.bsky.social! He has DELIGHTFUL stories about: — The origin of "hella" — Run DMC and "drop" — 1960s slang from cots in military barracks — Stephen Colbert & "truthiness" I promise you'll love it! 🎧 tinyurl.com/2d6qutrw

A fun little Christmas bonus... @grammargirl.bsky.social has shared the subscriber-only podcast segment we recorded in October, in which I tell some stories about tracking down the history of words like "hella," "drop," "truthiness," and "toast." www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX9F...

ICYMI, @benzimmer.bsky.social on words of the year: www.wnyc.org/story/2025s-...

I'll be on @wnyc.org @thebrianlehrershow.bsky.social at around 11:40 am ET talking about Word of the Year selections. www.wnyc.org/story/latest...

I'm quoted in here about Word of the Year selections. www.cbc.ca/radio/67-wor...

I was on @fox5ny.bsky.social this evening talking about Word of the Year choices for 2025. www.fox5ny.com/video/1752579 Make sure to submit your own nominations for the @americandialect.org Word of the Year! americandialect.org/submit-2025-...

New crossword for @slate.com! Couldn't pass up the Simpsons ref. slate.com/life/2025/12...

Still tickets available for this! Come join us!

Happy to join @natanlast.bsky.social and Wyna Liu for a fun crossword event sponsored by JASA in NYC on 12/7. Come one, come all! Your ticket includes a copy of Natan's new book ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and supports a great cause. jasa.org/events/cross...

Happy to join @natanlast.bsky.social and Wyna Liu for a fun crossword event sponsored by JASA in NYC on 12/7. Come one, come all! Your ticket includes a copy of Natan's new book ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and supports a great cause. jasa.org/events/cross...

Why the funnest etymologies are almost always wrong benyagoda.substack.com/p/where-posh...

I've got today's @puzzmo.com crossword, with a cozy theme! 🛏️ 💤 www.puzzmo.com/puzzle/2025-...

November linkstack (linkducken?), stuffed with words of the year, wordy gifts, and more. | Ht @gretchenmcc.bsky.social @e-briannica.bsky.social @mikepope.com @grammargirl.bsky.social @stefanfatsis.bsky.social @babynames.bsky.social @kottke.org @nybooks.com fritinancy.substack.com/p/november-l...

Your latest Workplace Word Origins roundup, aka LinkedIn leftovers, on the blog hits 'Black Friday,' 'boutique,' and 'chef.' mashedradish.com/2025/11/28/w... Credit to @benzimmer.bsky.social and @btaylorblake.bsky.social for work on 'Black Friday,' coverage of which was I felt due for a reheat.

New crossword for @slate.com, with an easy one for Pluribus fans! slate.com/life/2025/11...

Antedating seems like a hobby a lot of you would enjoy, especially after you hear Ben's great stories about his discoveries! Watch: youtu.be/W5SkQo_Dw48 Read: grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/ant... Listen: pod.link/173429229

Remember how @benzimmer.bsky.social and I talked about the origin of "Big Easy" in last week's podcast? The show was all about finding earlier uses of words. Well, it happened again! Ben emailed yesterday to say Barry Popik found even earlier uses of "Big Easy" from 1952.

Jazz was such a big deal that the American Dialect Society picked "jazz" as the Word of the Century for the 1900s. We also talked about the origin of "The Big Easy," "hella," "scalawag," and "Ms." — great stories all! Listen as you're getting ready for the game tonight: pod.link/173429229

Baseball players on the West Coast were talking about "jazz curves" and telling each other to "give it some of the old jazz" (meaning vim and pep). The word traveled from San Francisco to Chicago to New Orleans, becoming the name for one of America's most iconic musical genres. 2/3

Are you watching the World Series tonight? Well, here's a fun fact to share with your fellow fans: In this week's podcast, @benzimmer.bsky.social explains how "jazz" was baseball slang from 1912. Yes, "jazz" started as a BASEBALL term! 1/3 🎧 pod.link/173429229

new indie puzzle highlights, feat. @xws.bsky.social and a double dose of @benzimmer.bsky.social: blog.bewilderinglypuzzles.com/2025/10/indi...

Watch: youtu.be/W5SkQo_Dw48 Read: grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/ant...

This week, I talked with @benzimmer.bsky.social about the linguistic detective work of antedating words — finding earlier usages than those published in dictionaries. Learn about the surprising origins of "Ms.," "scallywag," and the baseball history of "jazz"! 🎧 Listen now: pod.link/173429229

live now with today's @slate.com from @benzimmer.bsky.social, @defector.com by @benzimmer.bsky.social and a blog puz from @giltcomplex.bsky.social! www.twitch.tv/crossweirdtv

There's a special tribute in today's @slate.com crossword. slate.com/life/2025/10...

The Crossword, Oct. 20: Pitch Perfect defector.com/the-crosswor...

Is "-fishing" a new libfix? I look into "chatfishing" along with "hatfishing" and "curtfishing" — and, of course, "catfishing." | ht @benzimmer.bsky.social @myl1947.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/fritinan...

I've got the @slate.com Sunday crossword (with a special shout-out to 34-Down) slate.com/life/2025/10...

I'm back again with another Saturday Stumper (super-tough @newsday.bsky.social crossword). brainsonly.com/global/netwo... www.gamelab.com/games/stans-...

New @slate.com puzzzzzle from me! slate.com/life/2025/10...

16-Across: Tolkien tree hidden in "Tolkien tree" (three letters) slate.trib.al/ohM0TJ4

My latest crossword for @puzzmo.com may shock you. www.puzzmo.com/puzzle/2025-...

solve today's midi crossword by @benzimmer.bsky.social (edited by @acommonrose.bsky.social !) to see what 1992 solo debut album makes a marquee appearance (and what apt answer he paired it with) www.puzzmo.com/puzzle/2025-...

live now streaming the regulars + puzzles from @benzimmer.bsky.social, @gppasco.bsky.social, erik agard and a turtle downs only on green! www.twitch.tv/crossweirdtv

Big day for lexicographical unboxing! Received the just-published 12th edition of @merriam-webster.com's Collegiate Dictionary (a big surprise to everyone in the dictionary game) and @stefanfatsis.bsky.social's long-awaited journey through modern lexicography, UNABRIDGED. Get 'em both!

Happy to be making my @latimes.com crossword debut! www.latimes.com/games/daily-...

New crossword for @slate.com! Can you puzzle it out? slate.com/life/2025/09...

The @wired.com video that @mixedlinguist.bsky.social and I did a while back on the life cycle of slang got featured today on @upworthy.com! www.upworthy.com/linguists-ex...

New @slate.com crossword, with a clue for the Swifties slate.com/life/2025/08...

live now with some regular stuff + puzzles from @evanbirnholz.bsky.social, @kayebrown.bsky.social and the stumper by @benzimmer.bsky.social on green! www.twitch.tv/crossweirdtv

It's another Saturday Stumper (super-tough @newsday.bsky.social crossword) from yours truly! www.gamelab.com/games/stans-...

Rounding out a busy puzzle week, it's my solo debut for @nytimes.com!

New puzzle for @slate.com! What *does* this grid look like anyway? slate.com/life/2025/08...

It's my second puzzle for @puzzmo.com! www.puzzmo.com/puzzle/2025-...