Language Lovers

Remember, remember, the 11th November: the Transit of Mercury

On November 11 there is a transit of Mercury, when, as viewed from Earth, Mercury passes across the face of the Sun. (Almost needless to say, but never view the Sun directly, either with the naked eye or with any form of optical instrument. Always use a proper… Read More

4. Mental health and disability: new words in COBUILD English Usage

In our fourth blog post about the new edition of COBUILD English Usage, Julie Moore looks at some more of the changes in language usage that emerged from research for the new edition. In this post, she explores how language shifts reflect changing ideas about mental health and disability. Read More

3. Gender and identity: new words in COBUILD English Usage

In the next two blog posts about the new edition of COBUILD English Usage, Julie Moore looks at some of the changes in language usage that emerged from research for the new edition. In this post, she explores how language shifts reflect changing ideas about gender and identity. Traditionally,… Read More

2. COBUILD English Usage: Changes in vocabulary and grammar

In the second of our blog posts about the new edition of COBUILD English Usage, Penny Hands details some of the findings that came out of the team’s research into the ways in which new words and uses are created, and usage changes in vocabulary and grammar. The second… Read More

1. COBUILD English Usage: Updating the examples

In the first of our blog posts about the new edition of COBUILD English Usage, Penny Hands details some of the changes she made to the examples to ensure they reflect changes in society, and ponders on how future-proof these changes are likely to be. One of our aims… Read More

Area 51, Starship, and Harvest Moon: September’s Words in the News

I’m sure a lot of people would agree that we live in strange times. But do they have to be so strange that Area 51 is making headlines? The classified United States Air Force (USAF) facility in Nevada (officially called Homey Airport, by the way), is famous – or infamous… Read More

Life on the Edge – Extreme Survival

The desire to push the boundaries has been a motivator in many a daring expedition, testing the human spirit and physical abilities to the utmost. The publication of the latest edition of Extreme Survivors contains stories of people who were motivated to do just that in their quest for… Read More

Impossible and Tardigrade : August’s Words in the News

When you write a blog about “Words in the News”, it’s easy to assume the best words will be neologisms: literally, “new words”. But, in truth, the thing that makes my lexicographer’s heart go pitter-patter are new uses for old words. I love it when an established, even common word… Read More

A Brief History of Survival

We tend to think of ‘survival’ as something that happens in the face of a catastrophe. However, the original survivors didn’t have to try very hard or do anything especially heroic. They simply lived on after someone else had died. In fact, to survive literally means to ‘live beyond’. Read More