How to Train Like a Champion

As I write this I’m in ‘training’ for Causeway – arguably the most prestigious Scrabble event of the year – even more so than the World Championship as there are far more games. 300 or so gluttons for punishment will be playing a mammoth 45 games over 5 days in… Read More

THE 12 WORDS OF CHRISTMAS

Hooray, it’s Scrabble™ Week! With the nights drawing in and the Christmas invites going out, it’s the perfect time of year to get together around your favourite board game and let the annual family tournament commence. Here are a dozen delightful Christmassy words you can send your ‘truelove’ (which… Read More

Toblerone, Melania Trump, and Electoral College: November’s words in the news

On Tuesday, 8 November 2016, the world witnessed an unanticipated disaster of the highest possible magnitude. Toblerone, the beloved triangular chocolate bar, reduced in size to avoid having to raise its price. This caused chocolate bar’s name to show up basically everywhere, from mainstream news headlines all the way to… Read More

‘Crafternoon’, ‘shrinkflation’ and ‘Trumpocene’ – Lucy Mangan’s back with your new word submissions

So, here we are in the very first days of the Trumpocene era. Submitted by AustinAllegro, there are currently many ways to define it, most of which share a certain apocalyptic quality we need not dwell on here. I note with interest and a little gratitude that thomas_dreiling has… Read More

Etymology Corner – ‘Surprise’

The election of Donald J Trump as the forty-fifth president of the United States certainly came as a surprise to many people. But why do we call an event that was not expected to happen a surprise? ‘Surprise’ is one of five common English words that ends… Read More

Collins Word of the Year 2016 Q & A

What is Collins’ Word of the Year? Collins’ Word of the Year is a word that our lexicographers have identified as having been notably more visible in the last year. It may be a brand new word or an existing one that has seen its popularity increase because of current… Read More

‘Brexit’, ‘Hygge’ and ‘mic drop’ – Lucy Mangan’s take on Collins Word of the Year 2016

My goodness – is it that time of year already? It is! It is indeed already time to unveil the 2016 shortlist and winner of the coveted title Collins Word of the Year. First on the list of contenders is hygge (pronounced a bit like hoo-gah, a… Read More

Etymology Corner – Collins Word of the Year 2016

Brexit Surely the most significant event in British politics for many years occurred on 23 June 2016 when voters decided that Britain should leave the European Union. Even before departure from the EU became a reality, a new word had been coined to describe the act: Brexit. Brexit was… Read More

Top 10 Collins Words of the Year 2016

Brexit has been named Collins Word of the Year 2016 thanks to a dramatic increase in usage. Here’s the words that made the top 10 list: BrexitThe withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union HyggeA concept, originating… Read More