woman on laptop with houseplant next to her

Houseplant Week

This week is #houseplantweek. What a glorious thing to celebrate and counter that potential post-Christmas psychological slump. When so little plant life stirs outside, it’s time to turn our horticultural gaze indoors. But what exactly constitutes a ‘house plant’? The Collins definition is broad: ‘a plant that can be grown… Read More

9 new words in Collins Dictionary

Here is a selection of the latest words added to Collins English Dictionary online. A few of the additions in the latest update are associated with the realms of human imagination and storytelling. ‘Worldbuilding’ is the development of a coherent environment in which to set your stories, while the James… Read More
illustration people thinking of crossword

Crossword Puzzle Day: a tribute to Anne Bradford

December 21st is Crossword Puzzle Day, and there could not be a more fitting occasion to celebrate the life of Anne R Bradford, cruciverbalist extraordinaire and author of the inimitable Bradford’s Crossword Solver’s Dictionary, who died in October at the age of 90. It is not an overstatement that crosswords… Read More
person relaxing on deck chair listening to radio

New Year, Fresh Start? The Vocabulary of Wellbeing

It goes without saying that the last couple of years have been challenging for many. With a New Year comes optimism and renewed vigour, making it a great time to commit to new goals. We’ve all made resolutions to find a new job, quit smoking, commit to that fancy new… Read More

Christmas or Yule: the lexicon of the holiday season

’Tis the season to be jolly,Fa-la-la-la-lah, la-la-la-lah. Ah, carols! Doesn’t everyone love them? They really lift our spirits: belting them out in company certainly gets me in the Christmas mood. I expect many of us will have a favourite. What’s yours? Hearing carols piped in shops or singing them… Read More
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