1123. This week, we talk with author and self-described “word freak” Stefan Fatsis about his book "Unabridged." He shares his experience embedding at Merriam-Webster to become a lexicographer, sharing the contrast between the company's 1940s headquarters and the modern digital business. We look at the tension between updating old words (like the surprising original meaning of "pompom girl") and the need to add new, "sexy" words to generate web traffic.Find Stefan Fatsis on his <a href="https://www.bystefanfatsis.com/" target="_blank">website</a>, <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:5j3wn7lbhuksr4vhiqkcpnkk" target="_blank">Bluesky</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stefan.fatsis/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. Get the book, <a href="https://groveatlantic.com/book/unabridged/">Unabridged</a>.🔗 Share your familect recording in a <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://wa.me/message/LTNZOVFAQJK6B1&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1753892325231019&usg=AOvVaw2Z5GB4pvIMaVbr_E2jmpuS" target="_blank">WhatsApp chat.</a>🔗 Watch my <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/mignon-fogarty" target="_blank">LinkedIn Learning writing courses</a>.🔗 Subscribe to the <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe" target="_blank">newsletter</a>.🔗 Take <a href="https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR" target="_blank">our advertising survey</a>. 🔗 Get the edited <a href="https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/stefan-fatsis/transcript" target="_blank">transcript</a>.🔗 Get <a href="https://amzn.to/3LULzLb" target="_blank">Grammar Girl books</a>. 🔗 <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscription/">Join Grammarpalooza</a>. Get ad-free and bonus episodes at <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grammar-girl-quick-and-dirty-tips-for-better-writing/id173429229">Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href="https://joinsubtext.com/grammar">Subtext</a>. <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscription/">Learn more about the difference</a>. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty| VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475).| Grammar Girl is part of <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts">the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network</a>.<ul><li>Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend</li><li>Director of Podcast: Holly Hutchings</li><li>Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson</li><li>Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes, Rebekah Sebastian</li></ul>| Theme music by <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/episodes/cfec9501-0b7a-415c-a558-213d584f3fa1/beautifulmusic.co.uk">Catherine Rannus</a>.| Grammar Girl Social Media: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/episodes/cfec9501-0b7a-415c-a558-213d584f3fa1/YouTube.com/grammargirl">YouTube</a>. <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl">TikTok</a>. <a href="http://facebook.com/grammargirl">Facebook</a>.<a href="https://www.threads.net/@thegrammargirl">Threads</a>. <a href="http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl">Instagram</a>. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl">LinkedIn</a>. <a href="https://mastodon.social/@grammargirl">Mastodon</a>. <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/grammargirl.bsky.social">Bluesky</a>. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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The fight for the modern dictionary, with Stefan Fatsis

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