Required Reading – Oxford Dictionary Adds “twerk,” “derp,” “selfie,” “phablet,” and more voguish vocabulary”

Siraj Datoo writes, Oxford Dictionaries Online (ODO) is adding a slew of words that only recently came into general usage, many driven by fast-moving trends in technology and culture. Yes, “twerk” is now in the dictionary. The most relevant addition to the dictionary for Quartz readers is probably “phablet,” a portmanteau of “phone” and “tablet” used to … Continue reading →

Required Reading – According to the dictionary, “literally” now also means “figuratively”

Dana Coleman writes, ” Much has been made of the use, misuse and overuse of the word “literally.” Literally, of course, means something that is actually true: “Literally every pair of shoes I own was ruined when my apartment flooded.” When we use words not in their normal literal meaning but in a way that … Continue reading →

21st Century Buchanans

Even though it is merely mentioned in passing, Maureen Dowd’s article contains one of the most thought-provoking allusions I’ve seen in awhile.  Dowd compares the Clintons to the Buchanans of The Great Gatsby.  The two couples don’t strike me as having very similar personas (Hillary Clinton, especially, does not exude the same naivete or even … Continue reading →