Kory Stamper Books
Kory Stamper is an American lexicographer and writer who worked for Merriam-Webster for nearly two decades. She is known for her engaging explanations of language and her appearances in educational videos about English usage.
Known for: Word By Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries
Books by Kory Stamper
Word By Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries
An insightful and humorous exploration of the inner workings of dictionary-making, written by a lexicographer at Merriam-Webster. The book reveals the meticulous process behind defining words, the challenges of language evolution, and the human stories within the world of lexicography.
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The Nature of Words
Words are slippery creatures. In my years at Merriam-Webster, I’ve learned that they defy simple existence. They come into being through use, not decrees. One of the hardest lessons to explain to the public is that dictionaries do not invent words. We record them when they’ve proven they belong—when...
From Word By Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries
Historical Context of Lexicography
English has been catalogued for centuries, each dictionary reflecting the spirit of its time. Long before Merriam-Webster, there were word lists in monasteries, crafted to aid Latin scholars struggling with English vernacular. Later came Samuel Johnson, whose 1755 dictionary—the labor of a single ma...
From Word By Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries
About Kory Stamper
Kory Stamper is an American lexicographer and writer who worked for Merriam-Webster for nearly two decades. She is known for her engaging explanations of language and her appearances in educational videos about English usage.
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Kory Stamper is an American lexicographer and writer who worked for Merriam-Webster for nearly two decades. She is known for her engaging explanations of language and her appearances in educational videos about English usage.
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