EDITOR@WORK: December 2024

The Merriam-Webster word of the year for 2024 is polarization, which sounds like the political climate.

Oxford's word of the year is two words, brain rot.

I can see polarization, but brain rot?

Dictionary.com made an odd choice, demure. This is part of their explanation "Though the term demure has traditionally been used to describe those who are reserved, quiet, or modest, a new usage has spread through social media — one used to describe refined and sophisticated appearance or behavior in various contexts, such as at work or on a plane."

That's a huge leap in meaning.

The Collins English Dictionary chose brat. Collins' shortlist of words included brainrot (one word).

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

EMAIL: tgilli52@gmail.com TWITTER: EDITORatWORK

MORE EDITOR@WORK BLOG ENTRIES

• You really DO need an editor

• Reminders for would-be novelists

• What I do when I'm editing

• What I charge (it's a deal) and what I edit

• Slogging through the Internet

• J-school: More eyes on your stories

• J-school: Go out and learn

• Rookie mistakes for magazine writers

BLOG ENTRIES BY TOM GILLISPIE

• Resume for a writer and editor

• An editor's views on powerful writing

• Advice for be and would-be novelists

• Links to TG's stories online

• Favorite quotes

• What I do when I'm editing

ANECDOTES BY TOM GILLISPIE

• Wipeout at Death Valley

• Days with rainbows

• A desperate writer working in the dark

• Yer OUTTA there!

ENTRIES FROM THE DOG BLOG

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• Growl and pull

• 13-plus years with my dog Lady

• ... said the spider to ...

• The Dog Diary (2014)

• YIP! YIP! The stereo-sound huskies

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BLOG ENTRIES FROM THE AUTO RACING JOURNAL

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(a book of great stories about the Intimidator)

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• My best day as a sports writer

• Jeff Gordon's milk toast to Dale Earnhardt

• Wayne Auton: A life in racing

I was reading a book by one of my favorite novelists, and she described something as an esoteric intaglio. So I had to look it up.

An online search gives synonyms of esoteric ranging from puzzling to mysterious to erudite.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, an intaglio is an engraving or incised figure in stone or other hard material depressed below the surface so that an impression from the design yields an image in relief.

I'm only guessing, but it seems that an esoteric intaglio is a specially-made engraving or carved figure.

EMAIL: tgilli52@gmail.com TWITTER: EDITORatWORK