John Kelly
@mashedradish.bsky.social
Your "rigorous af" word guy. Formerly, head of content at Dictionary.com, contributor to Merriam-Webster and Oxford Dictionaries, emoji lexicographer for Emojipedia, and educator. I (still) blog about etymology at masheradish.com.
Reposted by John Kelly
John Kelly @mashedradish.bsky.social makes 'fascism' his Etymology of the Year
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
The 2025 Etymology of the Year
“Fascism” is a challenging word for a challenging moment, and its origins may bear lessons for us.
mashedradish.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:54 PM
John Kelly @mashedradish.bsky.social makes 'fascism' his Etymology of the Year
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
Democracy had a good week. That is good reason to hope. That is good reason to oppose—with renewed purpose—the forces behind my choice for the 2025 Word of the Year:
FASCISM.
Dive into my lexical—and etymological—treatment of this challenging word on my blog:
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
FASCISM.
Dive into my lexical—and etymological—treatment of this challenging word on my blog:
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
The 2025 Etymology of the Year
“Fascism” is a challenging word for a challenging moment, and its origins may bear lessons for us.
mashedradish.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Democracy had a good week. That is good reason to hope. That is good reason to oppose—with renewed purpose—the forces behind my choice for the 2025 Word of the Year:
FASCISM.
Dive into my lexical—and etymological—treatment of this challenging word on my blog:
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
FASCISM.
Dive into my lexical—and etymological—treatment of this challenging word on my blog:
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
Reposted by John Kelly
“The aphorism,” Geary writes, “is, in some ways, perfectly suited to the digital age: The oldest form of literature finds its ideal vehicle in the most modern short modes of communication.” Thanks for reading and writing @mashedradish.bsky.social #aphorism mashedradish.com/2025/11/07/a...
“Literature’s hand luggage”: wit and wisdom in James Geary’s “The World in a Phrase: A Brief History of the Aphorism”
A definitive—and delightful—handbook to the hard-to-define aphorism.
mashedradish.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:13 PM
“The aphorism,” Geary writes, “is, in some ways, perfectly suited to the digital age: The oldest form of literature finds its ideal vehicle in the most modern short modes of communication.” Thanks for reading and writing @mashedradish.bsky.social #aphorism mashedradish.com/2025/11/07/a...
I reviewed James Geary's new second edition of his delightful handbook to the aphorism, The World in a Phrase, which sparkles with the wit and wisdom of those he quotes: mashedradish.com/2025/11/07/a...
“Literature’s hand luggage”: wit and wisdom in James Geary’s “The World in a Phrase: A Brief History of the Aphorism”
A definitive—and delightful—handbook to the hard-to-define aphorism.
mashedradish.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:42 PM
I reviewed James Geary's new second edition of his delightful handbook to the aphorism, The World in a Phrase, which sparkles with the wit and wisdom of those he quotes: mashedradish.com/2025/11/07/a...
Reposted by John Kelly
“It’s the constitution. It’s Mabo. It’s justice. It’s law. It’s the vibe-coding, Your Honour.”
Collins has announced VIBE CODING as its 2025 Word of the Year in a list, Rachel Quinn says for the dictionary, "encapsulates what it means to be human in the age of AI."
: blog.collinsdictionary.com/language-lov...
: blog.collinsdictionary.com/language-lov...
Collins’ Word of the Year 2025: AI meets authenticity as society shifts - Collins Dictionary Language Blog
‘Vibe coding’, a software development that turns natural language into computer code using AI, has been named Collins’ Word of the Year 2025.
blog.collinsdictionary.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:50 PM
“It’s the constitution. It’s Mabo. It’s justice. It’s law. It’s the vibe-coding, Your Honour.”
Reposted by John Kelly
Vibe-coding is an important advance in human-AI-‘machine’ interaction, but of limited interest to most non-specialists. Other terms on their shortlist are more relevant.
Collins has announced VIBE CODING as its 2025 Word of the Year in a list, Rachel Quinn says for the dictionary, "encapsulates what it means to be human in the age of AI."
: blog.collinsdictionary.com/language-lov...
: blog.collinsdictionary.com/language-lov...
Collins’ Word of the Year 2025: AI meets authenticity as society shifts - Collins Dictionary Language Blog
‘Vibe coding’, a software development that turns natural language into computer code using AI, has been named Collins’ Word of the Year 2025.
blog.collinsdictionary.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Vibe-coding is an important advance in human-AI-‘machine’ interaction, but of limited interest to most non-specialists. Other terms on their shortlist are more relevant.
Collins has announced VIBE CODING as its 2025 Word of the Year in a list, Rachel Quinn says for the dictionary, "encapsulates what it means to be human in the age of AI."
: blog.collinsdictionary.com/language-lov...
: blog.collinsdictionary.com/language-lov...
Collins’ Word of the Year 2025: AI meets authenticity as society shifts - Collins Dictionary Language Blog
‘Vibe coding’, a software development that turns natural language into computer code using AI, has been named Collins’ Word of the Year 2025.
blog.collinsdictionary.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Collins has announced VIBE CODING as its 2025 Word of the Year in a list, Rachel Quinn says for the dictionary, "encapsulates what it means to be human in the age of AI."
: blog.collinsdictionary.com/language-lov...
: blog.collinsdictionary.com/language-lov...
Oh no. Not you now, too, Shakespeare.
November 5, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Oh no. Not you now, too, Shakespeare.
Reposted by John Kelly
“We are not in normal times. We can’t afford to avoid politics out of politeness.” The 2025 Etymology of the Year, by @mashedradish.bsky.social.
The 2025 Etymology of the Year
“Fascism” is a challenging word for a challenging moment, and its origins may bear lessons for us.
mashedradish.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:09 PM
“We are not in normal times. We can’t afford to avoid politics out of politeness.” The 2025 Etymology of the Year, by @mashedradish.bsky.social.
Good angels guard thy battle. Live and flourish. ...
Sleep, Richmond, sleep in peace and wake in joy.
Sleep, Richmond, sleep in peace and wake in joy.
Good day and happiness
November 5, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Good angels guard thy battle. Live and flourish. ...
Sleep, Richmond, sleep in peace and wake in joy.
Sleep, Richmond, sleep in peace and wake in joy.
Newsy #etymology:
MAYOR, MAJOR
‘Mayor,’ as in Mayor Mamdani, is a doublet of ‘major,’ as in a major victory for him and Democrats across US elections.
A doublet is a pair of words that come from the same source but entered at different stages. That results in different forms and senses. 1/
MAYOR, MAJOR
‘Mayor,’ as in Mayor Mamdani, is a doublet of ‘major,’ as in a major victory for him and Democrats across US elections.
A doublet is a pair of words that come from the same source but entered at different stages. That results in different forms and senses. 1/
November 5, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Newsy #etymology:
MAYOR, MAJOR
‘Mayor,’ as in Mayor Mamdani, is a doublet of ‘major,’ as in a major victory for him and Democrats across US elections.
A doublet is a pair of words that come from the same source but entered at different stages. That results in different forms and senses. 1/
MAYOR, MAJOR
‘Mayor,’ as in Mayor Mamdani, is a doublet of ‘major,’ as in a major victory for him and Democrats across US elections.
A doublet is a pair of words that come from the same source but entered at different stages. That results in different forms and senses. 1/
Reposted by John Kelly
My 2025 Word of the Year is FASCISM. It speaks to the gravity—and reality—of the moment. There's data to back it up. No more important day to announce it than Election Day
As I write about word origins, I give it extensive treatment as my Etymology of the Year here:
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
As I write about word origins, I give it extensive treatment as my Etymology of the Year here:
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
The 2025 Etymology of the Year
“Fascism” is a challenging word for a challenging moment, and its origins may bear lessons for us.
mashedradish.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:51 PM
My 2025 Word of the Year is FASCISM. It speaks to the gravity—and reality—of the moment. There's data to back it up. No more important day to announce it than Election Day
As I write about word origins, I give it extensive treatment as my Etymology of the Year here:
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
As I write about word origins, I give it extensive treatment as my Etymology of the Year here:
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
My 2025 Word of the Year is FASCISM. It speaks to the gravity—and reality—of the moment. There's data to back it up. No more important day to announce it than Election Day
As I write about word origins, I give it extensive treatment as my Etymology of the Year here:
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
As I write about word origins, I give it extensive treatment as my Etymology of the Year here:
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
The 2025 Etymology of the Year
“Fascism” is a challenging word for a challenging moment, and its origins may bear lessons for us.
mashedradish.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:51 PM
My 2025 Word of the Year is FASCISM. It speaks to the gravity—and reality—of the moment. There's data to back it up. No more important day to announce it than Election Day
As I write about word origins, I give it extensive treatment as my Etymology of the Year here:
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
As I write about word origins, I give it extensive treatment as my Etymology of the Year here:
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
Reposted by John Kelly
I recently realized that this month is the twentieth (!) blogiversary of Arrant Pedantry. My posting frequency has been pretty bad the last few years as I've dealt with health problems, pandemic burnout, and regular burnout, but I wanted to mark the occasion by sharing some of my favorite posts.
October 31, 2025 at 7:05 PM
I recently realized that this month is the twentieth (!) blogiversary of Arrant Pedantry. My posting frequency has been pretty bad the last few years as I've dealt with health problems, pandemic burnout, and regular burnout, but I wanted to mark the occasion by sharing some of my favorite posts.
I was thinking “Hunger and Gold” is the title for this moment but now do we revise to “Hunger and Marble”?
October 31, 2025 at 7:11 PM
I was thinking “Hunger and Gold” is the title for this moment but now do we revise to “Hunger and Marble”?
TV on the Radio's 'Return to Cookie Mountain' and Wolf Parade's 'Apologies to Queen Mary' are honorary Halloween albums.
October 30, 2025 at 12:38 PM
TV on the Radio's 'Return to Cookie Mountain' and Wolf Parade's 'Apologies to Queen Mary' are honorary Halloween albums.
Reposted by John Kelly
HERE WE GO
Word of the Year season begins
and it wasn't Collins going first this time
Word of the Year season begins
and it wasn't Collins going first this time
Dictionary.com goes out early with its 2025 Word of the Year …
and it chooses “67,” or “six-seven.”
www.dictionary.com/e/word-of-th...
I had the privilege of running the site's Word of the Year for a few years, so I’ll share some thoughts (that don’t divulge any privileged info).
and it chooses “67,” or “six-seven.”
www.dictionary.com/e/word-of-th...
I had the privilege of running the site's Word of the Year for a few years, so I’ll share some thoughts (that don’t divulge any privileged info).
October 29, 2025 at 10:15 PM
HERE WE GO
Word of the Year season begins
and it wasn't Collins going first this time
Word of the Year season begins
and it wasn't Collins going first this time
Reposted by John Kelly
Newsy #etymology
BALLROOM
1/ Never really thought about what the ‘ball’ in ‘ballroom’ is before. Maybe never would have if such a thing was being prioritized over, you know, healthcare and food security. And democracy.
But here we are, etymologizing before the senseless abyss.
BALLROOM
1/ Never really thought about what the ‘ball’ in ‘ballroom’ is before. Maybe never would have if such a thing was being prioritized over, you know, healthcare and food security. And democracy.
But here we are, etymologizing before the senseless abyss.
October 28, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Newsy #etymology
BALLROOM
1/ Never really thought about what the ‘ball’ in ‘ballroom’ is before. Maybe never would have if such a thing was being prioritized over, you know, healthcare and food security. And democracy.
But here we are, etymologizing before the senseless abyss.
BALLROOM
1/ Never really thought about what the ‘ball’ in ‘ballroom’ is before. Maybe never would have if such a thing was being prioritized over, you know, healthcare and food security. And democracy.
But here we are, etymologizing before the senseless abyss.
Reposted by John Kelly
A very personal thread. And a hopeful one.
1/ The past two years, I’ve been going back to my high school—an all-male Jesuit high school, St. Xavier, in Cincinnati—to give a talk to juniors on the topic of addiction for their third-year religion course: Morality & Social Justice.
1/ The past two years, I’ve been going back to my high school—an all-male Jesuit high school, St. Xavier, in Cincinnati—to give a talk to juniors on the topic of addiction for their third-year religion course: Morality & Social Justice.
October 28, 2025 at 2:55 PM
A very personal thread. And a hopeful one.
1/ The past two years, I’ve been going back to my high school—an all-male Jesuit high school, St. Xavier, in Cincinnati—to give a talk to juniors on the topic of addiction for their third-year religion course: Morality & Social Justice.
1/ The past two years, I’ve been going back to my high school—an all-male Jesuit high school, St. Xavier, in Cincinnati—to give a talk to juniors on the topic of addiction for their third-year religion course: Morality & Social Justice.
Reposted by John Kelly
Dictionary.com goes out early with its 2025 Word of the Year …
and it chooses “67,” or “six-seven.”
www.dictionary.com/e/word-of-th...
I had the privilege of running the site's Word of the Year for a few years, so I’ll share some thoughts (that don’t divulge any privileged info).
and it chooses “67,” or “six-seven.”
www.dictionary.com/e/word-of-th...
I had the privilege of running the site's Word of the Year for a few years, so I’ll share some thoughts (that don’t divulge any privileged info).
October 29, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Dictionary.com goes out early with its 2025 Word of the Year …
and it chooses “67,” or “six-seven.”
www.dictionary.com/e/word-of-th...
I had the privilege of running the site's Word of the Year for a few years, so I’ll share some thoughts (that don’t divulge any privileged info).
and it chooses “67,” or “six-seven.”
www.dictionary.com/e/word-of-th...
I had the privilege of running the site's Word of the Year for a few years, so I’ll share some thoughts (that don’t divulge any privileged info).
Dictionary.com goes out early with its 2025 Word of the Year …
and it chooses “67,” or “six-seven.”
www.dictionary.com/e/word-of-th...
I had the privilege of running the site's Word of the Year for a few years, so I’ll share some thoughts (that don’t divulge any privileged info).
and it chooses “67,” or “six-seven.”
www.dictionary.com/e/word-of-th...
I had the privilege of running the site's Word of the Year for a few years, so I’ll share some thoughts (that don’t divulge any privileged info).
October 29, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Dictionary.com goes out early with its 2025 Word of the Year …
and it chooses “67,” or “six-seven.”
www.dictionary.com/e/word-of-th...
I had the privilege of running the site's Word of the Year for a few years, so I’ll share some thoughts (that don’t divulge any privileged info).
and it chooses “67,” or “six-seven.”
www.dictionary.com/e/word-of-th...
I had the privilege of running the site's Word of the Year for a few years, so I’ll share some thoughts (that don’t divulge any privileged info).
Doing a Google search, or just having Chrome open, is an onslaught of force-fed AI pick-mes now:
October 28, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Doing a Google search, or just having Chrome open, is an onslaught of force-fed AI pick-mes now:
A very personal thread. And a hopeful one.
1/ The past two years, I’ve been going back to my high school—an all-male Jesuit high school, St. Xavier, in Cincinnati—to give a talk to juniors on the topic of addiction for their third-year religion course: Morality & Social Justice.
1/ The past two years, I’ve been going back to my high school—an all-male Jesuit high school, St. Xavier, in Cincinnati—to give a talk to juniors on the topic of addiction for their third-year religion course: Morality & Social Justice.
October 28, 2025 at 2:55 PM
A very personal thread. And a hopeful one.
1/ The past two years, I’ve been going back to my high school—an all-male Jesuit high school, St. Xavier, in Cincinnati—to give a talk to juniors on the topic of addiction for their third-year religion course: Morality & Social Justice.
1/ The past two years, I’ve been going back to my high school—an all-male Jesuit high school, St. Xavier, in Cincinnati—to give a talk to juniors on the topic of addiction for their third-year religion course: Morality & Social Justice.
STOOLBALL!
Also, SUPPORT DICTIONARIES!
Also, SUPPORT DICTIONARIES!
October 28, 2025 at 12:20 PM
STOOLBALL!
Also, SUPPORT DICTIONARIES!
Also, SUPPORT DICTIONARIES!
Reposted by John Kelly
"I DON'T NEED YOU TO FUCKING REWRITE WHAT I'VE JUST WRITTEN!"
October 28, 2025 at 10:46 AM
"I DON'T NEED YOU TO FUCKING REWRITE WHAT I'VE JUST WRITTEN!"