Editor's Corner

Hello, friends.

Dictionary.com recently announced a passel of new words that they have added to the dictionary for 2023. There are quite a few of them, so they broke them up into categories. I’ll share them with you over several weeks, so you don’t get too excited, overwhelmed, or outraged, depending on your outlook.

First a reminder: dictionary editors do not just pick their favorite words to add each year. They add words according to these criteria: the word has relatively widespread use, it has a widely agreed-upon meaning, and it seems to have staying power (that is, it looks like it’ll be around for a long time).

I am not saying I love all these new words, but I do love actively watching language evolve. And like it or not, English is always changing.

So on with the first two categories of words.

Pop Culture and Slang

· jawn (noun)

Informal. Chiefly Philadelphia. Something or someone for which the speaker does not know or does not need a specific name.

Example: Can you hand me that jawn right there?

Philadelphians know that their favorite regional catchall term isn’t new—the first records of its use come from the early 2000s, when it started to be popularized in the Black community. Its addition reflects an increasing awareness of the term outside the region. Its ultimate origin is uncertain, but it may be a local Philadelphia variant of joint, which is used in a similar way in the New York City metropolitan area.

· nepo baby (noun)

A celebrity with a parent who is also famous, especially one whose industry connections are perceived as essential to their success.

· NIL (abbreviation)

Name, image, likeness: aspects of a collegiate athlete’s identity for which they may earn money from a third party, as for advertising sponsorship or merchandise sales, although they are prohibited from being paid directly by colleges and universities for their participation in intercollegiate sports.

· Blursday (noun)

Informal. A day not easily distinguished from other days, or the phenomenon of days running together.

Made-up day names are meant to capture the sameyness vibe of busy lives and work. Similar terms include Whoseday and Whensday.

· shower orange (noun)

An orange that is peeled and eaten under a steamy shower, the purported benefit being that the steam enhances the orange’s citrusy fragrance and creates a soothing experience for the person who is showering.

The phenomenon and the name for it were popularized by a viral social media trend. Keep an eye out for similar practices, including shower beer and shower wine.

· Godwin’s Law (noun)

An adage of internet culture stating that as any discussion or debate grows longer, there is a proportionate increase in the probability that someone will invoke a comparison to Hitler or the Nazi party.

Named after U.S. lawyer and author Mike Godwin (born 1956), who formulated the adage in 1991.

· Poe’s Law (noun)

An adage of internet culture stating that unless some tone indicator is used, it is impossible to tell the difference between an extreme view being sincerely espoused and an extreme view being satirized.

Named after Nathan Poe, who posted about the concept on an internet forum in 2005. But the concept predates Poe’s post.

· campaign (noun)

A story in a role-playing game, spread out over multiple play sessions, that usually keeps the same plot, setting, or main characters.

This is just one example of a word that’s obviously not new but for which our lexicographers have added a more recent sense.

Artificial Intelligence

· generative AI (noun)

Artificial intelligence that is designed to process prompts from users and respond with text, images, audio, or other output that is modeled on a training data set.

· chatbot (noun)

A computer program designed to respond with conversational or informational replies to verbal or written messages from users.

· GPT (abbreviation)

Generative pre-trained transformer or general purpose technology; a type of machine learning algorithm that uses deep learning and a large database of training text in order to generate new text in response to a user’s prompt.

· hallucinate (verb)

(of a machine learning program) To produce false information contrary to the intent of the user and present it as if true and factual.

Be prepared to starting hearing and reading about this with increasing frequency—including in discussions of how AI researchers still don’t fully understand how it happens.

· LLM (abbreviation)

Large language model: a type of machine learning algorithm trained on extremely large data sets of existing language and designed to generate new, naturalistic responses to prompts.

I’ll have more words for you next time. Until then, just be nice. 😊

Donna Bradley Burcher |Technical Editor, Advisory | jack henry™

Pronouns she/her/hers

9660 Granite Ridge Drive, San Diego CA 92123

Symitar Documentation Services

About Editor’s Corner

Editor’s Corner keeps your communication skills sharp by providing information on grammar, punctuation, JHA style, and all things English. As editors, we spend our days reading, researching, and revising other people’s writing. We love to spend a few extra minutes to share what we learn with you and keep it fun while we’re doing it.

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