Ben Zimmer

Geek out over my latest crossword for @slate.com!
slate.com/life/2026/02...

Puzzmo - Cross|word Play Cross|word on Puzzmo, Take a hint.

Bzz, bzz, bzz... I have today's buzzy puzzle for @puzzmo.com!

“I agreed the fuck out of it” Last year, in my post on the line from The Martian, “I’m going to have to science the shit out of this,” I took a look at the more general pattern of “VERB the TABOO TERM ou…

FTA: @benzimmer.bsky.social is going to verb the taboo term out of this one stronglang.wordpress.com/2016/02/11/i...

This week, it's the highlight of any FMI Season, because Ben Zimmer joins Ryan and Brian to discuss the 2025 Word of the Year! There's still plenty of the same slop there's always been, but skip to the 31-minute mark if you're here for The Barnacle. #woty #crossword #podcast bemoresmarter.com/fmi

Today's @slate.com crossword has an Oscars theme!
slate.com/life/2026/01...

I've got today's Saturday Stumper in Newsday!
brainsonly.com/global/netwo...

Yesterday was jam-packed with exciting moments! From -slop being named the ADS Word of the Year, to the insightful Five-Minute Linguist session, to vibrant networking in the poster session & exhibit hall—there truly was something for everyone. We can’t wait to see what today has in store! #LSA2026

The 2025 Word of the Year is "slop," both as a noun for low-quality AI-generated content and as a combining form for anything of little value. Read the full press release. #WOTY2025 #ADS2026 #LSA2026
americandialect.org/2025-word-of...

Now posted: The full list of nominees for ADS Word of the Year 2025. The final vote will be held this evening at 6:45 pm CST at the New Orleans Marriott. #WOTY2025 #ADS2026 #LSA2026
americandialect.org/nominations-...

We noticed the tie features one grid with ELIZABETH WARREN, but that's apparently referring to Betty Ford before she married Gerald, since MAMIE GENEVA DOUD (Eisenhower) and FLORENCE DEWOLFE (Harding) are also in the grid.

Men's Museum Artifacts Necktie Crossword Puzzle Silk Black Beige Neck Tie | eBay Design features a filled in cross word puzzle on a black and beige background by Museum Artifacts. Always 100% Silk and made in the U.S.A. Material: 100% Silk. Color: Beige. Size: 3+" X 57"- 60".

We did some investigating in the Crosscord #gridspotting channel when @boobypuppy.bsky.social brought this tie to our attention (www.ebay.com/itm/22358223...) but we weren't able to track down the original grids!

On @thebrianlehrershow.bsky.social,’ linguist @benzimmer.bsky.social breaks down the words that encapsulate 2025 from ‘parasocial’ to ‘rage bait.’ Listen here: harkaudio.com/year-words-2...

The New York Times Crossword Puzzles (1992) : SWFTE International, Ltd. The New York TimesCrossword Puzzles

The Internet Archive has a playable version of the NY Times Crossword Puzzle app from 1992. It ran on Windows 3.1 and included a few hundred puzzles. (Click on Game/Open to select a puzzle.) [archive.org]

YouTube video by Grammar Girl How a long-lost yearbook revealed the origin of 'hella,' with Ben Zimmer

WATCH: youtu.be/BX9FCGR-CaY?...

READ: grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/104...

LISTEN: pod.link/173429229

Promotional graphic on a green background for a Grammar Girl episode titled “The origin of Hella.” The large word “Hella” appears in orange lettering at the center, with smaller text reading “The origin of” above it and “with Ben Zimmer” below. On the left is a photo of Mignon Fogarty, resting her chin on her hand and looking toward the camera. On the right is a photo of Ben Zimmer, smiling, wearing a jacket over a shirt. The Grammar Girl logo appears in the upper right corner.

If you're traveling this weekend, download this interview with @benzimmer.bsky.social! He has DELIGHTFUL stories about:

— The origin of "hella"
— Run DMC and "drop"
— 1960s slang from cots in military barracks
— Stephen Colbert & "truthiness"

I promise you'll love it!

🎧 tinyurl.com/2d6qutrw

YouTube video by Grammar Girl How a long-lost yearbook revealed the origin of 'hella,' with Ben Zimmer

A fun little Christmas bonus... @grammargirl.bsky.social has shared the subscriber-only podcast segment we recorded in October, in which I tell some stories about tracking down the history of words like "hella," "drop," "truthiness," and "toast." www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX9F...

Love to see it! WOTY nominations can be submitted here: bit.ly/2025WOTYNOMS

2025's Word(s) of the Year | The Brian Lehrer Show | WNYC "Rage bait." "Parasocial." "6-7." Ben Zimmerty, discusses the words of the year chosen by various dictionaries.

ICYMI, @benzimmer.bsky.social on words of the year:
www.wnyc.org/story/2025s-...

The Latest Battle Over the Fate of the ACA; Meet the Likely New Speaker; Why Employers Are Ghosting; 2025's Word(s) of the Year | The Brian Lehrer Show | WNYC The Latest Battle Over the Fate of the ACA; Meet the Likely New Speaker; Why Employers Are Ghosting; 2025's Word(s) of the Year

I'll be on @wnyc.org @thebrianlehrershow.bsky.social at around 11:40 am ET talking about Word of the Year selections. www.wnyc.org/story/latest...

'6-7' doesn't mean anything. Linguists say that's the point | CBC Radio Dictionary.com named '6-7' as its word of the year for 2025, describing the term as 'meaningless, ubiquitous, and nonsensical.' But its perceived lack of meaning is perhaps the point, linguists say.

I'm quoted in here about Word of the Year selections.
www.cbc.ca/radio/67-wor...

Word of the Year: Pop culture meets linguistics Columnist Ben Zimmer joins Arthur Chi'en to talk about the top words of the year and why they're catching on.

I was on @fox5ny.bsky.social this evening talking about Word of the Year choices for 2025. www.fox5ny.com/video/1752579
Make sure to submit your own nominations for the @americandialect.org Word of the Year! americandialect.org/submit-2025-...

Perhaps it started with the *other* Homer

New crossword for @slate.com! Couldn't pass up the Simpsons ref. slate.com/life/2025/12...

Still tickets available for this! Come join us!

Happy to join @natanlast.bsky.social and Wyna Liu for a fun crossword event sponsored by JASA in NYC on 12/7. Come one, come all! Your ticket includes a copy of Natan's new book ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and supports a great cause. jasa.org/events/cross...

Happy to join @natanlast.bsky.social and Wyna Liu for a fun crossword event sponsored by JASA in NYC on 12/7. Come one, come all! Your ticket includes a copy of Natan's new book ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and supports a great cause. jasa.org/events/cross...

Where 'Posh' Doesn't Come From The funnest etymologies, alas, are almost always wrong.

Why the funnest etymologies are almost always wrong benyagoda.substack.com/p/where-posh...

Puzzmo - Cross|word Play Cross|word on Puzzmo, Take a hint.

I've got today's @puzzmo.com crossword, with a cozy theme! 🛏️ 💤
www.puzzmo.com/puzzle/2025-...

November linkstack My Black Friday gift to you: news about names, brands, language, and culture.

November linkstack (linkducken?), stuffed with words of the year, wordy gifts, and more. | Ht @gretchenmcc.bsky.social @e-briannica.bsky.social @mikepope.com @grammargirl.bsky.social @stefanfatsis.bsky.social @babynames.bsky.social @kottke.org @nybooks.com fritinancy.substack.com/p/november-l...

Workplace Word Origins: Black Friday, chef, boutique Philadelphia traffic jams, Greek storehouses, and Latin heads.

Your latest Workplace Word Origins roundup, aka LinkedIn leftovers, on the blog hits 'Black Friday,' 'boutique,' and 'chef.'

mashedradish.com/2025/11/28/w...

Credit to @benzimmer.bsky.social and @btaylorblake.bsky.social for work on 'Black Friday,' coverage of which was I felt due for a reheat.