Word by Word by Kory Stamper Summary
Overview of Word by Word
Ever wonder what happens when "covfefe" breaks the internet? Kory Stamper's insider tour of Merriam-Webster reveals how dictionaries secretly shape culture, sparked political firestorms over "marriage," and why The New Yorker calls it "both memoir and expose" of our evolving language.
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Key takeaways
The Secret Lives of Dictionary Makers
Who gets to decide what words mean? Behind every dictionary definition lies a hidden world-a windowless office in Springfield, Massachusetts, where word lovers sit in near-monastic silence, wrestling with language's beautiful chaos. These aren't ivory tower academics or language police; they're ordinary people with coffee-stained desks who spend their days debating whether "irregardless" deserves respect or "literally" can mean figuratively. They're lexicographers, and their work is far stranger and more fascinating than you'd imagine. What makes dictionaries remarkable isn't their authority but their humility-they don't create rules, they simply watch how we use words and write down what they see. Step inside Merriam-Webster's headquarters and you'll find something unexpected: silence. While marketing teams buzz downstairs, the editorial floor remains eerily quiet, populated by people who communicate primarily through email despite sitting ten feet apart. This isn't antisocial behavior-it's professional necessity. Lexicographers need concentration to perform their peculiar work: reading everything from cereal boxes to Supreme Court opinions, marking interesting word usage, and filing away millions of examples for future reference. The job requirements seem deceptively simple-a college degree and native English fluency-but the real qualification is harder to measure. Germans call it "sprachgefuhl," a feeling for language that makes you obsess over the difference between "shimmer" and "glimmer" at dinner parties.
The Grammar Myths We Learned in School
When "Irregardless" Taught Me Humility
The Detective Work Behind Every Definition
When Words Become Weapons
The Marriage Definition and the Myth of Dictionary Power
The Craft We Carry Forward
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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