Published November 28, 2025
Ten days ago, Merriam-Webster released the 12th edition of its Collegiate Dictionary. Mine arrived Monday. I was elated.
Believe it or not, it’s the first dictionary I’ve ever bought.
As a child, I used whatever we had at home and at school. In high school, I used a tattered paperback version my parents got for me.
When I was in my early 20s, Sue Brooks bought me a big red dictionary that looked a lot like the one above. I was embarking on a new life adventure, and she had the wonderful idea to give it to me to help me. It proved invaluable. Much to my dismay, it somehow stayed behind when I left the newsroom I worked in from 2013 to 2021.
This new dictionary has me thinking a lot about Sue and Jack Brooks and their children: Susan, Marilyn, Alison and John. They were a special family to me during a difficult time in my life, after the death of my father and other wounds.
There’s nothing I could say about them that isn’t more lovingly and eloquently said in the 2022 obituary for Sue and Jack, a tribute I am sure was written by one or all of their children. They’re all beautiful, remarkable people.
So much has changed
When Sue gave me that heavy dictionary, I knew so little of what I know now. I still said, as many people always have, “the dictionary says,” as if there’s only one dictionary. There is no such thing as “the dictionary.” There’s not even just one dictionary with the name Webster in it!
I didn’t know about prescriptivism vs. descriptivism, and I was just starting to catch on to the way language evolves, but with no clue how much that would continue for the rest of my life. “Hep” turns into “hip” — or so it seems — and on and on and on.
I’m not nearly as inflexible about words as I was early in my newspaper career, and I’m better for that. It’s a miserable way to work and to live. You can’t hold tight to any language. It’s going to change, with or without you.
The 12th edition released 10 days ago has more than 5,000 new words — or, as Merriam-Webster touts it, “over 5,000 new words.” That’s significant, because “over” is now acceptable to use instead of “more than” (much to the horror of many).
I don’t even say “I will die on this hill” about using words anymore.
If you’ve read my posts about my editing philosophy, you’ve probably winced a few times and thought, “Oh no, Carly, what has happened to you?”
I’ve worked really hard to evolve along with the language. The world in 2025 isn’t the same as the world in 1982, and neither is the English language. New words come along all the time, and new definitions for the old words work their way up the listings.
Stay frozen in time in whatever year represents your writing and editing comfort zone, but I have to pay bills in 2025, and maybe beyond. I don’t want to be a dinosaur (except maybe in costume to liven up a protest).
Thank you, Sue
I’m increasingly grateful for all of the people who have graced my life. Sue and Jack and their family are way up high on that list. I thank them all.
What I wouldn’t give to have a spirited discussion with Sue about how much language has changed.
I’ll think of her every time I see that red cover and open my new dictionary.
Sending love. Protect your peace.
♥
Thank you
If you appreciate what you find here and feel generous, you can check out the Tip Jar. Thank you for reading. Here’s a butterfly for you.
/”””””\ \ / /”””””\
\ 0 \( )/ 0 /
> l l <
/ o l l o \
\,,,,,,,,,/v\,,,,,,,,,/
Belated bonus
“Have Yourself A Merriam Little Christmas”
Merriam, a career-oriented lexicographer from the city, returns to her small town for the holidays and meets Webster, a ruggedly handsome librarian, who shows her the true DEFINITION of Christmas.
— Merriam-Webster (@merriam-webster.com) December 2, 2025 at 11:18 AM