Erin McKean quotes

Lexicographers are language reporters. (Erin McKean)
Language is a nice way to remember things. View quote
Erin McKean
Aging has been bad ever since we figured out it led to dying. View quote
Erin McKean
All language is a popularity contest. View quote
Erin McKean
By the time the traditionally male lexicographers become interested in looking at fashion words, their origins are lost in the mists of time. View quote
Erin McKean
if you want someone to stop listening to you go ahead and yell. If you want them to listen to every word, whisper. -Mimi. View quote
Erin McKean
Uniforms are intended to make the wearer look as strong as possible. Soldiers could fight in leotards, but that's never going to happen because leotards aren't intimidating. View quote
Erin McKean
For me, conferences are like little mental vacations: a chance to go visit an interesting place for a couple of days, and come back rested and refreshed with new ideas and perspectives. View quote
Erin McKean
People say jargon is a bad thing, but it's really a shortcut vocabulary professionals use to understand one another. View quote
Erin McKean
Objections to verbification in English tend to be motivated by personal taste, not clarity. Verbed words are usually easily understood. When a word like 'friend' is declared not a verb, the problem isn't that it's confusing; it's that the protester finds it deeply annoying. View quote
Erin McKean
If you're talking about how you promoted synergy in an organization, that could mean you just got everybody together for donuts twice a week. (Erin McKean)