Word Fugitives: In Pursuit of Wanted Words

Fun book! Based on a column in which readers write in to request new words ("there ought to be a word for...") and other readers send in their suggestions for words to add to the language to accommodate the need. My favorite was the word in response to "There ought to be a word for the state of arriving in a room and not being able to recall why you went there": DESTINESIA. That's one I've found plenty of use for already!

The one word that linguists have been wishing for and for which we still haven't found a suitable answer is the gender-neutral third person singular (instead of the awkward "he or she," "his or hers," etc.). They're still searching!

A wonderful, light read. Not only does it include her own ideas on needed words, but also those submitted by readers of her column. Some fun fugitive words including: s/he, the feeling when everything goes into slow motion and you can't change it, yakasses, disposable plastic bags caught in trees, newbiquitous, procrastifrigeration.

Televisiphonerating is my current media favorite

Meh!