Kory Stamper is a lexicographer and editor for the Merriam-Webster family of dictionaries. She is the author of Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries (Pantheon, 2017).
Kory Stamper | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | Smith College |
| Occupation(s) | Lexicographer, editor for Merriam-Webster |
| Notable work | Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries (2017) |
| Website | Harmlessdrudgery.com |
Early life
Stamper grew up in Colorado.[1] She attended at Smith College, where she undertook an interdisciplinary major that involved studying Latin, Greek, Old English, Norse, and Middle English after enrolling in a course on Icelandic family sagas of the 13th and 14th centuries. She says "I loved the style, the rhythm. They're very bleak, but they have this black humor."[1]
Career
Stamper worked in a college development office before applying for an editorial assistant position with Merriam-Webster in 1998.[1]
In addition to her editorial duties, she presents many of Merriam-Webster's "Ask the Editor" videos,[2] a series on the publisher's website and YouTube that discusses the English language, especially unusual or controversial words and usages. She undertakes speaking engagements on behalf of Merriam-Webster[3][4] and provides expert advice and response to general enquiries on language and lexicography from the public.[5] Stamper drew attention as the Associate Editor responsible for explaining the addition of the term "F-Bomb" into the dictionary.[1]
Stamper also provides lexicographical and language related commentary for various media outlets including the Chicago Tribune[6][7][8][9][10][11] and has written on other, non-language-related topics.[12]
Word by Word
Stamper's first book, Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries, was released by Pantheon in March 2017.[13][14][15]
Personal life
Stamper is married with two children. She lives in New Jersey.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e Rubin, Daniel (August 23, 2012). "Daniel Rubin: The editor who dropped an F-bomb on Merriam-Webster". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- ^ "Merriam-Webster - Ask the Editor". Retrieved 2012-06-05.
- ^ "A Chicago Tribune article about a talk Kory Stamper gave at the Wyndham Hotel and Executive Meeting Center in Lisle". Retrieved 2012-06-05.
- ^ "Kory Stamper Plenary Speaker llinois Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages 2012 convention". Retrieved 2012-06-05.
- ^ "Examples of Stamper providing expert advice to public".
- ^ "Chicago Tribune". Retrieved 2012-06-06.
- ^ "Chicago Tribune". Retrieved 2012-06-06.
- ^ "Chicago Tribune". Retrieved 2012-06-06.
- ^ "Chicago Tribune". Retrieved 2012-06-06.
- ^ "Chicago Tribune". Retrieved 2012-06-06.
- ^ "Columbia News Service article published in the Chicago Tribune". Retrieved 2012-06-06.
- ^ "Alma Mater - an article published in www.brainchildmag.com an online parenting magazine". Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Garber, Megan. "The Case Against the Grammar Scolds". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
- ^ Schuessler, Jennifer (2017-03-22). "A Journey Into the Merriam-Webster Word Factory". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
- ^ "Nonfiction Book Review: Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries by Kory Stamper. Pantheon, $26 (320p) ISBN 978-1-101-87094-5". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2017-06-01.