@carolinavonkampen.com2 kinds of dictionaries:
1. Synchronic ("at the same time"). Rigorously functional, with a focus on definitions. Webster's approach
OR
2. Diachronic ("across time"). Broadly literary, with a focus on quotations. Johnson's and Oxford English Dictionary's approach
@carolinavonkampen.comThis session about words and dictionaries is making me want to attend a #linguistics conference! #ACESVCON26 #VCON26
@carolinavonkampen.comDid you know?
Dictionaries *used* to list the oldest definition of the word first. The word's definitions were listed in chronological order. (But not anymore.)
In 1983, it was a business decision to list the year of first known use in Merriam-Webster dictionaries.
@carolinavonkampen.comHow do dictionaries work?
Alphabetical order.
But alphabetical order is arbitrary. It's a skill. You have to learn alphabetical order in order to use a dictionary.
@carolinavonkampen.comWords are time capsules.
“Language is fossil poetry.” –Emerson
#poetry #ACESVCON26 #VCON26 #language #words #amwriting #amediting
@carolinavonkampen.comNext up at #ACESVCON26: Time Traveling With the Dictionary: Smart Ways to Use a Word's Date by @petersokolowski.bsky.social
@aday178.bsky.socialVery excited for Peter Sokolowski's session this morning at #ACESVCON26. Peter is always such an engaging and informative speaker. Let's learn about words and dictionaries!
@carolinavonkampen.comI’m attending the #ACESVCON26 virtual #editing conference this week, and I’m live posting from sessions I attended on Bluesky.
In this blog post, you’ll find a roundup of threads I made from the conference:
carolinavonkampen.com/live-from-ac... #vcon26 #amediting #edibuddies #editorsky
@carolinavonkampen.comOooh I saw that session in Atlanta and loved it! Well, loved the presentation...did NOT love the fact that I was having to edit some AI-generated text for a client at the time...lol #ACESVCON26
@carolinavonkampen.comnow you know it's gonna be an interesting #ACESVCON26 session when the slides are from a time traveler... 👀
@carolinavonkampen.comYour session and slides were incredibly easy to live post because they were so well designed and broken into digestible chunks! It was a pleasure!
Great job on the presentation—idk if you saw, but several people in the chat were saying it was their favorite #ACESVCON26 session thus far! :)
@carolinavonkampen.comFree downloads from @theclarityeditor.bsky.social
Worksheet: Writing clearly for your global audience: buymeacoffee.com/clarityedito...
Quick reference: Clear writing tips: buymeacoffee.com/clarityedito...
#ACESVCON26 #VCON26 #plainlanguage #amediting #editorsky #writing
@carolinavonkampen.comWriting for diverse audiences: theclarityeditor.com/resource-lib...
Plain language resources from @theclarityeditor.bsky.social: theclarityeditor.com/resource-lib...
Plain language is a civil right: theclarityeditor.com/2021/11/20/p...
@carolinavonkampen.comAnd @theclarityeditor.bsky.social has tons of great resources on her site!
How to write clear English for your diverse audiences: theclarityeditor.com/2022/07/05/w...
Non-designers can design for better readability: 3 simple principles: theclarityeditor.com/2023/02/08/n...
@carolinavonkampen.comDesign resources
The Non-Designer’s Design Book by Robin Williams: bookshop.org/a/6998/97801...
Fundamental design principles for non-designers: www.freecodecamp.org/news/fundame...
@carolinavonkampen.comAccessibility resources!
“Creating Accessible Documents.” abilitynet.org.uk/factsheets/c...
“Making Events Accessible.” www.w3.org/WAI/teach-ad...
Digital accessibility resources: theclarityeditor.com/2023/06/05/r...
@carolinavonkampen.comAccessibility resources!
15 Best Online Accessibility Practices disabilityrightsflorida.org/blog/entry/1...
Microsoft Inclusive Design support.microsoft.com/en-us/access...
Make your Word documents accessible to people with disabilities: support.microsoft.com/en-us/access...
@carolinavonkampen.comCourses on #PlainLanguage
CIEP Plain English for Editors course (paid e-learning course)
Why Use Plain Language? What Science Says About Our Brain’s Reading Process (paid Editors Canada webinar with Cheryl Stephens)
Simon Fraser Plain Language Certificate (paid online course)
@carolinavonkampen.com#PlainLanguage resources for editors
PlainLanguage.gov Full archived version is on the WaybackMachine: web.archive.org/web/20250926...
Garbl's Guide to Writing for English Learners, Multilingual Readers, and Translation: www.garblwriting.com/p/writing-fo...
@carolinavonkampen.com#PlainLanguage resources for editors
Plain Language Association International, "What is plain language?" plainlanguage.com/what-is-plai... (If you’re a member, check out the Resource Bank)
Plain language —Part 1: Governing principles and guidelines
www.iso.org/obp/ui/en/#i...