As the latest version of the OED is published online, two of the UK’s stateliest newspapers seize the PR initiative to remind readers of their contributions to the English language.
The Times is confident it has the upper hand, claiming to be the ‘biggest source’ whilst the Telegraph, via a correspondent rejoicing in the name of Harry Wallop, credits itself with 251 additions including underdog, ageist and triathlon.
What happened to ‘lexiconate’, though? It was there in the Telegraph’s print edition (“You read it here first: words the Telegraph lexiconated”) but mercifully absent from the online story.
Perhaps the editors thought there was more potential for ridicule on the web.