Back to articles

  • The history of words | Part 2

    Aug 25, 2015 | 0 Comments

    The changing landscape of the bush

    At this year's Bendigo Writers Festival each panel member for the 'My Word' session was asked to give the word they thought of as being significant to them. The word that Susan Butler chose was ‘history’: 'There is nothing in this world that doesn’t carry its history with it. As a community we have a history. As individuals we have a personal history. The words we use have histories also.'  Read more...


  • The history of words | Part 1

    Aug 21, 2015 | 2 Comments

    The story of how the English paddock became the Australian paddock

    At this year's Bendigo Writers Festival each panel member for the 'My Word' session was asked to give the word they thought of as being significant to them. The word that Susan Butler chose was ‘history’: 'There is nothing in this world that doesn’t carry its history with it. As a community we have a history. As individuals we have a personal history. The words we use have histories also.'  Read more...


  • Dictionary Editor FAQs

    Aug 11, 2015 | 0 Comments

    The most frequently asked question about the dictionary is ‘How do words get into the dictionary?’ The answer is simple – if we can find evidence that the word is being offered by some speakers and accepted and understood by others, that is, that it has currency then it deserves its place. Read more...


  • Aitch versus Haitch

    Aug 05, 2015 | 9 Comments

    None

    The debate continues

    Battle-weary though we all are, we must face up to the problem of aitch versus haitch yet again. Now I know that you have all instantly retreated to the trenches but come on out for a minute and consider the situation calmly. For various historical reasons we have ended up with this variation in pronunciation. Read more...


  • Susan Butler at the Bendigo Writers Festival

    Aug 04, 2015 | 0 Comments

    Susan Butler will be at the Bendigo Writers Festival, 7-8 August.


  • Picturing the Australian Environment

    Aug 01, 2015 | 0 Comments

    None

    This joint project between the ABC and Macquarie Dictionary aims to uncover new words relating to the Australian environment and to collect photographs that illustrate the environment around you for inclusion in the dictionary.