Kory Stamper

Kory Stamper is a lexicographer and former associate editor for the Merriam-Webster family of dictionaries.[1] She is the author of Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries (Pantheon, 2017).

Kory Stamper
Alma materSmith College
OccupationLexicographer, editor for Merriam-Webster
Notable work
Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries (2017)
WebsiteHarmlessdrudgery.com

Early life

Stamper grew up in Colorado.[2] She attended Smith College, where she undertook an interdisciplinary major that involved studying Latin, Greek, Norse, Old English, 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."[2]

Career

Stamper worked in a college development office before applying for an editorial assistant position with Merriam-Webster in 1998.[2]

In addition to her editorial duties, she presents many of Merriam-Webster's "Ask the Editor" videos,[3] 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[4][5] and provides expert advice and response to general enquiries on language and lexicography from the public.[6] Stamper drew attention as the Associate Editor responsible for explaining the addition of the term "F-Bomb" into the dictionary.[2]

Stamper also provides lexicographical and language-related commentary for various media outlets including the Chicago Tribune[7][8][9][10][11][12] and has written on other, non-language-related topics.[13]

Word by Word
External video
Presentation by Stamper on Word by Word, March 22, 2018, C-SPAN

Stamper's first book, Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries, was released by Pantheon in March 2017.[14][15][16]

The History of Swear Words

Stamper appears in six episodes of the 2021 Netflix series The History of Swear Words,[17] providing commentary on the linguistic histories of various obscenities. Although overall series reviews were mixed, The Hollywood Reporter described Stamper as "probably the breakout among the expert talking heads."[18]

Personal life

Stamper is married with two children. She lives in Collingswood, New Jersey.[2]

References
  1. Stamper, Kory. "Kory Stamper". LinkedIn. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  2. Rubin, Daniel (August 23, 2012). "Daniel Rubin: The editor who dropped an F-bomb on Merriam-Webster". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  3. "Merriam-Webster - Ask the Editor". Retrieved 2012-06-05.
  4. "A Chicago Tribune article about a talk Kory Stamper gave at the Wyndham Hotel and Executive Meeting Center in Lisle". Retrieved 2012-06-05.
  5. "Kory Stamper Plenary Speaker Illinois Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages 2012 convention". Archived from the original on 2012-04-23. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
  6. "Examples of Stamper providing expert advice to public".
  7. "Chicago Tribune". Retrieved 2012-06-06.
  8. Stevens, Heidi (February 15, 2012). "Word crushes". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
  9. "Chicago Tribune". Retrieved 2012-06-06.
  10. "Chicago Tribune". Retrieved 2012-06-06.
  11. "Chicago Tribune". Retrieved 2012-06-06.
  12. "Columbia News Service article published in the Chicago Tribune". Retrieved 2012-06-06.
  13. "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.
  14. Garber, Megan. "The Case Against the Grammar Scolds". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
  15. Schuessler, Jennifer (2017-03-22). "A Journey Into the Merriam-Webster Word Factory". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
  16. "Nonfiction Book Review: Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries by Kory Stamper". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
  17. History of Swear Words (Documentary, Comedy), Nikki Glaser, London Hughes, Elvis Mitchell, Melissa Mohr, B17 Entertainment, Funny or Die, 2021-01-05, retrieved 2021-01-24CS1 maint: others (link)
  18. "'History of Swear Words' Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 2021-01-05. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
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