Coming up on Word Matters, how did we get here?
I'm Emily Brewster,
and Word Matters is produced by Merriam-Webster in collaboration with New England Public Media.
On each episode, Merriam-Webster editors Amin Shea, Peter Sakalowski,
and I explore some aspect of the English language from the dictionary's vantage point.
It's our 100th episode.
which seemed like a good occasion to answer a listener question of a more personal type.
How did we, that is, we three editors, get here?
A listener writes with this rather personal question,
what path did you take to become a dictionary editor slash lexicographer?
I can't imagine a little kid saying, I want to edit words when I grow up,
although I'd give major props to any kid who did say that.
Well, this episode is our 100th Word Matters episode.
Oh my goodness.
And so I thought it would be a good occasion for us to get a little personal and just answer this question.
How did we each get here?
Peter?
You've been here the longest.
Will you answer the question first?
Oh, well, first of all, I want to give some acknowledgement to the premise of the question.