Gretchen McCulloch
@gretchenmcculloch.com
Internet linguist. Wrote Because Internet, NYT bestseller about internet language. Co-hosts @lingthusiasm.com, a podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics.
she/her 🌈
Montreal en/fr 🇨🇦
gretchenmcculloch.com
she/her 🌈
Montreal en/fr 🇨🇦
gretchenmcculloch.com
Pinned
Hello! I'm an internet linguist!
I wrote a book called Because Internet about how we use language online gretchenmcculloch.com/book
I make @lingthusiasm.bsky.social, a podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics
And I maintain a linguistics starter pack here: go.bsky.app/UUM7Gcx
I wrote a book called Because Internet about how we use language online gretchenmcculloch.com/book
I make @lingthusiasm.bsky.social, a podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics
And I maintain a linguistics starter pack here: go.bsky.app/UUM7Gcx
Linguistsky, has anyone encountered a name for the "menty b" "sunny d" style abbreviation yet?
Immediately I was reminded of the cost of living crisis being called "cozzie livs" and general elections being called "genny lecs"
My question is: does this style of abbreviation have a name? Where two words become... tooey wuz?
My question is: does this style of abbreviation have a name? Where two words become... tooey wuz?
January 20, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Linguistsky, has anyone encountered a name for the "menty b" "sunny d" style abbreviation yet?
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
My year in review post for 2025!
If you want to know if you missed any funny posts or other things I did that went up this year, you can now browse em all in one spot!
gretchenmcculloch.com/2026/01/19/2...
If you want to know if you missed any funny posts or other things I did that went up this year, you can now browse em all in one spot!
gretchenmcculloch.com/2026/01/19/2...
2025 year in review
In 2025, Lauren Gawne and I reached our 100th episode of Lingthusiasm, our podcast that’s enthusiastic about linguistics! It’s a special format featuring 100 fun things about linguistic…
gretchenmcculloch.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:29 AM
My year in review post for 2025!
If you want to know if you missed any funny posts or other things I did that went up this year, you can now browse em all in one spot!
gretchenmcculloch.com/2026/01/19/2...
If you want to know if you missed any funny posts or other things I did that went up this year, you can now browse em all in one spot!
gretchenmcculloch.com/2026/01/19/2...
My year in review post for 2025!
If you want to know if you missed any funny posts or other things I did that went up this year, you can now browse em all in one spot!
gretchenmcculloch.com/2026/01/19/2...
If you want to know if you missed any funny posts or other things I did that went up this year, you can now browse em all in one spot!
gretchenmcculloch.com/2026/01/19/2...
2025 year in review
In 2025, Lauren Gawne and I reached our 100th episode of Lingthusiasm, our podcast that’s enthusiastic about linguistics! It’s a special format featuring 100 fun things about linguistic…
gretchenmcculloch.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:29 AM
My year in review post for 2025!
If you want to know if you missed any funny posts or other things I did that went up this year, you can now browse em all in one spot!
gretchenmcculloch.com/2026/01/19/2...
If you want to know if you missed any funny posts or other things I did that went up this year, you can now browse em all in one spot!
gretchenmcculloch.com/2026/01/19/2...
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
Nice examples of toddler overgeneralization in English past tense in this banger
January 18, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Nice examples of toddler overgeneralization in English past tense in this banger
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
Let me introduce you to the account that gives regular updates as to whether Hildegard von Bingen is dead bsky.app/profile/hild...
She’s dead.
January 18, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Let me introduce you to the account that gives regular updates as to whether Hildegard von Bingen is dead bsky.app/profile/hild...
New favourite example of scalar implicature
January 18, 2026 at 4:13 PM
New favourite example of scalar implicature
The latest edition of my quarterly newsletter is up!
gretchenmcculloch.com/2026/01/17/o...
gretchenmcculloch.com/2026/01/17/o...
October, November, & December 2025: Plays, poems, and preserves
This fall was a good season for literature. I took a trip to the Stratford Festival in Ontario to see live productions of Goblins Oedipus, Dangerous Liaisons, and Sense and Sensibility. I enj…
gretchenmcculloch.com
January 17, 2026 at 8:40 PM
The latest edition of my quarterly newsletter is up!
gretchenmcculloch.com/2026/01/17/o...
gretchenmcculloch.com/2026/01/17/o...
This is a fun thread!
Bonus fun fact: the etymology of MINute is the same as minUTE, ie the first small part of an hour
A second is the second small part, and before we had milliseconds we had thirds! www.etymonline.com/word/minute
Bonus fun fact: the etymology of MINute is the same as minUTE, ie the first small part of an hour
A second is the second small part, and before we had milliseconds we had thirds! www.etymonline.com/word/minute
January 17, 2026 at 4:00 PM
This is a fun thread!
Bonus fun fact: the etymology of MINute is the same as minUTE, ie the first small part of an hour
A second is the second small part, and before we had milliseconds we had thirds! www.etymonline.com/word/minute
Bonus fun fact: the etymology of MINute is the same as minUTE, ie the first small part of an hour
A second is the second small part, and before we had milliseconds we had thirds! www.etymonline.com/word/minute
yes hi I think you've found it, anyone want to help this person?
for this book project I need to find at least one person who knows Greek and/or is a romance language linguist to make sure I am not totally lying about all of these words. how do I get to linguistic editor craigslist or whatever
January 17, 2026 at 3:43 AM
yes hi I think you've found it, anyone want to help this person?
Update, now have my handle as my domain (and @lingthusiasm.com's at the same time) and can report the official instructions were easy and worked great!
(and hopefully submitting a request to relink my badge isn't too annoying)
(and hopefully submitting a request to relink my badge isn't too annoying)
January 16, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Update, now have my handle as my domain (and @lingthusiasm.com's at the same time) and can report the official instructions were easy and worked great!
(and hopefully submitting a request to relink my badge isn't too annoying)
(and hopefully submitting a request to relink my badge isn't too annoying)
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
I'm excited about this!
A lot of things are bad and we keep building joy in the cracks between. buttondown.com/signs+wonder...
New Year, New Book
Announcing MOTHER TONGUE, 5 totally free things you can do to support a new book, and mutual aid for MN
buttondown.com
January 16, 2026 at 4:20 PM
I'm excited about this!
Hey bluesky, does anyone know how resetting your account to use your own domain interacts with verification badges?
(As this is a tech support question, a reminder to please check replies before replying to avoid duplication!)
(As this is a tech support question, a reminder to please check replies before replying to avoid duplication!)
January 16, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Hey bluesky, does anyone know how resetting your account to use your own domain interacts with verification badges?
(As this is a tech support question, a reminder to please check replies before replying to avoid duplication!)
(As this is a tech support question, a reminder to please check replies before replying to avoid duplication!)
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
Language is all around us. This sentence right here, is language! But between someone saying something and a linguistic analysis of it, there are certain steps that make it easier for that analysis to happen.
In our latest episode we get enthusiastic about how language becomes linguistic data!
In our latest episode we get enthusiastic about how language becomes linguistic data!
112: When language become-s(3SG) linguistic example-s(PL)
Language is all around us. This sentence right here, is language! But between the raw experience of someone saying something and a linguistic analysis of what they've said, there are certain steps tha
soundcloud.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:22 AM
Language is all around us. This sentence right here, is language! But between someone saying something and a linguistic analysis of it, there are certain steps that make it easier for that analysis to happen.
In our latest episode we get enthusiastic about how language becomes linguistic data!
In our latest episode we get enthusiastic about how language becomes linguistic data!
New favourite example of an eggcorn!
Heard a lad earlier talking about ‘Belgian whistles’
“A basic website costs 10k or 25k upwards if you want all the Belgian whistles”
BELGIAN WHISTLES
“A basic website costs 10k or 25k upwards if you want all the Belgian whistles”
BELGIAN WHISTLES
January 16, 2026 at 3:18 AM
New favourite example of an eggcorn!
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
An acoustic bicycle is when I am breathing so hard from going up this steep hill that you can hear me from across the street
Whence my favourite retronym: acoustic bicycle.
Acoustic guitars used to just be called ‘guitars.’
Then, we invented electric guitars. Oh no.
Which meant saying ‘guitar’ wasn’t clear enough.
So 'guitars' became 'acoustic guitars.'
‘Acoustic guitar’ is an example of a ‘retronym.’
🧵⬇️
Then, we invented electric guitars. Oh no.
Which meant saying ‘guitar’ wasn’t clear enough.
So 'guitars' became 'acoustic guitars.'
‘Acoustic guitar’ is an example of a ‘retronym.’
🧵⬇️
January 14, 2026 at 2:21 AM
An acoustic bicycle is when I am breathing so hard from going up this steep hill that you can hear me from across the street
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
this is also my favorite retronym, and deeply intuitive to use.
I currently own an acoustic bicycle and am thinking of getting an electric one in addition.
I currently own an acoustic bicycle and am thinking of getting an electric one in addition.
Whence my favourite retronym: acoustic bicycle.
Acoustic guitars used to just be called ‘guitars.’
Then, we invented electric guitars. Oh no.
Which meant saying ‘guitar’ wasn’t clear enough.
So 'guitars' became 'acoustic guitars.'
‘Acoustic guitar’ is an example of a ‘retronym.’
🧵⬇️
Then, we invented electric guitars. Oh no.
Which meant saying ‘guitar’ wasn’t clear enough.
So 'guitars' became 'acoustic guitars.'
‘Acoustic guitar’ is an example of a ‘retronym.’
🧵⬇️
January 14, 2026 at 1:15 AM
this is also my favorite retronym, and deeply intuitive to use.
I currently own an acoustic bicycle and am thinking of getting an electric one in addition.
I currently own an acoustic bicycle and am thinking of getting an electric one in addition.
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
my kid (4;11) has fully generalized this and will call any non-electric thing “acoustic”
Whence my favourite retronym: acoustic bicycle.
Acoustic guitars used to just be called ‘guitars.’
Then, we invented electric guitars. Oh no.
Which meant saying ‘guitar’ wasn’t clear enough.
So 'guitars' became 'acoustic guitars.'
‘Acoustic guitar’ is an example of a ‘retronym.’
🧵⬇️
Then, we invented electric guitars. Oh no.
Which meant saying ‘guitar’ wasn’t clear enough.
So 'guitars' became 'acoustic guitars.'
‘Acoustic guitar’ is an example of a ‘retronym.’
🧵⬇️
January 14, 2026 at 1:34 AM
my kid (4;11) has fully generalized this and will call any non-electric thing “acoustic”
Whence my favourite retronym: acoustic bicycle.
Acoustic guitars used to just be called ‘guitars.’
Then, we invented electric guitars. Oh no.
Which meant saying ‘guitar’ wasn’t clear enough.
So 'guitars' became 'acoustic guitars.'
‘Acoustic guitar’ is an example of a ‘retronym.’
🧵⬇️
Then, we invented electric guitars. Oh no.
Which meant saying ‘guitar’ wasn’t clear enough.
So 'guitars' became 'acoustic guitars.'
‘Acoustic guitar’ is an example of a ‘retronym.’
🧵⬇️
January 14, 2026 at 12:35 AM
Whence my favourite retronym: acoustic bicycle.
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
If you like books about linguistics and languages (perhaps you'd like to write your own?), here's a free talk for you!
On the 27/1, I'll be putting questions to four fabulous authors over Zoom, getting their experience of writing linguistically for the public. Link:
us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
On the 27/1, I'll be putting questions to four fabulous authors over Zoom, getting their experience of writing linguistically for the public. Link:
us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
January 12, 2026 at 3:31 PM
If you like books about linguistics and languages (perhaps you'd like to write your own?), here's a free talk for you!
On the 27/1, I'll be putting questions to four fabulous authors over Zoom, getting their experience of writing linguistically for the public. Link:
us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
On the 27/1, I'll be putting questions to four fabulous authors over Zoom, getting their experience of writing linguistically for the public. Link:
us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
Years ago, 957 people from Twitter contributed to my research on 'because X' and I promised I'd share the results with them. I can't, because twitter, but please share it with people here anyway: www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
Non-paywalled pre-print: kar.kent.ac.uk/105654/
#linguistics
Non-paywalled pre-print: kar.kent.ac.uk/105654/
#linguistics
8 A snapshot of the emerging because-X construction
8 A snapshot of the emerging because-X construction was published in English Sociosyntax on page 227.
www.degruyterbrill.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:27 PM
Years ago, 957 people from Twitter contributed to my research on 'because X' and I promised I'd share the results with them. I can't, because twitter, but please share it with people here anyway: www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
Non-paywalled pre-print: kar.kent.ac.uk/105654/
#linguistics
Non-paywalled pre-print: kar.kent.ac.uk/105654/
#linguistics
Watching the #lsa2026 awards ceremony and thinking about how linguists are really great at pronouncing people's names
(I assume because the presenters have checked with awardees in advance and made annotations in IPA where needed)
(I assume because the presenters have checked with awardees in advance and made annotations in IPA where needed)
January 11, 2026 at 12:29 AM
Watching the #lsa2026 awards ceremony and thinking about how linguists are really great at pronouncing people's names
(I assume because the presenters have checked with awardees in advance and made annotations in IPA where needed)
(I assume because the presenters have checked with awardees in advance and made annotations in IPA where needed)
The nice thing about watching #LSA2026 talks online is that I can eat my breakfast while watching the first session and I'm not distracting any of the speakers!
We’re excited to welcome you to New Orleans when registration opens today at 12 PM CT.
We look forward to launching #LSA2026 and connecting with our vibrant linguistic community both in-person and virtually! #LSA2026 #NewOrleans #Welcome #AnnualMeeting web.cvent.com/event/d45318...
We look forward to launching #LSA2026 and connecting with our vibrant linguistic community both in-person and virtually! #LSA2026 #NewOrleans #Welcome #AnnualMeeting web.cvent.com/event/d45318...
January 9, 2026 at 4:07 PM
The nice thing about watching #LSA2026 talks online is that I can eat my breakfast while watching the first session and I'm not distracting any of the speakers!
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
A blast from the past. I wrote about this weird device back in 2010: stancarey.wordpress.com/2010/04/23/u...
January 7, 2026 at 2:09 PM
A blast from the past. I wrote about this weird device back in 2010: stancarey.wordpress.com/2010/04/23/u...
I wanna write this on my phone case
(she says, closing the app to go read a book)
(she says, closing the app to go read a book)
If you have time to doom scroll, you have time to read books!
January 6, 2026 at 10:53 PM
I wanna write this on my phone case
(she says, closing the app to go read a book)
(she says, closing the app to go read a book)