Lane Greene
@lanegreene.bsky.social
Editor and language guy at The Economist.
Author of Writing With Style: The Economist Guide (2023).
https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Style-Economist-Guide-Books/dp/1639364374
Author of Writing With Style: The Economist Guide (2023).
https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Style-Economist-Guide-Books/dp/1639364374
Reposted by Lane Greene
BREAKING: Supreme Court agrees to hear Trump v. Barbara, a case teeing up the constitutionality of his order rescinding birthright citizenship. Oral argument is likely in March or April with a decision in June.
December 5, 2025 at 7:02 PM
BREAKING: Supreme Court agrees to hear Trump v. Barbara, a case teeing up the constitutionality of his order rescinding birthright citizenship. Oral argument is likely in March or April with a decision in June.
Not a mention of Russian aggression. But centrist democratic Europeans, you have a target on your back.
economist.com/united-state...
economist.com/united-state...
Donald Trump’s bleak, incoherent foreign-policy strategy
Allies may panic; despots will cheer
economist.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Not a mention of Russian aggression. But centrist democratic Europeans, you have a target on your back.
economist.com/united-state...
economist.com/united-state...
Reposted by Lane Greene
BREAKING: Supreme Court sides with Texas Republicans in fight over congressional map. The new gerrymandered map will be used in the 2026 midterms. The vote is 6–3, with the Republican appointees siding with Texas.
December 4, 2025 at 11:00 PM
BREAKING: Supreme Court sides with Texas Republicans in fight over congressional map. The new gerrymandered map will be used in the 2026 midterms. The vote is 6–3, with the Republican appointees siding with Texas.
Reposted by Lane Greene
“If there is a Conservative government, I can sleep at night.” A right-wing populist Reform UK government, however, “is a different proposition”.
Starmer speaks to @zannymb.economist.com; note by @duncanrobinson.bsky.social
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Starmer speaks to @zannymb.economist.com; note by @duncanrobinson.bsky.social
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Our interview with Sir Keir Starmer
Britain’s prime minister understands the size of the moment. He just does not know how to meet it
www.economist.com
December 4, 2025 at 9:53 AM
“If there is a Conservative government, I can sleep at night.” A right-wing populist Reform UK government, however, “is a different proposition”.
Starmer speaks to @zannymb.economist.com; note by @duncanrobinson.bsky.social
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Starmer speaks to @zannymb.economist.com; note by @duncanrobinson.bsky.social
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
It's time.
www.economist.com/culture/2025...
www.economist.com/culture/2025...
And The Economist’s word of the year for 2025 is…
An unappetising symbol of a messy year
www.economist.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:08 PM
It's time.
www.economist.com/culture/2025...
www.economist.com/culture/2025...
It would be fun to write a history of the phrase "air-conditioned offices" as abusive for namby-pamby non-warfighters, as if the Pentagon and White House (and Fox News studios) are not air-conditioned. Real men sweat.
Q: So you didn't see any survivors after that first strike?
HEGSETH: I did not personally see survivors. The thing was on fire. This is called the fog of war. This is what you in the press don't understand. You sit in your air conditioned offices and plant fake stories in the Washington Post
HEGSETH: I did not personally see survivors. The thing was on fire. This is called the fog of war. This is what you in the press don't understand. You sit in your air conditioned offices and plant fake stories in the Washington Post
December 3, 2025 at 11:14 AM
It would be fun to write a history of the phrase "air-conditioned offices" as abusive for namby-pamby non-warfighters, as if the Pentagon and White House (and Fox News studios) are not air-conditioned. Real men sweat.
I wasn't sold on "the cruelty is the point" in the first term. But they're making it hard for me to hold that line.
Megyn Kelly on alleged war crimes: "I really do kind of not only wanna see them killed in the water, whether they're on the boat or in the water, but I'd really like to see them suffer. I would like Trump and Hegseth to make it last a long time so they lose a limb and bleed out."
December 2, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I wasn't sold on "the cruelty is the point" in the first term. But they're making it hard for me to hold that line.
Genuinely puzzled and curious about this one. Identifying a language is an old and trivially easy task.
December 2, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Genuinely puzzled and curious about this one. Identifying a language is an old and trivially easy task.
Ambiguous chyron of the day, from the BBC:
"Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year is rage bait"
"Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year is rage bait"
December 1, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Ambiguous chyron of the day, from the BBC:
"Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year is rage bait"
"Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year is rage bait"
100% this was written by an English-lit grad with shining eyes, contemplating her John Connor moment as she composes the sonnet that will convince the machines to self-destruct.
Okay, this is deeply intriguing: adversarial poetry prompts have a significantly higher rate of jailbreak success on nearly every model the researchers tried. Guardian article: www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
AI’s safety features can be circumvented with poetry, research finds
Poems containing prompts for harmful content prove effective at duping large language models
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:57 AM
100% this was written by an English-lit grad with shining eyes, contemplating her John Connor moment as she composes the sonnet that will convince the machines to self-destruct.
Reposted by Lane Greene
It's decoration-retrieval-injury weekend
November 30, 2025 at 3:03 PM
It's decoration-retrieval-injury weekend
My son is doing algebra so I decided to show him, absolutely not à propos of recent news, how old you should be, according to the venerable rule of “half your age plus seven”, to date someone 36 years younger than you.
November 29, 2025 at 6:13 PM
My son is doing algebra so I decided to show him, absolutely not à propos of recent news, how old you should be, according to the venerable rule of “half your age plus seven”, to date someone 36 years younger than you.
I think the "crazy-to-policy" ratio is the new metric to watch. Seriously. Some data-head should start tracking how many of Trump's promises and Truths are turned into action (& of which successful action, not blocked by courts or reality) and how many are just blown-off steam.
The crazy-to-policy ratio is getting worse. From today's podcast with @radiofreetom.bsky.social
November 28, 2025 at 5:27 PM
I think the "crazy-to-policy" ratio is the new metric to watch. Seriously. Some data-head should start tracking how many of Trump's promises and Truths are turned into action (& of which successful action, not blocked by courts or reality) and how many are just blown-off steam.
I should have mentioned that they'll offer an annual pass to the National Parks for $250 to non-residents. (For residents, $80.) Here's the release, including a charming juxtaposition of Washington and Trump.
www.doi.gov/pressrelease...
www.doi.gov/pressrelease...
November 26, 2025 at 2:23 PM
I should have mentioned that they'll offer an annual pass to the National Parks for $250 to non-residents. (For residents, $80.) Here's the release, including a charming juxtaposition of Washington and Trump.
www.doi.gov/pressrelease...
www.doi.gov/pressrelease...
John Bolton: “Trump believes that the world is what he says it is. It’s not that he lies; it’s not that he knows the difference between truth and falsehood and consciously chooses falsehood. He just makes things up.” 1/
www.economist.com/insider/insi...
www.economist.com/insider/insi...
Is the world at “peak Trump”? John Bolton on American foreign policy | The Economist Insider
There is no love lost between Donald Trump and John Bolton, his former national security adviser. Mr Bolton made a dramatic exit from the first Trump administration after months of tension. Since then...
www.economist.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:52 AM
John Bolton: “Trump believes that the world is what he says it is. It’s not that he lies; it’s not that he knows the difference between truth and falsehood and consciously chooses falsehood. He just makes things up.” 1/
www.economist.com/insider/insi...
www.economist.com/insider/insi...
The Interior Department has announced it will charge $100 per head for non-US residents to visit the most popular 11 national parks.
Stupid and self-defeating. Millions have visited those parks and left with with affection for America. No more, except those who can afford $400 per family per park.
Stupid and self-defeating. Millions have visited those parks and left with with affection for America. No more, except those who can afford $400 per family per park.
November 26, 2025 at 10:55 AM
The Interior Department has announced it will charge $100 per head for non-US residents to visit the most popular 11 national parks.
Stupid and self-defeating. Millions have visited those parks and left with with affection for America. No more, except those who can afford $400 per family per park.
Stupid and self-defeating. Millions have visited those parks and left with with affection for America. No more, except those who can afford $400 per family per park.
It would be great if our politicians, especially in America, would hear, heed and repeat this message: "Our enemies are trying to divide us to weaken us, and if you take part you are helping them. We refuse to do so."
Sigh. In a better world, with grown-up leaders.
www.ft.com/content/b9ab...
Sigh. In a better world, with grown-up leaders.
www.ft.com/content/b9ab...
Russia exploits western polarisation to ‘split us up’, warns top general
Sweden’s chief of defence staff claims Moscow is combining attacks on infrastructure with disinformation campaigns
www.ft.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:31 AM
It would be great if our politicians, especially in America, would hear, heed and repeat this message: "Our enemies are trying to divide us to weaken us, and if you take part you are helping them. We refuse to do so."
Sigh. In a better world, with grown-up leaders.
www.ft.com/content/b9ab...
Sigh. In a better world, with grown-up leaders.
www.ft.com/content/b9ab...
A young student from my alma mater, Tulane, interviewed me about breaking into journalism, and then specialising, & my career path since.
Maybe it'll be useful to someone you know; I did not grow up around media and so my flailing may be instructive.
www.thepathwayblogkc.com/blog/lane-gr...
Maybe it'll be useful to someone you know; I did not grow up around media and so my flailing may be instructive.
www.thepathwayblogkc.com/blog/lane-gr...
Lane Greene on Breaking Into Journalism, Becoming “the Language Guy,” and Writing Clearly
Lane Greene is a senior digital editor and style chief at The Economist , and one of the few journalists writing regularly about language with a grounding in linguistics. A Tulane graduate and...
www.thepathwayblogkc.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:18 PM
A young student from my alma mater, Tulane, interviewed me about breaking into journalism, and then specialising, & my career path since.
Maybe it'll be useful to someone you know; I did not grow up around media and so my flailing may be instructive.
www.thepathwayblogkc.com/blog/lane-gr...
Maybe it'll be useful to someone you know; I did not grow up around media and so my flailing may be instructive.
www.thepathwayblogkc.com/blog/lane-gr...
Indeed. Trump practically fawns over others he perceives as strong or charismatic. They can be literal communists (Xi) or former communists (Putin) or people he thinks are communists (Mamdani) but if they project what he thinks he has in big-man energy, he can't get enough.
An really important thing a lot of people don't realize about Trump is that he doesn't bully people he doesn't think he can bully.
Let’s be clear.
@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social got Trump so charmed that Trump posted two photos of the two of them with Franklin Roosevelt’s portrait behind them AND one of just Mamdani and FDR’s portrait.
@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social got Trump so charmed that Trump posted two photos of the two of them with Franklin Roosevelt’s portrait behind them AND one of just Mamdani and FDR’s portrait.
November 22, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Indeed. Trump practically fawns over others he perceives as strong or charismatic. They can be literal communists (Xi) or former communists (Putin) or people he thinks are communists (Mamdani) but if they project what he thinks he has in big-man energy, he can't get enough.
Can I write the reply piece? Being a night person is great right now, at 8pm with my brain humming and good to go for a few hours yet. I pay for it, with interest, for hours every morning, when school and work schedules force me to be awake at my very worst.
Productivity culture celebrates early rising—but the practice can come with a cost. Liz Krieger on the trade-offs of being a morning person:
The Social Cost of Being a Morning Person
Rising early is great for my productivity—and hard on my relationships.
bit.ly
November 19, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Can I write the reply piece? Being a night person is great right now, at 8pm with my brain humming and good to go for a few hours yet. I pay for it, with interest, for hours every morning, when school and work schedules force me to be awake at my very worst.
Reposted by Lane Greene
“The transition to democracy is not hypothetical; it has already begun,” argues the opposition leader and winner of the 2025 Nobel peace prize. “The fear inside the regime is palpable” econ.st/4r9KvWX
Illustration: Dan Williams
Illustration: Dan Williams
November 19, 2025 at 2:01 PM
“The transition to democracy is not hypothetical; it has already begun,” argues the opposition leader and winner of the 2025 Nobel peace prize. “The fear inside the regime is palpable” econ.st/4r9KvWX
Illustration: Dan Williams
Illustration: Dan Williams
Indeed. Two of mine are in there. Claim filed.
Hey authors! Check to see if Anthropic stole your book to train their slop generator on. You’re entitled to $1500 per stolen Work.
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Submit a Claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Indeed. Two of mine are in there. Claim filed.
Distilled podcast version of my review of @dannybate.bsky.social 's WHY Q NEEDS U : shows.acast.com/theintellige...
After Sheikh: what next for Bangladesh? | The Intelligence from The Economist
shows.acast.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Distilled podcast version of my review of @dannybate.bsky.social 's WHY Q NEEDS U : shows.acast.com/theintellige...
The former president of the Valencia region on whether he left lunch (yes, lunch) at 6:33pm or 7:07pm the day of the horrible floods last year.
There are big mistakes to point to, but the amazing part for us guiris is that leaving lunch at 6:30 or even 7:00 is not all that extraordinary.
There are big mistakes to point to, but the amazing part for us guiris is that leaving lunch at 6:30 or even 7:00 is not all that extraordinary.
📺TV EN DIRECTO | Mazón vuelve a dudar sobre la hora a la que salió de El Ventoro: "Es muy difícil para mí. Si me dice un notario que salí a las 18.33, pues podría ser. No, fue a las 19.07, pues también podría ser. No sabría decirle" tinyurl.com/mtadnete
November 17, 2025 at 10:44 AM
The former president of the Valencia region on whether he left lunch (yes, lunch) at 6:33pm or 7:07pm the day of the horrible floods last year.
There are big mistakes to point to, but the amazing part for us guiris is that leaving lunch at 6:30 or even 7:00 is not all that extraordinary.
There are big mistakes to point to, but the amazing part for us guiris is that leaving lunch at 6:30 or even 7:00 is not all that extraordinary.
A friend grading college papers is telling me that an essay in hand is so adorably incompetent in places it is making him like the author, who clearly didn't use AI.
I wonder if this is the future: flaws as proof of humanity? Hopefully flaws no AI could fake (as kids are already attempting...)
I wonder if this is the future: flaws as proof of humanity? Hopefully flaws no AI could fake (as kids are already attempting...)
November 14, 2025 at 11:00 AM
A friend grading college papers is telling me that an essay in hand is so adorably incompetent in places it is making him like the author, who clearly didn't use AI.
I wonder if this is the future: flaws as proof of humanity? Hopefully flaws no AI could fake (as kids are already attempting...)
I wonder if this is the future: flaws as proof of humanity? Hopefully flaws no AI could fake (as kids are already attempting...)