Jonathon Owen
@arrantpedantry.com
Editor • Writer • Linguist • Ironic meta-pedant • Villain • Cat person
Blog: https://www.arrantpedantry.com
Merch: https://arrantpedantry.myspreadshop.com
Blog: https://www.arrantpedantry.com
Merch: https://arrantpedantry.myspreadshop.com
Pinned
Jonathon Owen
@arrantpedantry.com
· Jan 29
Hey, check it out! I've joined the cool kids who use their own domain as their handle. You can now find me at @arrantpedantry.com.
Our long national nightmare is over.
Several years ago, the Stylebook advised that you heat your oven, because "preheat" is redundant.
That might be true linguistically, but we heard you. Common usage in cookbooks calls for preheating.
That might be true linguistically, but we heard you. Common usage in cookbooks calls for preheating.
November 26, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Our long national nightmare is over.
Reposted by Jonathon Owen
My microwave sings a little song when my Hot Pocket is done. Should it have the right to vote?
November 25, 2025 at 8:44 PM
My microwave sings a little song when my Hot Pocket is done. Should it have the right to vote?
Reposted by Jonathon Owen
Please alert the Typography Crimes Division in The Hague.
November 25, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Please alert the Typography Crimes Division in The Hague.
Reposted by Jonathon Owen
It's Monday. So I thought I'd checka my email.
flashy: homestarrunner.com/sbemails/210...
tubey: youtu.be/-zhsNdk1_Vc?si
flashy: homestarrunner.com/sbemails/210...
tubey: youtu.be/-zhsNdk1_Vc?si
November 24, 2025 at 2:19 PM
It's Monday. So I thought I'd checka my email.
flashy: homestarrunner.com/sbemails/210...
tubey: youtu.be/-zhsNdk1_Vc?si
flashy: homestarrunner.com/sbemails/210...
tubey: youtu.be/-zhsNdk1_Vc?si
"Groceries" is indeed a very accurate word to describe things that one buys at a grocery store. Some might even say it's the most accurate word for such items.
November 21, 2025 at 9:26 PM
"Groceries" is indeed a very accurate word to describe things that one buys at a grocery store. Some might even say it's the most accurate word for such items.
This is the timeline cleanse I needed.
November 18, 2025 at 8:24 PM
This is the timeline cleanse I needed.
Reposted by Jonathon Owen
PUB DAY for DICTIONARY
Merriam-Webster, the country’s oldest dictionary publisher which is headquartered in Springfield, just released an updated Collegiate edition with 5,000 new entries.
Merriam-Webster goes old school with first new hardcover Collegiate dictionary in 22 years
Merriam-Webster, the country’s oldest dictionary publisher which is headquartered in Springfield, just released an updated Collegiate edition with 5,000 new entries.
www.wbur.org
November 18, 2025 at 1:27 PM
PUB DAY for DICTIONARY
Definitely the one where I questioned the importance of the "recreate"/"re-create" distinction.
If you were running for public office which of your tweets/skeets would be the one to tank your candidacy?
November 17, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Definitely the one where I questioned the importance of the "recreate"/"re-create" distinction.
Reposted by Jonathon Owen
Easy choice if you're a deer deciding where to buy a house
November 17, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Easy choice if you're a deer deciding where to buy a house
Reposted by Jonathon Owen
The emergency brake on this train says "FINE FOR MISUSE" so I guess it's okay if you want to mess with it
November 16, 2025 at 5:38 PM
The emergency brake on this train says "FINE FOR MISUSE" so I guess it's okay if you want to mess with it
I still think they should have called these Ouroboreos.
oh wow that’s crazy
oreos with bits of
of oreos. in them
Real Bits of Oreos
oreos with bits of
of oreos. in them
Real Bits of Oreos
November 14, 2025 at 7:48 AM
I still think they should have called these Ouroboreos.
Question for freelance copyeditors who work with production editors: If you turn over files to the author to review your changes and they don't respond, what do you do?
1. Nudge the author.
2. Ask the production editor to nudge the author.
3. Nothing—that's the production editor's job.
1. Nudge the author.
2. Ask the production editor to nudge the author.
3. Nothing—that's the production editor's job.
November 13, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Question for freelance copyeditors who work with production editors: If you turn over files to the author to review your changes and they don't respond, what do you do?
1. Nudge the author.
2. Ask the production editor to nudge the author.
3. Nothing—that's the production editor's job.
1. Nudge the author.
2. Ask the production editor to nudge the author.
3. Nothing—that's the production editor's job.
Reposted by Jonathon Owen
OK, I am now understanding why the rich ruling class wants generative AI to write their emails for them.
November 13, 2025 at 5:43 AM
OK, I am now understanding why the rich ruling class wants generative AI to write their emails for them.
Reposted by Jonathon Owen
we need a department of kerning
November 13, 2025 at 2:54 AM
we need a department of kerning
Do you want the protomolecule? Because that's how you get the protomolecule. www.popularmechanics.com/science/a307...
You Should Know About This Chernobyl Fungus That Eats Radiation
It could shield us from deadly rays.
www.popularmechanics.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Do you want the protomolecule? Because that's how you get the protomolecule. www.popularmechanics.com/science/a307...
Reposted by Jonathon Owen
girl we have some bad news on your girlsecondarycancerlabreport. i'm afraid i have some bad news for some very specific cancer girlies
qwantz.com/index.php?co...
qwantz.com/index.php?co...
November 12, 2025 at 1:02 PM
girl we have some bad news on your girlsecondarycancerlabreport. i'm afraid i have some bad news for some very specific cancer girlies
qwantz.com/index.php?co...
qwantz.com/index.php?co...
The adverb "eke" may have fallen out of use, but the related verb "eke" is still alive today (almost always in combination with "out"). It originally meant 'increase, add, enlarge' but eventually came to mean 'to supplement' and then 'to make something last longer'.
‘Nickname’ is not ‘nick’ + ‘name.’
It was originally ‘ekename.’
‘Eke’ was the Middle English word for “also” or “in addition.”
Since ‘ekename’ began with a vowel, people used ‘an’ before it.
Over time, 'an ekename' became 'a nickname.'
It was originally ‘ekename.’
‘Eke’ was the Middle English word for “also” or “in addition.”
Since ‘ekename’ began with a vowel, people used ‘an’ before it.
Over time, 'an ekename' became 'a nickname.'
November 11, 2025 at 8:04 PM
The adverb "eke" may have fallen out of use, but the related verb "eke" is still alive today (almost always in combination with "out"). It originally meant 'increase, add, enlarge' but eventually came to mean 'to supplement' and then 'to make something last longer'.
Let's all make "perbe" happen! #linguistics #perbe
@arrantpedantry.com I curated this from Tumblr for you.
November 11, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Let's all make "perbe" happen! #linguistics #perbe
Reposted by Jonathon Owen
Gotta say, I’m not so confident that you do
November 7, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Gotta say, I’m not so confident that you do
Print Shop Deluxe–ass sign
November 5, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Print Shop Deluxe–ass sign
Reposted by Jonathon Owen
FinalDraft.pdf
FinalDraft_1.pdf
FinalDraft_1_Send_This_One.pdf
FinalDraft_1_No_Actually_Send_This_One.pdf
FinalFinalDraft_1_This_Draft_Is_Correct.pdf
FinalDraft_1.pdf
FinalDraft_1_Send_This_One.pdf
FinalDraft_1_No_Actually_Send_This_One.pdf
FinalFinalDraft_1_This_Draft_Is_Correct.pdf
I’m Not Sure Which, But One of These Fifteen PDF Files Is the Final Draft
FinalDraft.pdf FinalDraft_1.pdf FinalDraft_1_Send_This_One.pdf FinalDraft_1_No_Actually_Send_This_One.pdf FinalFinalDraft_1_This_Draft_Is_Correct.p...
buff.ly
November 5, 2025 at 2:20 AM
FinalDraft.pdf
FinalDraft_1.pdf
FinalDraft_1_Send_This_One.pdf
FinalDraft_1_No_Actually_Send_This_One.pdf
FinalFinalDraft_1_This_Draft_Is_Correct.pdf
FinalDraft_1.pdf
FinalDraft_1_Send_This_One.pdf
FinalDraft_1_No_Actually_Send_This_One.pdf
FinalFinalDraft_1_This_Draft_Is_Correct.pdf
Word just crashed and didn't restore any of the formatting changes I'd made to a 26-page document when I reopened it. #AmEditing
November 4, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Word just crashed and didn't restore any of the formatting changes I'd made to a 26-page document when I reopened it. #AmEditing
Reposted by Jonathon Owen
"Don't do it with publication in mind, don't do it for posterity, don't do it for the likes…Just write for the sake of it. Write to see what your own thoughts look like when you force them into sentences"
Joan Westenberg on how regular writing debugs cognition www.joanwestenberg.com/p/why-you-sh...
Joan Westenberg on how regular writing debugs cognition www.joanwestenberg.com/p/why-you-sh...
Why You Should Write Every Day (Even if You’re Not a Writer)
Writing Is Thinking With the Training Wheels Off
www.joanwestenberg.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:12 PM
"Don't do it with publication in mind, don't do it for posterity, don't do it for the likes…Just write for the sake of it. Write to see what your own thoughts look like when you force them into sentences"
Joan Westenberg on how regular writing debugs cognition www.joanwestenberg.com/p/why-you-sh...
Joan Westenberg on how regular writing debugs cognition www.joanwestenberg.com/p/why-you-sh...
Reposted by Jonathon Owen
Picard: there ARE FOUR GUYS! FOUR
November 3, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Picard: there ARE FOUR GUYS! FOUR