Kory Stamper
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korystamper.bsky.social
Kory Stamper
@korystamper.bsky.social
Writer of dictionaries and books about dictionaries (WORD BY WORD [2017]; TRUE COLOR [2026]; more TK). niila myaamia. Often wrong on the internet. Opinions, baked goods mine. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2106554/kory-stamper/
Pinned
Good morning, kids and people, today in book, we have a cover:

(Preorder this jawn at www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/555914... and use the Bookshop link if you can!)
And for the record, since this is a thing you have to say now: no AI was used for this book--not for the art, not for the research, not for the words. All the art was hand-drawn by artists or subjects of the book; all the thoughts came from my li'l brain; all the typos are 100% handcrafted by moi.
I commissioned an artist to draw a raccoon for my latest book, and finally got to show them the composed page with their illustration on it. 🤩 (It was great, their reaction was perfect, 10/10, can recommend.)
November 19, 2025 at 11:15 PM
I commissioned an artist to draw a raccoon for my latest book, and finally got to show them the composed page with their illustration on it. 🤩 (It was great, their reaction was perfect, 10/10, can recommend.)
November 19, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Reposted by Kory Stamper
Now that I've read this book:

You should be preordering the hell out of it.

It's huge fun, and hugely informative. (And huge fun.)
Good morning, kids and people, today in book, we have a cover:

(Preorder this jawn at www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/555914... and use the Bookshop link if you can!)
November 13, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Reposted by Kory Stamper
Life is extremely kiki right now and I would really like it to be just a little more bouba
November 10, 2025 at 5:30 PM
So, nu: Herr Maestro recently broke his neck. (He's home, no surgery, recovery going well, DON'T PANIC.) I made an offhand comment to him that, best guess, the ER visit and two-day hospital stay would cost around $100k. He was flabbergasted. No way.

I just checked the claims online. $93k so far.
November 8, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Reposted by Kory Stamper
The Collingswood Farmers Market will be giving vouchers to people on SNAP benefits to spend at the market www.instagram.com/p/DQc0WAXkYf...
collsmkt on Instagram: "Neighbors helping neighbors — that’s what community looks like. 💙💛This November, SNAP users can still buy fresh, local food at th…"
Neighbors helping neighbors — that’s what community looks like. 💙💛This November, SNAP users can still buy fresh, local food at the Collingswood Farmers Market, thanks to the generosity of our community.🍅 SNAP shoppers: stop by the SNAP/EBT table at the market and present your EBT card to receive up to $25 in Market Vouchers, plus a dollar-for-dollar match up to $25 in Good Food Bucks vouchers for fresh fruits & veggies — no card transaction required. That’s up to $50 each week to spend at the market on fresh, nutrient-dense food for you and your family. 🍎🥕This community-funded effort is made possible by donations from our generous neighbors, local 501c3 Collingswood Cares, and @goodfoodbucksnj.Looking for a way to help?
💵 You can make a tax-deductible donation to Collingswood Cares through the link in our bio or by going directly to http://www.collscares.com/donate 💵 Every dollar helps to keep fresh food on your neighbors’ tables. After all, food is a right, not a privilege. We’ll see you all at the market!📆 Saturday, Nov. 1st🕗 8am-noon⁠⛅ Rain or shine!⁠📍 713 N Atlantic Ave, Collingswood, NJ (find the water towers, find the market!)⁠
www.instagram.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Thank you, dictionary daht cahm, for reminding me how fortunate I am to not have to try to sell a WOTY anymore. If I had had to come up with a narrative for "67" that seated it within the "global conversation" when words like "tariff" were on the table, I would have laughed myself into a coma.
October 30, 2025 at 1:20 PM
I know the world feels like a tinned, rancid fart right now, but:

If you love a book, take a few seconds to tell that author somehow. An email, a review, a social media post, whatever. I cannot tell you how _your_ excitement about a book gets the _author_ excited about their work in a new way.
October 29, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Tell me you're estranged from your family, have no friends, and have never felt one moment of genuine human connection without telling me &c.
October 28, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Do not take an etymologist to the ER with you, because they are liable to interrupt the doctor's important discharge instructions with shit like, "Why do they call it a Miami J collar?" and "Ah, NPO! 'Nil per...os?' Is it 'os'?"
October 24, 2025 at 10:49 AM
I know this is very "so I tied an onion to my belt, which was the style at the time," but I'm sad that there are no mid-dots in the headwords of the new M-W Collegiate 12th ed. I know only four people in the universe used them, and no one knew what they were really for, but I loved those li'l guys.
I love this book.
October 17, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Galleys are in! This spine design is A+.
October 14, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Reposted by Kory Stamper
Honestly not sure how I'm going to stand it til 2026 when I get to talk with the rest of you about @korystamper.bsky.social's new book, it's KILLING ME OVER HERE
October 12, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Well, I definitely have a type (of index).
October 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Grateful for the opportunity to grow myaamia kociihsaki, one of my people's traditional foods.
October 2, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Reposted by Kory Stamper
I just nominated Paper Airplane’s lead article, “The Shape of Color” by @korystamper.bsky.social, for next year’s Best American Science & Nature Writing! Here’s a preview.
September 30, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by Kory Stamper
We're so close—help us get over the finish line!
Support refugees. Get a magazine.

Nick Norlen’s Paper Airplane is raising $10K for USCRI—and we’re just $2,500 away.

Donate now and get the debut issue FREE: PaperAirplane.pub
September 30, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I'm reviewing the index for "True Color" now, and I just want to heap laurels on the indexer who read this <checks jacket copy> "kaleidoscopic journey" and noted every. single. color. name. mentioned. In a book about defining color names. The index is 6600 words long. A marvel.
a man in a captain america costume stands in front of a rock
Alt: Captain America in...I don't know. The OG Captain America film? Winter Soldier? Not sure! Haven't seen the movies, yes I am a terrible person, I've been busy! Anyway: Chris Evans' Captain America, in the ruins of war, turning and saluting the viewer, weary yet heartfelt.
media.tenor.com
September 30, 2025 at 12:48 AM
I, too, have summoned all my top generals on short notice to deliver a short speech on the warrior ethos.
September 26, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Look, moms, the choice is simple. You can have moderate and safe pain relief during a 10-month long bodily rebellion; an infant who is protected from sometimes fatal, totally preventable diseases; or a boring kid who won't grow up to do amazing things like write dictionaries. Choose wisely!
September 22, 2025 at 9:48 PM
It's spinning season, motherfuckers.
September 20, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Today's mantra:
September 18, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Reposted by Kory Stamper
Reasons to read/not read my new book:

Pros:
-You'll finally figure out what "puce" is
-The phrase "cattier than a hot tin roof" is used in reference to opponent color theory
-Pliny the Elder joke
-Weird history & shit

Cons:
-Very little cussing
-You might cry at this one spot?
-History & shit
September 16, 2025 at 1:20 AM
"Do you have a list of blurbers for the color book?" No, but I do have insomnia, does that count?
September 16, 2025 at 1:00 AM
And I believe that in the near future half the podcasts on the planet will be delicious JellyBelly jelly beans. Who knows where technology will take us!
September 9, 2025 at 10:23 PM