contributor

Mark Peters

Mark Peters is a language columnist, lexicographer, and humorist who has written for Esquire, The Funny Times, New Scientist, Psychology Today, Salon, and Slate. He contributes to OUPblog and writes the Best Joke Ever column for McSweeney's. You can read Mark's own jokes on Twitter, such as, "I play by my own rules, which is probably why no one comes to my board game parties anymore."
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Dog Eared

Books we love

Dennis Baron's "What's Your Pronoun? Beyond He & She" is a Timely Winner
Thu Feb 27 00:00:00 EST 2020
By Mark Peters

Thanks to the prominence of pronouns and the depth of Baron's work, a Tour of the History of Nonbinary Pronouns is probably going to be the language book of the year.  Continue reading...
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Evasive Maneuvers

Euphemisms old and new

Self-Partnered to Poppycock
Wed Dec 11 00:00:00 EST 2019
By Mark Peters

Rejoice! There's a new candidate for Euphemism of the Year, Drivel of the Decade, and Malarkey of the Millennium.  Continue reading...
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Evasive Maneuvers

Euphemisms old and new

Finding (or Inventing) Euphemisms in the Latest OED Update
Wed Nov 13 00:00:00 EST 2019
By Mark Peters

Here's a look at the OED's latest quarterly update to see if there are any euphemisms. If not, I'll suggest how some of the terms could be euphemisms. After all, this column is an offering to the Malarkey Gods.  Continue reading...
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Evasive Maneuvers

Euphemisms old and new

Unidentified Aerial Horse Apples
Wed Oct 09 00:00:00 EDT 2019
By Mark Peters

Whether the aliens who will someday destroy humanity are first labeled UFOs, UAPs, or OH CRAPs, the human race continues to produce euphemisms faster than a bug-eyed space monster gets pink eye. So wrap your eyeballs around these horse dumplings while you can.  Continue reading...
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Evasive Maneuvers

Euphemisms old and new

Professional Disharmony Synergies and Other Gobbledygook
Wed Sep 11 00:00:00 EDT 2019
By Mark Peters

English never lets you down, as long as you don't expect it to tell the truth. Here's a cavalcade of caca for you.  Continue reading...
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Evasive Maneuvers

Euphemisms old and new

Interior Enforcement and Other Freedom Logs
Wed Aug 07 00:00:00 EDT 2019
By Mark Peters

Please enjoy the newest and cluelessest lexical cloaking devices that shine a spotlight on the very malarkey they try to hide.  Continue reading...
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Evasive Maneuvers

Euphemisms old and new

Euphemism of the Year? Spreading Freedom Pucky
Tue Jul 09 00:00:00 EDT 2019
By Mark Peters

Freedom gas. Molecules of freedom. In appreciation of these insane terms, I'd like to look at some past terms that freedom has spawned in the cesspool of English.  Continue reading...
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