Dr Christopher Strelluf expert in linguistics, comments on the Collins Word of the Year List 2018, which includes the words ‘single-use’, ‘gammon’ and ‘gaslight’.

“Word-of-the-year lists are a fun annual tradition that allows us to look back on the year through the window of language. The Collins Dictionary 2018 choice, single-use, reflects increased political and media attention to environmental issues caused by consumerism. But the word single-use also reflects the creativity and functionality of English grammar, which allows us to combine the adjective single and the noun use into a new compound. Time will tell if the adjective single-use is as enduring as the single-use plastics that we talked about in 2018.”

Peter Thorley, Media Relations Manager - University of Warwick

E: Peter.Thorley@warwick.ac.uk

M: 07824540863