The 2022 Word of the Year is “Permacrisis” according to one dictionary, is that and other new words recognized in the Microsoft Word dictionary? Surprisingly, one of the 2022 words is and there’s another strangeness in the Word Grammar and Style checks.
According to the Collins Dictionary, the 2022 Word of the Year is “Permacrisis” which certainly fits in the UK where Wikipedia had to split the page “2022 UK government crisis” into three separate pages for the July, September and October troubles! Permacrisis is NOT a 80’s hair style 😁
They aren’t truly new words, more like portmanteau cliches.
Partygate is the scandal over lockdown parties held at the UK Prime Minister’s offices. One of the many spinoffs from Watergate.
Kyiv is the preferred name for the capital of Ukraine. Kiev is the older name for the same city. See Spell and say Kiev or Kyiv according to Microsoft Word
Carolean – describes the era of the new UK Monarch, King Charles III. The last monarch was in the Elizabethan era and before that a Georgian period.
Lawfare – using lawsuits to stifle dissent or competition. This includes SLAPP suits.
Spoolting – lying flat, face down on a cool surface. Most done by dogs and cats, but occasionally humans.
Sportswashing – attempting to improve a tarnished brand or image through connection with a popular sport.
Warmbank – a public place with heating where people can go because their own homes are too cold and they can’t afford heating. Derived from ‘Foodbank’. Grammarians might argue that it should be ‘WarmthBank’.
How the 2022 words appear in Microsoft Word
Only two of the 2022 words are in the Word 365 in-built dictionary plus a surprising little Refinement check.
Both Kyiv and Kiev are accepted as correct spellings, but the older spelling gets a blue dotted line as a warning of “Sensitive Geopolitical References”. That’s one of the optional Grammar and Refinement settings.
Lawfare is accepted by Word 365 already, perhaps because it’s not new. Citations for Lawfare start in 1975 with wider use over the last twenty years.
2022 words in English (United States)
Here’s the results with the English (United States) language setting.
2022 words in English (United Kingdom)
It’s almost the same in English (United Kingdom) dictionary except that “Kiev” doesn’t get the extra warning.
It seems the Word 365 Refinements are limited to specific language variants or aren’t duplicated to similar languages. Stop Word’s grammar ‘help’ once or always
How does Microsoft Word handle non-binary grammar like they?
Microsoft Word is beaten (again) by a 14 year-old spelling champ
More changes for Word’s Spelling and Grammar
Microsoft Word isn’t censoring your politically incorrect language
