Word of the Year 2025

Happy New Year. Let’s Talk Definitions, Specifically “Artificial + Intelligence + Slop” 

Cambridge Dictionary defines intelligence as "the ability to learn, understand, and make judgments or have opinions that are based on reason." 

Learning is one key component of intelligence, but it is arguably the least advanced aspect compared with the ability to make judgments and form opinions.

What does artificial convey? Created by humans? Fake? Imitation? Artificial sunlight is similar to sunlight, providing some highly beneficial aspects of sunlight while simultaneously missing something essential. Artificial sunlight is as far removed from the power of the sun’s streaming beams as fool’s gold is from the real deal. 

In the context of artificial intelligence, the word artificial appears to convey a simulation of human intelligence, computer-based, non-organic, digital. Perhaps artificial should also convey a lesser sense here, a partial or reduced and limited level, despite its amazing capabilities to sort, organize, and analyze reams of data, and to learn. The prefixes near-, pseudo-, quasi-, and sub- come to mind.

And how do we define slop? This word, originally designating soft mud, and subsequently “food waste as fed to pigs” has taken on another meaning. It refers to the sheer volume of junk littering cyberspace, produced via AI-based computer programs. This includes flawed images, videos, books, blog posts, reports, graphs and charts, created with minimal human oversight. Blame the AI boom. 

Mirriam-Webster has declared slop as the 2025 Word of the Year, defining slop as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” This colloquial term has swept the cybernautic world in recent years. Read more about the Word of the Year decision at Mirriam-Webster.

Digital slop is a derisory term for the sheer volume of substandard work produced via AI, typically created for monetization purposes. Such slop clutters the web with absurdities and misinformation, making cyberspace a dangerous (or hilarious) place indeed. For example, see the shoveling scene my AI program produced. How many goofs can you find?

AI = artificial intelligence…automated intelligence… alleged intelligence…alternative intelligence

Anti-intelligence when used for slop.

Contractions, an addendum

Greetings. As discussed in a recent post, many students struggle to correctly position the apostrophe within contractions and possessives. Spelling contractions correctly can be a challenge.

Learners do not typically struggle with the meaning of contractions, except homonyms— who's versus whose, it's versus its, you’re versus your and they’re/ there/ their. Contractions (and homonyms) can be challenging for native speakers as well as English Language Learners.

Forming contractions involves a change in spelling but no real change in meaning. For example, is not conveys the same meaning as the contracted form isn't. However, there may be a change in register, as for example from the more formal can not to the less formal can’t. 

As student move up the grades, it is important to discuss variations of language, including register, slang, jargon, and dialect. Contractions are tricky in that sense, and evolving in usage and acceptance . Not so long ago, contractions were deemed lazy, slangy, unfit for formal discourse. The truth is that contractions are practical. Much more efficient to say here’s than here is. Mechanically easier to articulate, too. Contractions flow, making speech fluid and natural. This is similar to how much easier it is to articulate cell over cellular and phone over telephone (see posts on clips and linguistic blends). Furthermore, contractions have long been a part of worldwide human language patterns.

“Unfortunately, contractions aren’t readily accepted in scholarly works. They are almost looked down upon as childish and immature. However, that is far from the truth. While most look at contractions as a fairly modern invention, they’ve been here since before all of us, our parents, our grandparents, our great grandparents, and many generations before that were born” (from Historically Irrelevant: The History of Contractions).

Where do contractions fit in speaking and writing today? That is somewhat fluid. One thing we know for sure, the placement of the apostrophe is a problem for far too many spellers.

Emphasizing the Wee Apostrophe

Apostrophe comes from Greek, according to Etymology Online:

apostrophe(n.1)

"mark indicating an omitted letter," 1580s, from French apostrophe, from Late Latin apostrophus, from Greek apostrophos (prosoidia) "(the accent of) turning away," thus, a mark showing where a letter has been omitted… In English, the mark often represents loss of -e- in -es, possessive ending. By 18c. it was being extended to all possessives, whether they ever had an -e- or not.

Thats not boring, is it? Its interesting! Wouldnt you folks’ like to hear more?

Some students struggle mightily with apostrophes in possessives and contractions, etc. Where does that pesky apostrophe go?? Which letter(s) does it replace?? To say nothing of whether or not the word even needs an apostrophe. Mistakes can create misunderstandings, a comprehension glitch.  It is common for writers to mistake a plural (boys) for a possessive (the boy's backpack) for a contraction (this boy's so hungry).  Writing aside, some readers do not know how to interpret the apostrophe.

To complicate the issue, an apostrophe has multiple uses: In addition to possessives and contractions, an apostrophe goes after a lowercase letter to make it plural. Watch your p’s and q’s. And don’t forget to dot your t’s! See the wise old Owl at  Purdue’s writing lab for an interesting backstory on those p’s and q’s. 

Note also the use of an apostrophe to hold the place of omitted numbers, as in '60s for 1960s, and the television program That '70s Show. 

But the possessives and the contractions are paramount in terms of writing competency. Teachers must be very clear about the apostrophe. They must explicate the whys and the wherefores. That tiny notation has to pop!