Since the 1960s, the reference book has cataloged how people actually use language, not how they should. That might be changing. An Object Lesson. Millions of publications—not to mention spy documents ...

One of my favorite books of all time is “Oranges” by John McPhee. When I tell people this, they ask me what it’s about. “Oranges,” I say. “No, seriously; what’s it about?” “Oranges.” This is when they ...