The thing about new words is that, regardless of how bad, pointless, or stupid they sound, regardless of convincing etymology or respect for correct usage; once uttered, they exist. True, some will soon fade and pass out of human knowing, but then whole languages disappear once their words have been pronounced for the last time, only a few fragments remaining transmogrified into new words, or occasionally reappearing in obscure papers penned by linguists. Meanwhile other words will rise, apparently from nowhere, and sweep whole countries like an epidemic. Some of us will delight in these novelties, others will howl indignantly at these perceived assaults on convention. Whatever your reaction, ignoring them is as effective as turning your back on a hungry wolf and, on the whole, I think it’s better to keep an eye on them. Those that survive earn their stripes simply through persisting, but some old ‘new’ words were dubious from the start.

Where did ‘mushy’ come from? How long will it last?