David Astle
David Astle is the crossword compiler and Wordplay columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. He is a broadcaster on ABC Radio Melbourne.
Opinion
WordPlay
From flimp to frop: The deliciously sneaky art of coining words
When words fall short, we have no choice but to fill the spaces left.
- by David Astle
Latest
Opinion
WordPlay
The most unexpected way influencers are influencing us
It’s all very demure, very mindful.
- by David Astle
Opinion
WordPlay
Macquarie’s word of the year is the perfect emblem for a grim era
Over two hours, the panel – myself included – whittled a 65-word longlist down to one worthy winner.
- by David Astle
After this blunder, I’m now looking sideways at every word I presume to know
It was a query from an editor that made me reconsider everything.
- by David Astle
Opinion
WordPlay
From Klingon to Elvish, what’s your favourite made-up language?
Because sometimes it’s words that help make the make-believe more believable.
- by David Astle
Opinion
WordPlay
A ban on saying ‘no worries’? They don’t understand
First they came for rizz, sus, iconic and artisanal – now they’re coming for a phrase we need.
- by David Astle
Opinion
WordPlay
Haitch is for horrified: How my column launched a H-bomb
The haitch vs aitch debate is far from settled.
- by David Astle
Opinion
WordPlay
Here, there and everywhen: The English language has a tense problem
What do you do when the past, present and future collide all at once?
- by David Astle
The great divide: how do you pronounce the letter H?
There are two kinds of people in this world. Aitchers and haitchers.
- by David Astle
From bogan to susso, the 100 words that define Australia
From hoon to halal snack pack, this book records the unique, sacrosanct, larrikin, evolving dialect we share.
- by David Astle
What do you call a cardboard box designer? You ask, we try to answer
Some suggestions: paper-shaper, a cubist, a cartonist, a cat-home architect, a crease monkey, a chairman of the board, a manila folder and a Pratt.
- by David Astle
Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/by/david-astle-p4yw3m