Here is the News


Good evening.

In a distraction from today’s events, the acting head of WORD, the Worldwide Order for Resurrecting worDs, Saltanby Thimblefrith, has announced the decision to retire the word distraction.

Saltanby Thimblefrith

Taking effect from 1st July 2026, the word distraction will start to disappear from books and dictionaries around the world.

The UK and neighbouring countries will be the first to see the diminished use, followed by the rest of Europe, and then the rest of the world.

Thimblefrith insists the transition away from distraction will be easy, and pretty much the same as the word quasiwobble, which was totally removed from use worldwide in 2025.

Distraction will be replaced by the words interlude or openness.

Thimblefrith insists language and life in general will be much better without distraction.

He also advises words to be resurrected in August this year include overmorrow (the day after tomorrow) and throttlebottom (harmless incompetence in public office).

For now, however, distraction is very much a word in use and WORD recommends everyone tries to notice when it is being used, for old time’s sake. When it is gone and replaced by openness things will never be the same again.

8 responses to “Here is the News”

  1. CMStewart avatar

    Thanks for for notifying us, Saltanby Thimblefrith! Pray tell, how do we now refer to a normally steady vibrato loosening into a slow, wide, and uncontrolled pitch oscillation, and likewise, how do we refer to specific, plane-symmetric conformations of hydrogen bonds during DNA base tautomerization?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Thanks CM. Saltanby Thimblefrith is currently unavailable but has left a standard reply should there be any enquiries…

      Thank you for reaching out. We at WORD are well aware of the issues that may arise when words are retired from use, but language is like a fast flowing stream and when a gap appears it is soon filled by a suitable alternative. Or simply not filled at all.

      I don’t know if that answers your question or not, CM, but it’s the best we have!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. CMStewart avatar

        Yes, that puts my mind at ease; thank you!

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Misky avatar

    I love this. Fun!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Hehehe! Thanks, Misky.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Chris Hall avatar

    Just saying… excellent!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Yay! Thanks, Chris. No distraction here!

      Liked by 1 person

  4. europasicewolf avatar

    So the word “openess” replacing the offending word of “distraction” will now be code for “procrastination” – which could also refer to “interlude” which can generally be thought of as a prolonged, ongoing, and never-ending coffee break…sounds good to go 🫡

    Like

Would you like to leave a comment?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.