author
A. Metcalf
A longtime student of American English, this linguist and popular language writer explored how words spread, stick, and shape everyday life. His books make the history of language feel lively, approachable, and full of surprise.
1 Audiobook
The Art of Graining: How Acquired and How Produced. With the description of colors and their applications.
by Charles Pickert, A. Metcalf
About the author
Allan A. Metcalf was an American linguist, teacher, and author known for writing about language in a way that welcomed general readers. He taught English at MacMurray College and was widely recognized for his work with the American Dialect Society, where he served for many years as executive secretary.
His books focused on the life of words: where they come from, how they catch on, and what they reveal about culture. Among his best-known titles are OK: The Improbable Story of America’s Greatest Word, Predicting New Words, and From Skedaddle to Selfie.
He also described himself as a forensic linguist, professor, author, and blogger, reflecting a career built around close attention to how people actually use language. Allan Metcalf died in 2022, but his writing still offers an engaging introduction to the quirks and history of English.