Susie Dent is a lexicographer, linguist, and author best known for her role as the resident wordsmith on the long-running British game show "Countdown," where she has served as the adjudicator for the letters rounds since 1992. Her expertise in language extends to her written works, which include titles such as "Word Perfect" and "The Language Report," showcasing her passion for etymology and the evolution of English.
Educated at the Marist Convent in Ascot and later at Somerville College, Oxford, Dent earned a B.A. in modern languages before completing a master's degree in German at Princeton University. Her career began with bilingual lexicography before she transitioned to working on English dictionaries for Oxford University Press. Dent's writing often explores linguistic curiosities, word origins, and the quirks of the English language, making her a respected voice in both academic and popular contexts.
Standalone Novels
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Guilty By Definition
2024
Language Report Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The Language Report
2003
2
Larpers and Shroomers
2004
3
Fanboys and Overdogs
2005
4
The Language Report: English on the Move, 2000-2007
2007
Non-Fiction Books
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Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Key Skills Survival Guide
2001
2
Treetops Non-Fiction: Winning Words
2005
3
Words of the Year
2008
4
How to Talk Like a Local: From Cockney to Geordie
2008
5
What Made The Crocodile Cry?
2009
6
Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
2012
7
Susie Dent's Weird Words
2013
8
Dent's Modern Tribes: The Secret Languages of Britain
2016
9
Word Perfect: Etymological Entertainment For Every Day of the Year