John Chew
@poslfit.bsky.social
I like words, math, languages, code, food, organisation, and problem-solving. I work on Scrabble, election data, dictionaries, and translation.
NASPA Word of the Day: NUMMARY adj pertaining to coins. Typo:summary. Blanagrams:Juryman manuAry. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
January 29, 2026 at 1:55 PM
NASPA Word of the Day: NUMMARY adj pertaining to coins. Typo:summary. Blanagrams:Juryman manuAry. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
NASPA Word of the Day: SWARTH n turf. Anagrams:thraws wraths. Hooks:swarthS swarthY. Extensions:swarthIER swarthIEST swarthILY swarthINESS swarthINESSES. Typo:swarty. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
January 28, 2026 at 1:55 PM
NASPA Word of the Day: SWARTH n turf. Anagrams:thraws wraths. Hooks:swarthS swarthY. Extensions:swarthIER swarthIEST swarthILY swarthINESS swarthINESSES. Typo:swarty. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
Comfortably dressed for waiting for the bus, but for some reason my iPhone facial recognition has stopped working.
January 27, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Comfortably dressed for waiting for the bus, but for some reason my iPhone facial recognition has stopped working.
Keeping bus services running in a snowstorm includes digging through snowdrifts at bus stops. Thank you to whoever dug this path.
January 26, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Keeping bus services running in a snowstorm includes digging through snowdrifts at bus stops. Thank you to whoever dug this path.
NASPA Word of the Day: PLUMULE n the primary bud of a plant embryo. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
January 26, 2026 at 1:55 PM
NASPA Word of the Day: PLUMULE n the primary bud of a plant embryo. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
60 cm of snow, and our laneway is transformed into a network of narrow footpaths shovelled out by neighbours reaching out to each other.
January 26, 2026 at 6:04 AM
60 cm of snow, and our laneway is transformed into a network of narrow footpaths shovelled out by neighbours reaching out to each other.
NASPA Word of the Day: TONETICS n the phonetic study of tone in language. Anagram:stenotic. Anahooks:coRnetist notcHiest stocKinet tAconites tectoniCs tectonisM. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
January 25, 2026 at 1:55 PM
NASPA Word of the Day: TONETICS n the phonetic study of tone in language. Anagram:stenotic. Anahooks:coRnetist notcHiest stocKinet tAconites tectoniCs tectonisM. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
Listening to it for the first time, I realize that I might have come across as a little nerdy when I cited the mediæval board game of Arithmomachia as an example of Grognard capture.
Hey, my friend @poslfit.bsky.social was interviewed on @grammargirl.bsky.social’s podcast! #GrammarSky
Ever wonder why Scrabble feels like a word game *and* a strategy game?
In today's podcast, I find out with John Chew, a mathematician and a big name in competitive Scrabble. 1/3
WATCH: youtu.be/tlPBkn86CAA
READ: grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/105...
LISTEN: pod.link/173429229
In today's podcast, I find out with John Chew, a mathematician and a big name in competitive Scrabble. 1/3
WATCH: youtu.be/tlPBkn86CAA
READ: grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/105...
LISTEN: pod.link/173429229
January 23, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Listening to it for the first time, I realize that I might have come across as a little nerdy when I cited the mediæval board game of Arithmomachia as an example of Grognard capture.
NASPA Word of the Day: BENTWOOD n wood bent for use in furniture. Hook:bentwoodS. Blanagrams:Unbooted beAtdown downbeAt woodbIne woodnOte woodtOne. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
January 23, 2026 at 1:55 PM
NASPA Word of the Day: BENTWOOD n wood bent for use in furniture. Hook:bentwoodS. Blanagrams:Unbooted beAtdown downbeAt woodbIne woodnOte woodtOne. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
Reposted by John Chew
And amazingly, John Chew is also leading the charge for the new Canadian English Dictionary.
Grammarpaloozians at Patreon get a bonus episode today about that project: why it's needed, how it started, and how they're funding it.
Join now to listen: bit.ly/GGpalooza
3/3
Grammarpaloozians at Patreon get a bonus episode today about that project: why it's needed, how it started, and how they're funding it.
Join now to listen: bit.ly/GGpalooza
3/3
Grammar Girl | Patreon
Podcasts and Fun Tips about the English Language
bit.ly
January 22, 2026 at 6:29 PM
And amazingly, John Chew is also leading the charge for the new Canadian English Dictionary.
Grammarpaloozians at Patreon get a bonus episode today about that project: why it's needed, how it started, and how they're funding it.
Join now to listen: bit.ly/GGpalooza
3/3
Grammarpaloozians at Patreon get a bonus episode today about that project: why it's needed, how it started, and how they're funding it.
Join now to listen: bit.ly/GGpalooza
3/3
Reposted by John Chew
Ever wonder why Scrabble feels like a word game *and* a strategy game?
In today's podcast, I find out with John Chew, a mathematician and a big name in competitive Scrabble. 1/3
WATCH: youtu.be/tlPBkn86CAA
READ: grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/105...
LISTEN: pod.link/173429229
In today's podcast, I find out with John Chew, a mathematician and a big name in competitive Scrabble. 1/3
WATCH: youtu.be/tlPBkn86CAA
READ: grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/105...
LISTEN: pod.link/173429229
January 22, 2026 at 6:29 PM
Ever wonder why Scrabble feels like a word game *and* a strategy game?
In today's podcast, I find out with John Chew, a mathematician and a big name in competitive Scrabble. 1/3
WATCH: youtu.be/tlPBkn86CAA
READ: grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/105...
LISTEN: pod.link/173429229
In today's podcast, I find out with John Chew, a mathematician and a big name in competitive Scrabble. 1/3
WATCH: youtu.be/tlPBkn86CAA
READ: grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/105...
LISTEN: pod.link/173429229
I had a lot of fun chatting again (after ten years) with @grammargirl.bsky.social for her Grammar Girl podcast about competitive Scrabble, and on her subscription-only (but now would be a good time to try the 14-day free trial option) Grammarpalooza about the Canadian English Dictionary.
Scrabble strategy and tournament culture, with John Chew
YouTube video by Grammar Girl
www.youtube.com
January 22, 2026 at 10:36 PM
I had a lot of fun chatting again (after ten years) with @grammargirl.bsky.social for her Grammar Girl podcast about competitive Scrabble, and on her subscription-only (but now would be a good time to try the 14-day free trial option) Grammarpalooza about the Canadian English Dictionary.
NASPA Word of the Day: CLUPEID n a fish of the herring family. Hook:clupeidS. Anahooks:clupeOid pelLucid pulicIde upcOiled. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
January 22, 2026 at 1:55 PM
NASPA Word of the Day: CLUPEID n a fish of the herring family. Hook:clupeidS. Anahooks:clupeOid pelLucid pulicIde upcOiled. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
NASPA Word of the Day: GAWSIE adj well-fed and healthy looking. Anahooks:eaRwigs gawKies swagGie. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
January 21, 2026 at 1:55 PM
NASPA Word of the Day: GAWSIE adj well-fed and healthy looking. Anahooks:eaRwigs gawKies swagGie. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
NASPA Word of the Day: CALAMITE n an extinct treelike plant. Hook:calamiteS. Typos:calamine calamity catamite. Anahooks:acClimate calmatiVe malacHite. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
January 20, 2026 at 1:55 PM
NASPA Word of the Day: CALAMITE n an extinct treelike plant. Hook:calamiteS. Typos:calamine calamity catamite. Anahooks:acClimate calmatiVe malacHite. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
NASPA Word of the Day: BARYE n a unit of pressure. Anagrams:bayer yerba. Hook:baryeS. Typos:barbe barde barge barre. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
January 19, 2026 at 1:55 PM
NASPA Word of the Day: BARYE n a unit of pressure. Anagrams:bayer yerba. Hook:baryeS. Typos:barbe barde barge barre. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
NASPA Word of the Day: BETISE n stupidity. Anagram:bestie. Hook:betiseS. Extensions:ALPHAbetise ALPHAbetiseD ALPHAbetiseS. Typos:betide betime. Anahooks:Website beAstie beiGest bestieS betiDes be... https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
January 18, 2026 at 1:55 PM
NASPA Word of the Day: BETISE n stupidity. Anagram:bestie. Hook:betiseS. Extensions:ALPHAbetise ALPHAbetiseD ALPHAbetiseS. Typos:betide betime. Anahooks:Website beAstie beiGest bestieS betiDes be... https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
NASPA Word of the Day: SALVO v to discharge firearms simultaneously. Anagram:ovals. Hooks:salvoR salvoS. Extensions:salvoED salvoES salvoING salvoRS. Typo:salve. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
January 17, 2026 at 1:55 PM
NASPA Word of the Day: SALVO v to discharge firearms simultaneously. Anagram:ovals. Hooks:salvoR salvoS. Extensions:salvoED salvoES salvoING salvoRS. Typo:salve. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
NASPA Word of the Day: PROXIMO adj of or occurring in the following month. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
January 16, 2026 at 1:55 PM
NASPA Word of the Day: PROXIMO adj of or occurring in the following month. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
NASPA Word of the Day: THERMAE n hot springs. Typo:thermal. Anahooks:earthmeN erYthema. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
January 15, 2026 at 1:55 PM
NASPA Word of the Day: THERMAE n hot springs. Typo:thermal. Anahooks:earthmeN erYthema. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
NASPA Word of the Day: CHUSE v to choose. Hooks:chuseD chuseS. Extensions:DEINONYchuseS TUchuseS. Typos:cause chase chose chute cruse. Anahooks:Muches Ouches Ruches Tusche chOuse chuTes heucHs sh... https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
January 14, 2026 at 1:55 PM
NASPA Word of the Day: CHUSE v to choose. Hooks:chuseD chuseS. Extensions:DEINONYchuseS TUchuseS. Typos:cause chase chose chute cruse. Anahooks:Muches Ouches Ruches Tusche chOuse chuTes heucHs sh... https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
Thanks to the technician at the Apple Store who was able to safely extract the tip of my Lightning connector (bottom left in photo) from my iPhone,
solving a no charge problem for no charge.
solving a no charge problem for no charge.
January 13, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Thanks to the technician at the Apple Store who was able to safely extract the tip of my Lightning connector (bottom left in photo) from my iPhone,
solving a no charge problem for no charge.
solving a no charge problem for no charge.
NASPA Word of the Day: CYANOSIS n bluish discoloration of the skin. Typo:cyanoses. Blanagrams:Pycnosis acyLoins caissonS cassinoS cyCasins isosTacy naRcosis scansioN synoVias. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
January 13, 2026 at 1:55 PM
NASPA Word of the Day: CYANOSIS n bluish discoloration of the skin. Typo:cyanoses. Blanagrams:Pycnosis acyLoins caissonS cassinoS cyCasins isosTacy naRcosis scansioN synoVias. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
NASPA Word of the Day: DOGSTAIL n a grass with spiky flower heads. Anagram:dogtails. Hook:dogstailS. Anahook:dialogIst. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
January 11, 2026 at 1:55 PM
NASPA Word of the Day: DOGSTAIL n a grass with spiky flower heads. Anagram:dogtails. Hook:dogstailS. Anahook:dialogIst. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
NASPA Word of the Day: ATAVISM n the reappearance of a genetic characteristic after several generations of absence. Hook:atavismS. Typo:atavist. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl
January 10, 2026 at 1:55 PM
NASPA Word of the Day: ATAVISM n the reappearance of a genetic characteristic after several generations of absence. Hook:atavismS. Typo:atavist. https://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/wotd.pl