Move Over Dr. Johnson!

©Abbey Grammar School, Newry

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Abbey pupil, Ryan Brockwell receives his trophy for having his word ‘ecolite’ included in the new Harper Collins dictionary. With Ryan, from l-r: Anne Hodgins (sales Manager, Harper Collins); Mr. Dermot McGovern (Abbey Principal) and Mr. Mel McMahon (Head of English).

Wouldn’t it be nice to go out and buy the newspaper some morning or watch the TV some evening and see a new word being used as part of the headlines? No? Well what if you had created the word in the headline and it was being used by thousands, maybe millions of people across the planet? Such a situation could happen soon for Abbey student, Ryan Brockwell.

Last year when he was a Second Year, Ryan entered a competition organised by Harper Collins Dictionaries. As part of the competition pupils had to either put forward a case for the inclusion of a word from their area or they could create their own word and provide a definition. Ryan came up with the word ‘ecolite’ and the judges were so impressed they awarded him first prize and flew over from headquarters in England to congratulate him. As well as winning prizes for himself, he also won £500 worth of books for the Abbey English Department.

From this year you will be able to find the word ‘ecolite’ in every Collins English Dictionary.

Ecolite: (noun) someone who uses green energy in order to try and prevent global warming.

© Abbey Grammar School