Intersessing??

T. Keung Hui writes in the N&O Blogs about “Intersessing at year-rounds.”

Sorry, T. No such word. There is no gerund form of “intersession,” a noun meaning “the time between two academic sessions or semesters.”

On the positive side, this story generated active debate with 36 posts in just 5 hours. On the negative side, the mistaken usage in the headline lead to further confusion in the comments. One blogger asked “WHERE will these intercessions be held?” That’s a different word meaning “pleading on behalf of another.”

Here at Online Copywriter, we’re as willing to make up words as anyone else. Just this week, we wrote with joy about “astroturfing.”

But “intersessing?” No. That’s just ugly.

The N&O needs to set some minimum standards for online writing by it’s staff. Start with “use real words.”