People say to me, ‘How do I know if a word is real?’ You know, anybody who’s read a children’s book knows that love makes things real. If you love a word, use it. That makes it real.

McKean, a lexicographer, reframes “real word” as a question of use and attachment rather than institutional approval. By invoking the familiar children’s-book idea that love can confer reality, she suggests that language is socially and emotionally made: words become “real” when speakers adopt them to name experiences, build community, or express identity. The quote pushes back against gatekeeping (e.g., dictionaries, style authorities, pedants) and aligns with a descriptive view of language change—neologisms, slang, and reclaimed terms gain legitimacy through sustained, meaningful use. It also highlights a personal ethic of linguistic creativity: if a word helps you say what you mean, using it is part of how language grows.