Summary
Have you ever started writing a list, but noticed each point you make is really long? Well, you might have written a listicle, which is a list that has a lot in common with an article.
Find out more about this portmanteau that combines the words ‘list’ and ‘article’ in The English We Speak.
Transcript
Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I’m Feifei.
Roy
And I’m Roy! Feifei, is 3pm OK for your appointment with the doctor?
Feifei
What? No, I don’t need a doctor – I feel fine! What are you on about?
Roy
Well, I heard you showed your listicle to Neil and he was worried.
Feifei
No, Roy, a listicle isn’t a medical condition – it’s a piece of writing. It’s an article that is in a list format. It’s like a list, but the points have more explanation.
Roy
Oh, that makes more sense. But why was Neil worried about your listicle?
Feifei
I have no idea. It’s only a listicle about the things that he must do to improve my life! Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten you in the listicle.
Roy
You mean that you want to improve my life as well?
Feifei
No, Roy! I’ve written a listicle highlighting things you need to do! I’ll let you know what my demands are right after these examples.
Examples
Have you read the new listicle I’ve written about the greatest video games of all time!
Don’t read that listicle. It’s just clickbait!
That listicle has an impressive title, but it doesn’t really expand on the points it makes. It’s more like a list.
Feifei
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we’re talking about listicles. A listicle is an article that is in a list format, but the points are expanded more than a normal list, making it closer to an article. And here is the listicle I wrote for you, Roy.
Roy
What? You can’t be serious! You’ve written here that you want me to burn all of my T-shirts and buy some other clothes? Well, that’s not going to happen!
Feifei
I just want you to look smart, Roy. That T-shirt with a picture of a dog staring at a flower on it is not appropriate for a person to wear.
Roy
It’s top quality! And you’ve also gone on in your listicle about how I should stop playing video games. I actually write listicles about games! Here, I wrote one for you.
Feifei
This isn’t a listicle! All it says is ‘you work too hard Roy – you should go home’.
Roy
Oh, OK – thanks for the advice – I will!
Feifei
No, I was just reading what you wrote!
Roy
Bye, Feifei!
Feifei
Bye.