Privacy Policy & Terms
The fine print behind a small editorial desk.
Last updated: [Month DD, YYYY]
Privacy Policy
What we collect, why, and what you can do about it.
Hidden Lexicon ("we," "us," "our") publishes long-form essays on language, ritual, and forgotten tradition. This policy explains what information we collect when you visit hiddenlexicon.com, why we collect it, and the choices available to you. We collect only what's needed to run the site and communicate with readers who ask us to — nothing is sold to advertisers or data brokers.
Data We Collect
Contact Form Submissions
When you use the Contact page, we collect your name, email address, and message so we can reply to you.
Newsletter Sign-Ups
If you subscribe, we collect your email address to send you new essays. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link in every email.
Automatically Collected Data
Like most websites, our hosting and analytics tools may log standard technical information — IP address, browser type, pages visited, and referring URLs — to help us understand traffic and keep the site secure.
Comments
If commenting is enabled on an essay, the name, email, and content you submit with a comment are stored so the comment can be displayed and moderated.
How We Use It
- To respond to messages sent through the Contact page.
- To send newsletter emails to subscribers who opted in.
- To understand how readers find and use the site, so we can improve it.
- To keep the site secure and prevent spam or abuse.
- To comply with legal obligations where applicable.
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.
Cookies
Hidden Lexicon may use cookies and similar technologies for basic site functionality and to understand aggregate traffic patterns (for example, via analytics software). You can disable cookies through your browser settings; some site features may not work as intended if you do.
Third-Party Services
We rely on a small number of third-party services to run the site, including our web host and content management system, Google Fonts (for typography), an email/newsletter delivery provider, and — if enabled — a form plugin that processes Contact page submissions. Each of these services may process limited technical data (such as IP address) under their own privacy policies.
Your Rights
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, or delete the personal data we hold about you, and to withdraw consent (such as unsubscribing from the newsletter) at any time. To exercise any of these rights, reach out via the Contact page and we'll respond as promptly as we can.
Terms of Use
The basic agreement between you and this site.
By browsing hiddenlexicon.com, you agree to the terms below. If you don't agree, please don't use the site. We may update these terms from time to time, as described further down this page.
Content & Copyright
All essays, text, and original artwork published on Hidden Lexicon are the property of Hidden Lexicon and its writers, unless otherwise credited. You're welcome to quote short excerpts with a link back to the original essay. Republishing, reproducing, or distributing full essays without written permission is not permitted.
Editorial Disclaimer
Hidden Lexicon essays are researched carefully, but language and tradition are living, contested things — regional variation and differing accounts are common. Our essays reflect our best research at time of publication and are offered for cultural and educational interest, not as an authoritative or exhaustive source. If something reads wrong to you, we welcome corrections via the Contact page.
External Links
Our essays and pages may link to external sites for reference or further reading. We don't control and aren't responsible for the content or privacy practices of those third-party sites.
Changes to This Page
We may revise this Privacy Policy & Terms page occasionally to reflect changes to the site or applicable law. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page will always reflect the most recent revision.
We're Easy to Reach.
If anything here is unclear, or you'd like to exercise a privacy right, send a note through the Contact page and it'll land with the same small editorial desk that writes the essays.
Read the Archive
Start with our most-discussed essays, or browse by category to find the word, ritual, or tradition you're curious about.