Wordsmith Talk |
About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us | |||
Register Log In Wordsmith.org Forums General Topics Weekly Themes Coined words
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
OP "My seven-year old coined this word. Could you tell me how I can get it
into a dictionary?" Questions like this pop up in my mailbox from time to
time, from folks wondering how to get a word to take up residence amidst
the hallowed leaves of a lexicon. Thousands of new words do enter the
dictionaries every year. So, what is the criterion behind their inclusion?
What does a word have to do to be worthy of being called `legitimate?' Who
decides what is a good word and what is not?
Usage is the single most important factor to determine if a word gains
membership of that exclusive club. It has to appear extensively, in
many different sources, such as newspapers, magazines, books, TV, radio,
Internet, etc., over several years to show that it is gaining currency. It
has to fill a need and describe a phenomenon for which no other word
exists. Also, it doesn't hurt if the word is catchy and captures public
imagination.
Dictionary editors read a wide variety of sources to monitor the language.
They take notes--known as citations--on little 3x5 index cards or in a
computer database. Once there is enough evidence, they consider whether to
include it in the next edition of their dictionary, and if the answer is yes,
work to define it precisely. Here is an example of a made-up word, which
long-time AWAD subscribers know well, that got into the dictionary. The word
linguaphile, which I coined back in 1994, finally found a place in a dictionary
six years later (in the American Heritage Dictionary, 4th ed., 2000).
So how do you win that honor for your little baby? It's not easy. Share it
with family and friends, use it and encourage them to publish letters,
articles, stories using that word. And even if it doesn't make it into the
dictionary, remember that it is still a bona fide word -- nothing in the
definition of the word `word' says that a word has to be in a dictionary to
be called one. Have fun coining words, and enjoy this week's coinages that
DID reach the dictionaries.
Entire Thread Subject Posted By Posted ![]()
Coined words
Wordsmith 02/20/01 06:44 AM ![]()
Re: Coined words
Fiberbabe 02/20/01 05:47 PM ![]()
Re: Coined words
maverick 02/20/01 06:03 PM ![]()
Re: Coined words
wwh 02/21/01 01:43 AM ![]()
Re: Coined words
Bingley 02/21/01 05:11 AM ![]()
local lexicographer
AnnaStrophic 02/21/01 12:18 PM ![]()
Re: con leche, baby
tsuwm 02/20/01 06:05 PM ![]()
Re: Coined words
of troy 02/20/01 06:19 PM ![]()
Re: Coined words
tsuwm 02/20/01 06:33 PM ![]()
Re: Coined words--Mc something
of troy 02/21/01 01:03 PM ![]()
Re: Coined words--Mc something
wwh 02/21/01 04:42 PM ![]()
Re: Coined words--Mc something
xara 02/22/01 01:20 PM ![]()
Re: Coined words--Mc something
maverick 02/22/01 01:50 PM ![]()
Re: Coined words--Mc something
HeadCheese 02/26/01 12:14 PM ![]()
Re: Coined words
tsuwm 02/21/01 04:04 PM ![]()
Re: Coined words
Anonymous 02/21/01 06:08 PM ![]()
Re: swoophead
jmh 02/22/01 08:46 AM ![]()
Re: swoophead
tsuwm 02/22/01 02:17 PM ![]()
Re: Coined phrase
Fiberbabe 02/21/01 07:30 PM ![]()
Re: Coined phrase
Bingley 02/22/01 05:23 AM
Moderated by Jackie
Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics Forums16Topics13,915Posts229,978Members9,198 Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members testawad, Bill_L, achz, MAGNVSTALSMA, Burlyfish
9,198 Registered Users
Who's Online Now 0 members (), 212 guests, and 3 robots. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days) A C Bowden 18
Top Posters wwh 13,858Faldage 13,803Jackie 11,613wofahulicodoc 10,946tsuwm 10,542LukeJavan8 9,952Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210AnnaStrophic 6,511Wordwind 6,296of troy 5,400
Forum Rules · Mark All Read Contact Us · Forum Help · Wordsmith.org