8/13/2019 Death of a Dictionary (WNWD)

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8/13/2019 Death of a Dictionary (WNWD)

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ood riddance. *egnat opulusF

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In a /orld that is content, e!en self)satisfied, to say things such as Gan hatG and, G4e pounded the

tin can flatly,G I ha!e hung onto myNew Worldthat /as purchased in 2H.

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IJm not sure ho/ one can say that $ebsterJs >e/ $orld is p reeminent or is the (a!id that sle/

Merriam)$ebsterJs oliath. If itJs preeminent, itJs only in the niche of ne/spaper editing. Some

relati!e sales ranks from Ama'on7

Webster!s New World College Dictionary7 K0@,000

Webster!s "#ird New International Dictionary7 K,-@6

$erria%&Webster!s Collegiate Dictionary7 K,H@1

3es, $>$ outsells $-, but one is a college dictionary and one is unabridged. ItJs not really a direct

comparison. &urthermore, $- is fifty years old. But$erria%&Webster!s

Collegiateblo/s iL$ebsterJs >e/ $orld out of the /ater. >o editing job IJ!e e!er /orked at has

used Webster!s New World theyJ!e all used$erria%&Webster!s Collegiate.

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The Chronicle of Higher Education 1255 Twenty-Third St, N.W.

ashington, .C. 2!!"#

+!er the decades, the shock !alue of $ebsters "hird has dissipated, but it ne!er regained its pre)eminence. It has a place in ne/srooms,

but just second place. According to theA' (tyleboo, 8If there is no listing in either this book or Websters New World College Dictionary,

the backup dictionary is $ebsters "hirdNew International Dictionary, published by Merriam)$ebster Inc.?

And, editors being conser!ati!e, its likely t#at Websters New World/ill remain fore!er the chosen dictionaryas long as it doesnt

disappear, grin and all.

"his entry /as posted in rammar, Mistakes, Style,$ords. Bookmark the permalink.

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Page 2 of 2Death of a Dictionary? Or an Abduction? - Lingua Franca - The Chronicle of Higher Edu ...

5/14/2012http://chronicle.com/blogs/linguafranca/2012/03/21/death-of-a-dictionary-or-abduction/