3min chapter

Stuff You Missed in History Class cover image

Webster, Worcester and the Dictionary Wars, Part 1

Stuff You Missed in History Class

CHAPTER

Noah Webster's Dictionary of the English Language

In 1800, Noah Webster Jr. announced his plan to write a dictionary. He wanted it to follow the spelling reforms he advocated and include words that had been added to the English language in the United States. A lot of people today write about Webster as having been a huge part of creating a national identity for the United States through this and other dictionaries. But there's another way to look at this as well. Dr. Tim Cassidy frames this as more about Webster uniting people in their hatred of him.

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