Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Making your own dictionary, with Erin McKean

Dec 5, 2024

Erin McKean, a lexicographer and the founder of Wordnik, dives into the fascinating world of dictionary-making. She reveals how Wordnik invites users to contribute words and definitions, embodying a collaborative spirit of language. Erin discusses the innovative 'adopt a word' initiative, which fosters personal connections to language, and the shift of Wordnik to a nonprofit model. They also explore the impact of AI on dictionaries, showcasing how technology shapes our understanding of language today.

25:04

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Erin McKean

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Quick takeaways

Erin McKean emphasizes the importance of inclusivity in lexicography, aiming to document all English words, especially underrepresented ones.

Wordnik encourages user engagement and contribution, fostering a collaborative community that enhances the dictionary's richness through interactive features.

Deep dives

The Journey to Wordnik

The founder of Wordnik, Erin McKean, shares her lifelong passion for lexicography, which began when she was just eight years old. After gaining extensive experience with children's dictionaries and working as editor-in-chief for American dictionaries at Oxford University Press, she decided to start Wordnik. This online dictionary focuses on inclusivity, aiming to capture all words, especially those not typically covered in traditional dictionaries due to constraints of time and money. The philosophy of Wordnik revolves around providing users with example sentences instead of solely relying on formal definitions, recognizing that language evolution requires flexibility.

Intro

2min

The Evolving Dictionary of the Digital Era

10min

Innovative Nonprofit Funding Through Language Engagement

2min

Practical Language Learning and Gifting Insights

3min

Defining Words: A Journey Through Language

11min

The Influence of AI on Dictionaries

2min

1036. Erin McKean runs an entire online dictionary with the goal of having ALL the English words. But Wordnik is not only huge, it's also filled with delightful quirks. Hear how Erin manages this one-woman show and how you can get in on the fun — by adopting a word, making your own lists, using the API for word games or a word of the day, adding words or definitions, and trawling the internet for interesting sentences.

Erin McKean is a lexicographer and the driving force behind the online dictionary Wordnik.

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