Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing Making your own dictionary, with Erin McKean
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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.
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Childhood Dream
- Erin McKean, since age eight, dreamt of working with dictionaries.
- This lifelong passion led her to Wordnik after working for Oxford University Press and others.
Dictionary Limitations
- Traditional dictionaries exclude many words due to financial and time constraints.
- Wordnik aims for inclusivity by prioritizing example sentences over exhaustive data.
Contribute to Wordnik
- Contribute to Wordnik by leaving comments on word meanings and usage.
- Create word lists based on themes or personal preferences.