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Who decides when a new word belongs in a dictionary?

A new expression can attract attention before there is enough evidence to include it in a dictionary. Cambridge's New Words posts and Merriam-Webster's account of editorial selection show different stages of observing language in use.

3–5 min

Questions you could explore

  • What would repeated, widespread use add to one memorable example?
  • Can a word be real without being in a dictionary?

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Who decides when a new word belongs in a dictionary? | Speech Topic | speaking.app