How to contribute words to the Reading Programme

Researching

How do I find examples of new word information?

Contributors are invited to read any text from which quotations can be cited that provide new information on the English language - both in traditional book, magazine, or journal form, or from historical text databases accessible online. New information is available from almost any source, but texts most likely to yield valuable material are primary sources as yet unexplored by lexicographers.

At the moment, because Internet addresses and references can change, texts that exist solely online cannot be used as a source for quotations. In the absence of other evidence, such texts can be a useful starting-point; but other forms of verification are preferable.

Is non-British English acceptable?

Yes. The Dictionary has its head office in Oxford, but covers English throughout the world. It also has links with a number of national dictionaries, such as those in Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, New Zealand, the USA, and South Africa. Information on new words from anywhere in the world where English is spoken will be considered by the Dictionary team in the UK; it will also be passed on to the relevant national dictionary.

Are there any particular words that Dictionary editors are investigating?

A list of words or phrases currently being prepared for revision for which documentary evidence is incomplete is issued quarterly, and incorporated in the Newsletters online.

Are there any words that Dictionary editors will not consider?

No, any word, slang or dialect, politically correct or incorrect, is useful as long as it is used by English speakers or writers of English. Proper names are not generally included unless they can be shown to be used in a generic or extended sense.

How do readers check whether the material they are presenting is really new to the Dictionary?

Consult the relevant entry in the second edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, available in print or on CD-ROM in most good libraries.

Are records of spoken English acceptable?

No. Although the Dictionary does take account of spoken English, evidence for the Reading Programme must always be from published sources.

What sort of information is required?

New Words

Oxford leads the field in recording the entry of today's new words into the language. We need readers' help to find printed evidence of new words from magazines, newspapers, books, song lyrics, practical manuals - indeed from any published source. Slang and dialect words are also collected.

A ‘new word from the past’ may sound like a contradiction, but this is a category where volunteers can be especially helpful. Dictionary editors are particularly keen to receive information about words from earlier centuries that have so far escaped inclusion: for example, words from books or manuals from previous centuries on any profession, trade, craft, or hobby with a specialized vocabulary, from building techniques to pigeon-fancying.

New Senses, Usage, Spelling, or Pronunciation

New senses or usages of an existing word, an unusual spelling, or evidence of a different pronunciation are all welcomed.

New Etymological and Dating Evidence

One of the principal tasks in revising the OED is describing the history of each word. New information on how words came into the English language from scholars working in this area is welcomed. Also, every entry in the Dictionary includes supporting quotations which build up a picture of a word's use, ranging from the earliest known example to one illustrating recent usage, and including intermediate quotations throughout the centuries. Editors are looking in particular for earlier (antedating) evidence; and, in some cases, more recent (postdating) evidence of words than is currently quoted; plus intermediate (interdating) evidence where large gaps in dating evidence exist. For a list of words for which lexicographers would particularly value additional evidence, see the latest Newsletter.

Presentation of material

Notes on Referencing

Each quotation must be preceded by a precise reference to the source from which it is taken. Referencing takes many different forms - far too many to demonstrate in detail. If your quotation is considered for inclusion in the Dictionary, a lexicographer will need to check that you have cited it correctly. Please give as full and helpful a reference as you can.

References should be presented in the following order:

Date, author, title of source, date of edition used, precise location in text.

Examples of referencing from the Oxford English Dictionary

Other Information

Where should I send my contributions?

Please send your contributions to:

What will happen to my submission?

Submissions will be sorted and filed to await consideration by Dictionary editors drafting or revising words in the relevant section of the alphabet.

How will I know if my quotation has been included in the Dictionary?

Readers will be able to check whether their quotations have been included by consulting the online edition of the OED, provided they or their institution subscribes to the service. Only a small proportion of the Dictionary has been revised to date, but over 1,000 new and revised entries will be added each quarter until the Dictionary is fully revised. The revision is a huge task, and in order to meet tough deadlines Oxford regrets that it cannot enter into correspondence about individual submissions.