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Published Sep 3, 2021

The Oxford English Dictionary (Encore)

Gary Arndt delves into the inspiring history of the Oxford English Dictionary, showcasing the incredible tenacity and dedication of figures like William Minor and James Murray, while highlighting the dictionary's evolution from its monumental creation to its extensive digitization in later editions.
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  • Second Edition

    The second edition of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) was a monumental task that began in 1984. Over five years, 120 data entry workers and 50 proofreaders digitized 60 million words and 350 million characters, costing $13.5 million. explains that this edition, released in 1989, consolidated all previous supplements into 20 volumes and 20,730 pages 1.

    The second edition was mostly digitizing and condensing all of the supplements into the main dictionary with some updates and editions.

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    This digitization ensured that future updates would be more manageable and set the stage for the third edition, which is expected to be completed by 2037 1.

       

    Digital Transformation

    The digitization of the OED was a groundbreaking project that revolutionized how the dictionary was updated and accessed. notes that the project involved inputting all definitions and supplements into a digital format, making it easier to manage and update 1. This digital transformation culminated in the release of a CD-ROM version in 1992 and an online version in 2000.

    Once it was digitized, however, it would never have to be done again.

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    The third edition, currently in progress, will double the size of the dictionary and continue to release periodic updates online 1.

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