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Difference between revisions of "How lexicons are compiled"

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(updated for 2018)
(2021-08-02 - Fixed breaks - also, in previous edits, changed OTCWL to NWL)
 
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This article on '''how lexicons are compiled''' was originally  
 
This article on '''how lexicons are compiled''' was originally  
edited from email messages sent by [[Jim Pate]], chair of the
+
edited from email messages sent by [[Jim Pate]], former chair of the
 
[[Dictionary Committee]].
 
[[Dictionary Committee]].
For a more technical discussion of how [[OTCWL2018]] was edited,
+
For a more technical discussion of how [[NWL2018]] was edited,
see the [[OTCWL2018 editorial process]].
+
see the [[NWL2018 editorial process]].
  
The reason that words like UQUQ (filial impiety), NOIO (a Hawaiian bird) or MONOID (a type of mathematical set) are not in the [[Official SCRABBLE Players Dictionary]] (OSPD) nor in the [[Official Tournament and Club Word List]] (OWL) is that they have not been found listed appropriately in any of the source dictionaries that were used to create
+
The reason that words like UQUQ (filial impiety), NOIO (a Hawaiian bird) or MONOID (a type of mathematical set) are not in the [[Official SCRABBLE Players Dictionary]] (OSPD) nor in the [[NASPA Word List]] (NWL) is that they have not been found listed appropriately in any of the source dictionaries that were used to create
and to update these official SCRABBLE lists.  
+
and to update these word lists.  
  
 
”Appropriately“ here means that a word must appear at least once without any of the following disqualifications:
 
”Appropriately“ here means that a word must appear at least once without any of the following disqualifications:
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* labelled as an abbreviation
 
* labelled as an abbreviation
 
* appearing as part of a phrase
 
* appearing as part of a phrase
 
+
<BR>
 
The four college level
 
The four college level
 
source dictionaries used to create the [[OSPD4]] and the [[OWL2]] were:
 
source dictionaries used to create the [[OSPD4]] and the [[OWL2]] were:
Line 23: Line 23:
 
* Webster's New World College Dictionary, 4th edition  
 
* Webster's New World College Dictionary, 4th edition  
 
* Random-House Webster's College Dictionary, 2000 2nd revised and updated Random House edition
 
* Random-House Webster's College Dictionary, 2000 2nd revised and updated Random House edition
 
+
<BR>
 
Also, for the original OSPD one other source dictionary (Funk &
 
Also, for the original OSPD one other source dictionary (Funk &
 
Wagnall's Standard College Dictionary, 1974) was one of five sources
 
Wagnall's Standard College Dictionary, 1974) was one of five sources
Line 32: Line 32:
  
 
The best way to get words into a future edition of the Official
 
The best way to get words into a future edition of the Official
SCRABBLE Players Dictionary (and the Official Tournament and Club
+
SCRABBLE Players Dictionary (and the NASPA Word List) is to convince the editors at Merriam-Webster to add them to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary which has always been one of the source dictionaries for the OSPD official words.
Word List) is to convince the editors at Merriam-Webster to add
 
them to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary which has always
 
been one of the source dictionaries for the OSPD official words.
 
  
 
Jim Lowe, past Senior Editor at Merriam-Webster, Inc. suggested sending
 
Jim Lowe, past Senior Editor at Merriam-Webster, Inc. suggested sending
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When the next edition of the Official SCRABBLE Players Dictionary
 
When the next edition of the Official SCRABBLE Players Dictionary
is done the new words that have made their way into Merriam-Webster's
+
is done, the new words that have made their way into Merriam-Webster's
 
Collegiate Dictionary should then be incorporated into the OSPD and
 
Collegiate Dictionary should then be incorporated into the OSPD and
 
thus become legal words for tournament and club play.
 
thus become legal words for tournament and club play.
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As for your group using these words as you play, that's the great
 
As for your group using these words as you play, that's the great
thing about SCRABBLE Brand Crossword Game &mdash; if you and your opponents
+
thing about Scrabble; if you and your opponents
 
agree on the dictionary or word list you want to use then you are
 
agree on the dictionary or word list you want to use then you are
 
by all means free to do so. Of course, if you play at a NASPA club
 
by all means free to do so. Of course, if you play at a NASPA club
 
or sanctioned tournament then the word list used for adjudication
 
or sanctioned tournament then the word list used for adjudication
there would be the current edition of [[OTCWL]]. (If you cannot get all of the people in
+
there would be the current edition of [[NWL]]. (If you cannot get all of the people in
 
your group to allow these words in all the games you play, you might
 
your group to allow these words in all the games you play, you might
 
want to suggest including them as acceptable in a certain percentage
 
want to suggest including them as acceptable in a certain percentage
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We hope that you and your friends continue
 
We hope that you and your friends continue
to enjoy playing SCRABBLE Brand Crossword Game whatever word source you
+
to enjoy playing Scrabble whatever word source you
 
choose to use.
 
choose to use.

Latest revision as of 12:27, 2 August 2021

This article on how lexicons are compiled was originally edited from email messages sent by Jim Pate, former chair of the Dictionary Committee. For a more technical discussion of how NWL2018 was edited, see the NWL2018 editorial process.

The reason that words like UQUQ (filial impiety), NOIO (a Hawaiian bird) or MONOID (a type of mathematical set) are not in the Official SCRABBLE Players Dictionary (OSPD) nor in the NASPA Word List (NWL) is that they have not been found listed appropriately in any of the source dictionaries that were used to create and to update these word lists.

”Appropriately“ here means that a word must appear at least once without any of the following disqualifications:

  • capital letters in the word
  • punctuation marks in the word
  • labelled as foreign (or a specific language other than English)
  • labelled as an abbreviation
  • appearing as part of a phrase


The four college level source dictionaries used to create the OSPD4 and the OWL2 were:

  • Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition
  • American Heritage College Dictionary, 4th edition
  • Webster's New World College Dictionary, 4th edition
  • Random-House Webster's College Dictionary, 2000 2nd revised and updated Random House edition


Also, for the original OSPD one other source dictionary (Funk & Wagnall's Standard College Dictionary, 1974) was one of five sources used, and some words from earlier editions of the OSPD have been grandfathered as explained in the Dictionary Committee page. Since these sources are all abridged dictionaries many valid words that are not as frequently used do not appear in them.

The best way to get words into a future edition of the Official SCRABBLE Players Dictionary (and the NASPA Word List) is to convince the editors at Merriam-Webster to add them to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary which has always been one of the source dictionaries for the OSPD official words.

Jim Lowe, past Senior Editor at Merriam-Webster, Inc. suggested sending a dozen or so documented print usages of the proposed words to them for their citation files. Google Books is a great way to find citations. At that point the editors will do additional research to determine the advisability of inclusion of the new terms into Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.

The mailing address is:

 Merriam-Webster, Inc.  
 47 Federal Street 
 P.O. Box 281 
 Springfield, MA 01102

When the next edition of the Official SCRABBLE Players Dictionary is done, the new words that have made their way into Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary should then be incorporated into the OSPD and thus become legal words for tournament and club play.

In international play, a similar process is followed by HarperCollins Publishing to prepare the larger Official Scrabble Words lexicon. Comments concerning that list should be directed to the International Committee for forwarding to the WESPA Dictionary Committee.

As for your group using these words as you play, that's the great thing about Scrabble; if you and your opponents agree on the dictionary or word list you want to use then you are by all means free to do so. Of course, if you play at a NASPA club or sanctioned tournament then the word list used for adjudication there would be the current edition of NWL. (If you cannot get all of the people in your group to allow these words in all the games you play, you might want to suggest including them as acceptable in a certain percentage of designated games. It could be a fun variation for your group from time to time.)

We hope that you and your friends continue to enjoy playing Scrabble whatever word source you choose to use.