Mike Johnston wrote: > > > Webster's Second > > I found this brief little web-soundbite about Webster's Second. It lays out > the story fairly well: > > http://www.inu.org/bieyi/cruises/webster.htm
Great info! I've been saving this post to be answered, but haven't got around to it for some reason. Too danged busy, I think. I've almost always been of the opinion that a dictionary should reflect current usage (descriptive.) I think a teacher told me that once, a long time ago, and it made sense. Still does, with caveats. After reading the site info you supplied, I just wonder...I probably ought to have two. One descriptive for my working dictionary, used to help me put down words in an reasonable fashion, to be understood by most readers. The other should be my valued reference work, a prescriptive dictionary of respectful heritage. I currently use "The American Heritage Dictionary, Second College Edition" for everyday use, and a big "2nd Unabridged Edition of The Random House Dictionary of the English Language," as my fallback source. The final reference. The law. I don't think I have room in my little house for a proper reference work, as they are huge and take up a lot of space. They belong on their own podium (or whatever you call it) with a light, so you can leave it ready for use. I even hate to drag out the Random House Dictionary often, as it's upright in a bookcase (one of our 8!) and putting it back is a pain! Anyhow, good post/URL and I'll keep it for a while, for more leisurely reading. keith
