WTF? Dictionary adds OMG to its pages.

cindy capitani

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MARCH 25, 2011 9:06AM

Rate: 5 Flag

The Oxford English Dictionary is always evolving; new words get added quarterly, according to its blog (yes, even the dictionary has a blog).

New words added to Merriam-Webster in past years include staycation, flash mob, frenemy, earmarks, vlog, carbon footprint … and that’s to name a few. It already includes LOL and OMG.

The dictionary evolves because our language does. The English language is (I’m told) one of the toughest to master because there are so many words.

I am a bit shocked that OMG and LOL are now part of the official OED, or any dictionary at all. And even the symbol for heart is in there. A symbol? For a heart? ♥

Words are one thing, but OMG and LOL are shorthand, mainly used in texting. They’re abbreviations … they’re not real works. Or are they?

According the OED’s blog, “The intention is usually to signal an informal, gossipy mode of expression … .”

Pretty soon we’ll be ROFL, LMAF, ITA and BIL … and why not 99, POS, BIL, ITD and IWSN.

It should get interesting … LMSO. HMU and let me know you think.

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Comments

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Oh that is marvelous. Considering I use them all the time. Boy times they are a changing.

Algis Kemezys

March 25, 2011 09:23 AM

Cindy, these days it is so simple to check out a word or phrase on the web so I don't know why the Oxford Dictionary bothered to add some of these abbreviations--it almost makes it seem like they are lowering their standards to accommodate all of the new phrases out there and who knows? Some of these terms may be obsolete or out of fashion in a nanosecond when compared with how long the dictionary has been around!

designanator

March 25, 2011 09:23 AM

LMAO

Brian B

March 25, 2011 09:34 AM

Pretty lame huh? I seriously cant believe this..enjoyed your write.

cindy Prochnow

March 25, 2011 02:31 PM

algis, maybe we can just stop talking in full sentences. Hmmm. Kind of like pig latin for the new generation.

It is silly Des. Guess the OED wants to be ... CSA?

See, I went with with LMSO Bri, just to b different.

Thanks Cindy. Or should I say CTMQ?

cindy capitani

March 25, 2011 03:36 PM

I had to refer to the urban dictionary to look up QED!! Apparently it means "I am right and you are wrong." This is usually followed by MF! I am only quoting the dictionary....
Caitlin Kelly used QED in one of her comments. It's been quite a week, but it's almost 5:oo Mountain time - Yahoo!! We made it through to another weekend!!
rated~