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Preface to a Dictionary of the English Language

By Samuel Johnson
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About This Book

The author reflects on the difficult and thankless work of compiling a lexicon, describing methods for selecting, defining, and correcting words amid irregular spelling, variable pronunciation, and mixed derivations. He explains relying on wide reading, experience, and analogy to establish orthography and to distinguish enduring anomalies from correctible errors, preferring derivations and established usage while conserving ancient forms when prudent. He defends measured stability against capricious reform, preserves authors' original spellings in examples for reader judgment, and indicates pronunciation by accent marks to guide usage without imposing unnecessary change.

About the Author

Johnson, Samuel portrait

Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) was an influential English writer and lexicographer, best known for his comprehensive dictionary, "A Dictionary of the English Language," which laid the groundwork for modern lexicography. His literary contributions span various genres, including poetry, essays, and biography. Johnson's works often reflect his keen insight into human nature and society, as seen in his notable titles such as "A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland" and "Lives of the English Poets." He was a prominent figure in the literary circles of his time, engaging with contemporaries like James Boswell, whose biography of Johnson remains a classic. His legacy endures in the realms of literature and language.

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