When was irregardless added to the dictionary

Curzan said that lexicographers often wait to see how popular a word becomes in public use—monitoring it in print—before selecting it for possible inclusion. It was included in the Oxford English Dictionary in When it comes to the pronunciation, definition, and usage of certain words, dictionaries consult a hand-picked group of language experts that they refer to as the Usage Panel. So what is it? Curzan said that the Usage Panel for The American Heritage Dictionary is a pool of about well-known critics, authors, and scholars; she has been one of them since Far more work goes into compiling dictionaries than most of us would imagine.

Lexicographers, as well as the pools of experts they consult, work to bring public perception of language and their own perspectives to light in the ever-changing world of verbal language— regardless of whose feathers they ruffle.

Anne Curzan contributed to this article. Why would a dictionary do such a thing? Do we enjoy causing pain? Have we abdicated our role as arbiter of all that is good and pure in the English language? These are all excellent questions well, these are all questions , and you might ask them of some of these other fine dictionaries, all of whom also appear to enjoy causing pain through the defining of tawdry words.

Along with this, it has also added new words this year which include, thirsty signifying strong desire for attention and zonkey which is a hybrid of zebra and donkey. Normally I am all for the idea that people create language rather than logic — a group of normally white people with a very niche interest in language should not be its only gatekeepers.

It creates more confusion than it does clarity — so really, what is the point in its existence? We asked our journalists as battle rages on. Chris Taylor, copy editor Clearly, if enough people use a word — including irregardless — it is a word.

Max Benwell, audience editor Language should be a democratic thing, where meaning is a bottom-up rather than top-down process.

Poppy Noor, features writer Irregardless of what Merriam-Webster says, I am wondering, what could the word irregardless possibly convey that the word regardless does not?