"I think the dictionary is confusing": an essay about the English dictionary

[BakerMan]

The dictionary, we all know it, definitions of words. But those words are confusing on some websites. So come with me as we look at some of these dumb words.

Starting off, why are yeet, rizz, mid (as in slang, not literally as in the middle) and supercalifragilisticexpialidocious in the dictionary? Slang should be in the Urban Dictionary, not the actual dictionary. Not to mention the fact that supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is a made up word from a movie.

Furthermore, how come those words get in, but funner gets the boot? "Yeet? Yep, go on in. Rizz? Welcome to the dictionary. Mid? That's just fine. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious? Sure, why the fuck not? Funner? Nope, you gotta say 'more fun.'"

To make this even worse, bestest is in the dictionary, meaning people won't bat an eye when you say bestest, but if you say funner, you just get "Um actually it's more fun, not funner." I just hope that unalive isn't in the dictionary, otherwise society is cooked. Maybe I'll make an essay about unalive down the line.

Basically, slang words and bestest are in the dictionary but funner isn't. This is a dumb call in my opinion, but that's at least just Dictionary.com, rather than Webster's Dictionary too, but it should be the Urban Dictionary that has the slang, and only the Urban Dictionary. Also the aforementioned Dictionary.com apparently has a section for emojis, whatever the hell that's about.


(also do you guys think i should make a blog where i just make essays like these?)

 

[Pleng]

Slang words are in the dictionary because they are real words.

Funner isn't, because it's not.

Bestest is confusing. I assume it's been adopted by the English language. That's the most disappointingest news I've had all day.

 

[Veho]

A dictionary is a catalogue of words in use today. If a word is widely used, it gets defined and added to the dictionary. Spelling and grammar errors don't count as new words, until they become so prevalent they become the new or alternate spelling.

That's why "rizz" got yoinked while "funner" got yeeted.

 

[RAHelllord]

Veho is pretty much spot on. Most of the newly minted words, be they invented slang or modifications of existing words, are generally all categorized under Neologism (Wikipedia) once they hit widespread popular use.
Being featured in Urban Dictionary can be an important step for a new word or phrase being recognized as part of the english language, but in general everything that's used widely will make its way into the dictionary sooner or later.

Which is to say, there's still a chance "funner" makes its way into the dictionary as a valid word if enough people keep using it. It's not as likely as more distinct creations but there's always a possibility.

 

[Avalyn]

Language, like culture, evolves and changes all the time.
Slang sometime becomes integrated if enough people use it.

There are bigger issues in the world imo

 

[BakerMan]

Language, like culture, evolves and changes all the time.
Slang sometime becomes integrated if enough people use it.

There are bigger issues in the world imo

yeah i know there are, i've just had this on my mind for a while and wanted to just get it out here

 

[Cranesbill]

You should totally make more of these essays, I had a fun read.

 

[AncientBoi]

In my time, the word "Fuck" was considered Very Nasty and just a curse word, And wasn't even considered to be in the dictionary. Yet, in this day an age, here we are with the word included into it, siting it as intercourse.

 

[BakerMan]

In my time, the word "Fuck" was considered Very Nasty and just a curse word, And wasn't even considered to be in the dictionary. Yet, in this day an age, here we are with the word included into it, siting it as intercourse.

we need to bring it back from "hey wanna fuck" to just "what the fuck is going on" or "fuck you"

 

[hippy dave]

I like it when Americans consider British curse words to be quaint and adorable, so you have family shows like The Simpsons calling someone a wanker.

 

[BakerMan]

I like it when Americans consider British curse words to be quaint and adorable, so you have family shows like The Simpsons calling someone a wanker.

and on the contrary you have americans thinking the c word is a pseudo slur