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Is Google the New Definitive Dictionary?

By Erin Wright 7 Comments

Google redlines copyeditorMove over, Webster. Watch your back, American Heritage. Catch you later, Oxford. There’s a new sheriff in town—Google.

Like most people, I use Google every day for business and personal searches. I also use it as a spell checker by typing in the word to see if the search engine redlines my attempt. If I am wrong, Google nearly always suggests a correct alternative based on a variety of online sources.* This process is much faster than opening a physical dictionary or logging on to a dictionary service.

However, Google occasionally offers a correction that doesn’t account for stylistic variety. For example, the search engine always spells copy editor as two words despite the fact that copyeditor is also a widely accepted format. The American Heritage Dictionary, 5th Edition lists it as one word, while the Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online prefers the two-word version. The Oxford English Dictionary Online subscription site says that it is two words, but the Oxford free site includes both versions.

So, should we follow Google or should we adhere to our established dictionary of choice? For me, the answer comes down to search engine optimization (SEO). When I am working on a print document or formal web copy for a targeted audience, I always consult a physical dictionary because it provides the security of stagnation: I have the actual book to back up my decisions if a concern arises months or even years from now. Google, on the other hand, can (and probably does) change its spell-check function whenever it likes.

Conversely, when I am working on casual or conversational copy for the web, such as a blog post or product description, I turn to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online or the subscription version of the Oxford Dictionary Online. But, I defer to Google when dealing with a potential search term. Why? Because most website visitors will defer to Google. And the web content that most closely matches the search term usually receives the highest position on the search engine results page.

Do you hear that sound growing in the distance? It is the collective grumble of chalky English teachers combined with the worried sighs of Luddite lexicographers…

 

*I could not locate Google’s official list of spelling guides; however, Google linked my recent spelling queries to the following sources:

Dictionary.com

Answers.com

The Free Dictionary

WordNet

Wikipedia

Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online

 

Erin Wright is a freelance writer and copy editor in Chicago, Illinois. She specializes in business documents, copywriting, marketing collateral, website copy, and blogs.

7 Comments Filed Under: Writing

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Technical Writer and Editor Erin Wright

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Hello! My name is Erin. I am a technical writer and editor who shares step-by-step software tutorials and writing tips for the real world on this blog and YouTube

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Comments

  1. EditCassandra says

    April 27, 2013 at 11:43 am

    It’s the age-old question of common usage versus strict rules. I love this! My favorite is e-mail/email. I like the hyphen, and so do a few styles I use, but I’m also starting to get sick of it. Don’t tell anyone, but I leave it off in texts, which makes me an inconsistent editor, I guess. :-) I wonder when Chicago will drop it …

    Reply
  2. Lisa says

    April 27, 2013 at 11:51 am

    I love my dictionary.com app on my phone; it’s so handy!

    Reply
  3. Erin Wright says

    April 28, 2013 at 8:16 am

    Don’t worry, Cassandra, I won’t tell ;) I really thought Chicago would drop e-mail in favor of email when the 16th edition was released. Obviously that didn’t happen, so I’m holding out hope for the 17th edition. As a commercial writer, I have to ignore Chicago anyway if it conflicts with typical business practices or in-house guidelines.

    Reply
    • EditCassandra says

      April 28, 2013 at 10:20 am

      More editorial confessions: I hate Chicago’s number guidelines. I always think that numerals are more recognizable for readers than the words for numbers. I’m an “alternate rule” gal all the way! But that perhaps is another post! :-)

      Reply
  4. Erin Wright says

    April 28, 2013 at 8:18 am

    Lisa, I saw that app in Google Play a while ago and intended to download it—but I plum forgot! So thanks for the reminder :)

    Here is the link for anyone who might be interested:
    http://tinyurl.com/c7x4ab3

    Also, the link for the Merriam-Webster app:
    http://tinyurl.com/dxglbzx

    Reply
  5. Erin Wright says

    April 29, 2013 at 8:44 am

    Yes, numbers are a whole other can of worms! I try to handle them on a case-by-case basis based on the amount of numbers in the copy. If the document has lots of numbers, I prefer digits. Otherwise, I’m fine with words.

    I really think you should blog about being an alternate rule gal ;)

    Reply
    • EditCassandra says

      April 29, 2013 at 10:29 am

      It’s on the agenda! Thanks to your blog for the inspiration! :-)

      Reply

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