* Dictionaries are compiled by experts: Linguists and lexicographers carefully research and document language use to determine what words are included in a dictionary.
* Words need to be established: For a word to be included in a dictionary, it needs to be:
* Used widely: The word needs to be used frequently by a significant number of people.
* Documented: The word needs to appear in written sources like books, newspapers, and online texts.
* Meaningful: The word needs to have a clear definition and meaning.
How words get into the dictionary:
* Lexicographers track language: They constantly monitor language use through reading, listening, and studying language patterns.
* Data is analyzed: They analyze the data to identify new words, changes in word meanings, and the frequency of word usage.
* Words are added after careful review: The experts then decide if the word meets the criteria for inclusion in the dictionary.
In short, the process of adding a word to a dictionary is complex and requires extensive research and analysis by language experts.