Reading the OED: One Man's Year with 21,730 Pages

An Extraordinary Journey Through the Largest Dictionary in the World

In 2019, Simon Winchester embarked on an extraordinary journey: to read the entire Oxford English Dictionary (OED) in one year. The OED is the largest dictionary in the world, containing over 600,000 words and 21,730 pages. It is a vast and complex work, a testament to the richness and diversity of the English language.

Reading the OED: One Man, One Year, 21,730 Pages

by Ammon Shea

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	612 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	252 pages

FREE

Winchester's journey is chronicled in his book, Reading the OED: One Man's Year with 21,730 Pages. The book is a fascinating and informative account of Winchester's experiences reading the OED, and it offers a unique insight into the history and evolution of the English language.

Winchester begins his journey by describing the sheer size and scope of the OED. He writes that the dictionary is "a mountain of words, a vast and awe-inspiring landscape of language." He is beeindruckt by the OED's comprehensiveness, noting that it contains not only the most common words in the English language, but also rare and obscure words that are rarely used.

As Winchester reads the OED, he discovers a wealth of fascinating stories about the words we use. He learns about the origins of words, how they have changed over time, and the ways in which they are used in different contexts. He also discovers the close relationship between language and culture, and how the OED can be used to understand the history and development of English-speaking societies.

Winchester's journey is not without its challenges. He finds that the OED can be difficult to navigate, and he often has to spend hours searching for the words he wants to find. He also finds that the OED can be repetitive and tedious at times. However, Winchester perseveres, and he eventually completes his journey.

In the end, Winchester's journey is a testament to the power of language. He writes that the OED is "a living, breathing thing, a constantly evolving record of the English language." He also writes that the OED is "a source of great joy and inspiration."

If you are interested in the English language, or if you are simply looking for a fascinating and informative read, I highly recommend Reading the OED: One Man's Year with 21,730 Pages.

Reading the OED: One Man, One Year, 21,730 Pages

by Ammon Shea

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	612 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	252 pages

FREE