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Oxford Dictionary Considers Going Online Only

Posted by Soulskill on from the wonder-if-they'll-blame-google dept.

Kilrah_il writes "Oxford University Press has confirmed that they are considering offering their next version of the Oxford English Dictionary as an online version only, with no option for a hardcopy. The 20-volume set, whose last edition (2nd) was published in 1989, weighs 145 pounds (65kg) and costs about $1,165. It is considered the 'accepted authority on the meaning and history of words.' In 2000, the dictionary was offered online for $295 a year and has been getting 2 million hits a month from subscribers. The printed version, on the other hand, has sales of only 30,000. Work is now progressing on the 3rd edition, but it's still a decade or more away from completion. Oxford University Press is considering going online-only with the next edition of their flagship product, but not for other products such as their best-selling Advanced Learner's Dictionary. At least for now."

6 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. Hits != subscriptions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    glad they get 2 million hits, but how many subscriptions is that? is it more or less than 30,000

  2. My childhood called by Y-Crate · · Score: 2, Interesting

    In my personal, completely subjective opinion, there were few things more satisfying to do at a library than open the biggest damn dictionary you could find to a random page. (This was after I finished playing Ghostbusters in the stacks)

  3. Re:A tidy sum in sales of the printed version... by AvitarX · · Score: 2, Interesting

    To be the 'accepted authority on the meaning and history of words.' it better track that.

    Or at least the 2 year meaning of words that are still used. It's 150 lbs. of books, it has a lot of detail.

    One needs the slang definition of out of use words more than common use definitions. The point is to look up a word that one doesn't know, find out where it comes from, and when it was used.

    That way if someone for example wants to know what the "fresh prince" meant, they can see it meant cool, and not talk backy, or opposite of stale.

    --
    Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
  4. Check your public library by wordsnyc · · Score: 3, Interesting

    In Ohio, most public libraries let you access the OED online from home if you have a library card.

    --
    Sent from the iPad I found in your car.
  5. Re:A tidy sum in sales of the printed version... by mangu · · Score: 2, Interesting

    they get you @ $295/yr for 20 years

    As you mention, this means around $6000 for a twenty years period, instead of $1165 for a printed version.

    The times they are a'changing. Why should anyone want to pay $295/yr for something they used to get in printed form at $58/yr, assuming one bought a new edition of the OED once every twenty years?

    Do the OED publishers really think it's worth paying five times the price, besides not getting a set of printed books, just to get the few slang words that appeared since 1989? Haven't they ever heard of Google? That's the way I learn about the new slang!

  6. Re:Only 2 million hits/month? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    very well , then , a serviette... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serviette ...err, um ... wait a minute...
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nardwuar_the_Human_Serviette

    peace