← How Dictionaries Decide · Lesson 2 of 3
Gathering the evidence
Dictionary editors collect examples of words in use, called citations: a sentence, where it appeared and when. For centuries this was done on paper slips; today it is mostly done with huge searchable collections of text.
A definition is written from the citations. If the examples show a word used two ways, the entry gets two senses.
What is a citation, to a dictionary editor?
A lesson is kept once you've answered the question and written at least 8 words. Nobody grades it; it stays on this device.