zoom_in Click to enlarge

John Simpson

▲ ▼

description John Simpson Overview

John Simpson is a British lexicographer who served as Chief Editor of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) from 1993 to 2013. He joined the OED staff in 1976 and oversaw the transition of the dictionary into its online digital format. Simpson was knighted in 2014 for his services to scholarship. He contributed to the completion of the second edition of the dictionary published in 1989.

help John Simpson FAQ

What did John Simpson change about the Oxford English Dictionary?

Simpson helped move the OED from a print-centered reference work into an electronically maintained historical dictionary. As chief editor, he guided work on the dictionary's third edition and its expanding online form.

What was John Simpson's role in the 1989 OED second edition?

Simpson co-edited the 20-volume second edition with Edmund Weiner. That edition combined the original OED with its supplements into a single alphabetically integrated work.

Did John Simpson write a book about working at the OED?

Yes. His memoir The Word Detective recounts his career at the dictionary and explains how lexicographers trace words through dated evidence.

How is John Simpson connected to the OED's work on slang?

Before becoming chief editor, Simpson worked extensively on supplementary OED material that incorporated modern, regional, and informal vocabulary. His scholarship also included editions of dictionaries associated with criminal slang and the underworld.

swap_horiz

Looking for John Simpson alternatives? Compare top competitors ranked & scored

arrow_forward