The Next Oxford English Dictionary Will Be Online Only

---

\n
Telegraph reports that the next edition of the hefty and treasured Oxford English Dictionary will not appear in print. Because of the popularity and functionality of digital alternatives, publishers didn't see a viable market for a print version of the third edition—dubbed OED3—which has taken 80 lexicographers 21 years to create.

As someone who briefly had free access to the digital version of the OED while studying at UCLA (during the OED's first year online), I can attest to the value of this truly wonderful resource. That the new version will be web-only doesn't have to signify anything terrible (death of print, gasp), though it will likely make those old print versions feel a bit more precious.

Via PSFK