One of the greatest lexicographic enterprises of the 20th century has now reached its goal, with publication of the sixth and final volume by Harvard University Press. It’s the Dictionary of American Regional English, recording the copious variety of words we use in the 50 United States.

You can’t look these up unless you have the actual dictionary at hand, the ink-on-paper version that is so 20th century. Together the six 8½-by-11-inch volumes weigh about 30 pounds and take up more than a foot of shelf space. Who has time or space for that in our electronic era?

Fortunately, a 21st century online version is in the works, to be launched later this year. And you can be among the first to try it out. Free.

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