What Are the Main Types of Lexicographers?

To become a lexicographer refers to an individual who researches, compiles, edits, and revises dictionaries. He/she traces the meanings of words, spelling, pronunciation, and etymology. Lexicographers are categorized depending on the type of dictionary used or linguistic research. The main categories include the following:

• Bilingual Lexicographer: Lexicographers who work on bilingual or multilingual dictionaries. They study the meanings of words in one language and then translate them into another language.
• Monolingual Lexicographer: A person who works on such a dictionary. He or she defines words, probably also describes usage, and notes changes in pronunciation, spelling, usage, and the sense of a word from the time the word first appears in print (or later if applicable in the case of languages with a long history that did not invent writing).
• Etymological Lexicographer: These lexicographers deal with words’ origins and historical development. They work on the etymological part of a dictionary, which tells the readers where the word comes from and how its meaning has developed over time.
• Specialist Lexicographer: Specialist lexicographers work on subject-specific dictionaries (legal, medical, technical dictionaries, etc.), compiling terminologies and definitions.
• Digital Lexicographer: Digital lexicographers work on electronic platforms and tools to produce dictionaries for websites, apps, and other digital resources. Dictionaries produced by digital lexicographers can be interactive and updated in real-time.

What Does a Lexicographer Do?

A lexicographer’s role involves analyzing, researching, and documenting words for use in dictionaries and other linguistic resources. Their work ensures that words and their meanings are accurately recorded, updated, and made accessible for public use. Here’s a breakdown of a lexicographer’s key responsibilities:

• Word research: Most of a lexicographer’s time is spent learning how words are used in different contexts. Lexicographers examine books, newspapers, websites, spoken language—any possible source of information about how words are used and how often.
• Definitions: Writing definitions is a key part of the lexicographer’s job—explaining what a word means, how to pronounce it, how it’s used, and what part of speech it is.
• Following Language Change: Words are coined constantly, and slang comes and goes, so one of the key roles of lexicographers is to keep track of such changes.
• Editing and Proofreading: Lexicographers proofread and edit entries for accuracy and consistency. This could include checking definitions against other entries, making sure that sources have been cited correctly, and that the symbols used are in line with the dictionary’s editorial style.
• Collaboration with Linguists: Lexicographers often work with linguists, language researchers, and other experts to keep dictionary entries up-to-date and accurate.
• Drafting Etymological Entries: For historical dictionaries that feature the development of words, editors research the uses and periods of a word’s origin and spread throughout the
• Data collection for digital dictionaries: Lexicographers work on updating digital dictionaries and language databases; this can range from curating data sets to analyzing corpus data (sets of data of real-world language usage) and using AI tools to track word trends.

Average Lexicographer Salary

The salary of a lexicographer in the UK varies depending on the level of experience, the employer (such as a publishing company or academic institution), and whether they work on print or digital dictionaries. Here’s an overview of typical lexicographer salaries:

• Entry-Level Lexicographer: Those starting out in the field can expect to earn between £20,000 and £25,000 per year.
• Experienced Lexicographer: With more experience, lexicographers typically earn between £30,000 and £40,000 annually.
• Senior Lexicographer: Senior lexicographers, especially those working for major dictionary publishers or in academic roles, can earn £40,000 to £55,000+ per year.

Lexicographer Skills

Successful lexicographers must be well-versed in linguistics, have the skills to research topics, and have an eye for detail that enables them to observe the nuances of words and understand how they are used. Here is what is required to become a lexicographer.

• Strong Linguistic Knowledge: A lexicographer must have a solid grounding in grammar, syntax, and semantics. A firm knowledge of linguistics and how languages change can assist in defining terms correctly and in keeping up with language trends.
• Research Skills: Lexicographers must be adept at examining how words are used in context, consulting historical records, and tracing language history.
• Attention to Detail: Lexicography requires a high degree of attentiveness to detail. Lexicographers must ensure that definitions are accurate and clear and that they reflect the aims and style of their dictionary.
• Writing and editing skills: lexicographers need to write well to craft clear, concise definitions, and they need to edit well to be able to proofread entries and make improvements.
• Analytical Skills: Lexicographers analyze large amounts of data, using corpora of texts (often linguistic corpora, which are huge databases of language use) to investigate how words are used. This requires good analytical skills to make sense of the data and come up with accurate conclusions.
• Technological skills: Lexicographers, particularly those working on digital dictionaries, must be comfortable with software tools to analyze data and work with corpora. Knowledge of content management systems, databases, and language software is becoming more important.

Lexicographer Tips

Here are some practical tips for aspiring lexicographers:

• Get a degree in linguistics: An English language or related degree, preferably in linguistics, is a great help. Courses in semantics, etymology, and language structure are useful.
• Learn to Research Well: One of the main tasks facing the lexicographer is researching words and their meanings, so practice this skill by conducting in-depth research. Use dictionaries and online language databases.
• Keep abreast of language changes: Language is highly volatile, especially in the age of social media and the internet. Stay in touch with contemporary developments, including language trends, slang, new words, and changing language around the world.
• Gain Editing and Proofreading Experience: Writers, editors, and proofreaders often develop the foundational skills required of a lexicographer. You might want to consider an internship or freelance work requiring you to edit content, especially regarding language.
• Check Out Lexicography Software: Many lexicographers work with proprietary software tools that analyze large language corpora. Get familiar with digital tools and corpus analysis programs so you’ll stand out in the crowd.

Lexicographer Requirements

You must have some basic qualifications and skills to become a lexicographer in the UK. Here is the information about the essential requirements in more detail:

• Educational Background: Most lexicographers study linguistics, English language, modern languages, or a related discipline at university, and a bachelor’s degree is accepted as the minimum requirement—though a master’s in linguistics or a related discipline may help to give a CV a boost.
• Relevant Work Experience: Experience in language research, editing, and content creation is helpful. Look for internships or entry-level work in publishing houses, academic research, or language-related companies.
• Linguistic Knowledge: A strong background in linguistics is essential—knowledge of phonetics (the science of sounds), morphology (the structure of words), and semantics (word meaning)—and many modern lexicographers also have a grounding in corpus linguistics (the branch of linguistics that analyzes language as used in real-world samples of texts).
• Technical Skills: Increased familiarity with resource materials such as language databases, corpus analysis software, and content management systems, particularly for those working on digital dictionaries or linguistic research.

How to Become a Lexicographer

Here’s a step-by-step guide to becoming a lexicographer in the UK:

• Get a degree in linguistics or English language: First, get a degree in linguistics, English language, or modern languages to get the perfect grounding in the workings of language and its development.
• Train yourself in research and writing skills: Take courses in language analysis, corpus linguistics, and historical linguistics, and practice writing short, sharp definitions.
• Intern or work experience: These are some of the areas where it’s useful to have experience, so look out for publishing houses or newspapers that might take on interns, or consider working in a library where you might get to do some editing or proofreading, or even if you can get involved with any language-based themed projects, for example, on an academic research project using a language database.
• Pursue Advanced Studies (Optional): Some lexicographers pursue a master’s degree in linguistics or a related field, which can help solidify and expand their base of knowledge and expertise. This can be particularly useful for those seeking to work in more specialized or academic lexicography roles.
• Apply for Jobs as a Lexicographer: You’re well on your way when you have the qualifications and experience to apply for lexicographer positions at publishing companies, dictionary projects, language research institutions, or academic environments.
• Keep up to date on language changes: Lexicographers must stay on top of language changes. So, read about how language changes and keep tabs on new words, slang, and linguistic research.

Get Qualified as a Lexicographer 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should You Become a Lexicographer?

Being a lexicographer is an immeasurably satisfying career in which you can revel in what words represent and how they evolve. Suppose this area interests you, and you love words, linguistics, and language research. In that case, it’s a career that lets you control how the public uses language and how language changes over time.

Is Being a Lexicographer a Good Career Choice for You?

If you like words, are detail-oriented, and are fascinated by how words change through time, lexicography is a wise choice for a career. It is a good fit for people who like researching, writing, and analyzing language. It is also suitable for those who like to work alone since much of the job involves in-depth research and data analysis. Moreover, if you are passionate about saving and documenting language, you will find the work intellectually invigorating.

Lexicographer Salaries

Salaries will depend on your experience, employer, and whether you’re working in digital or print; an entry-level lexicographer will earn up to £25,000, and an experienced lexicographer will have a salary of between £30,000 and £40,000. Senior lexicographers can earn up to £50,000, particularly those involved in large dictionary projects or holding senior positions at universities or publishing houses.

Which Qualifications Can Help with a Career as a Lexicographer?

You usually need a bachelor’s degree in linguistics, English, or modern languages to become a lexicographer. Further qualifications, such as a master’s in either linguistics or corpus linguistics, are an advantage. Employers often look for relevant experience in editing, writing, and research. There’s also a need to understand digital tools and linguistic software, as many dictionaries and other language resources are migrating online.

Do I Need Experience to Get Started as a Lexicographer?

Sure, introducing oneself to the craft by gaining experience in endeavors such as editing, research, or language-related work is helpful. Working as an intern or in an entry-level role in a publishing house, an academic institution, or a language research institution, for example, can offer a glimpse into how dictionaries and language databases are created. Many lexicographers also start out filling positions in content writing, linguistic research, or proofreading before moving into specialized lexicography positions.

Lexicographer Career Outlook

Lexicographers are still needed today, especially if you are working in digital space. For example, new words may come up, and someone needs to add them to the dictionary. If there are some changes in language, the lexicographer monitors these changes and adds them to the dictionary. If you have some experience in digital tools, online dictionaries, or corpus, these are the areas you can work in—publishing, academia, and software companies.

Lexicographer Hierarchy and Progressing Within the Role

Aspiring lexicographers usually begin work as editorial assistants or junior lexicographers, working on dictionary projects or linguistic research under the supervision of more senior lexicographers. Those who prove themselves can eventually progress to senior lexicographer or editor positions, taking on greater responsibility for conducting research, editing, and project management. Likewise, those employed in academic settings might eventually secure research fellowships or become linguistics professors.

Lexicographer Exit Options and Opportunities

Fortunately for career lexicographers, many other career paths want to make a move; many will transition to content creation, language consultancy, or academic research; others might move into publishing, taking on editor or project manager roles at publishers of linguistic resources. Lexicographers with excellent writing and research skills might seek technical writing, translation, or teaching positions.