Dear Oxford Dictionaries, 'Pwnage' Is Not A Word And Never Will Be

Dear Oxford Dictionaries,

We love you, and we use you all the time. Lovely definitions. Wonderful example sentences. You’re great, really. But your latest pot of newly approved words is an absolute travesty.

Sorry, but “pwnage”? Really? Come on. That is not a word.

Your new update is filled with such words -- rly, nuff said, mkay, and, perhaps most heinously, Redditor and subreddit. These are not words in the Oxford Dictionaries sense of the term. They are Internet words. By adding them, you are legitimizing a subsect of people who don’t even want to be legitimized by Oxford Dictionaries anyway. What's next, "yasssssss"?

Before you start: Yes, I’m aware that English is one of the most flexible languages in the world, an ever-evolving form of communication that allows us to create words among friends and watch them become words in dictionaries like your own. In fact, we often use the phrase “The English language is flexible” when people say something to us like, “You are literally speaking gibberish right now. Please go home.” Really a great way to get out of a linguistic pickle.

But “pwnage”? Really, you’ve gone too far. One of the keys to success in this crazy world is to know who you are and play to your strengths. And you are Oxford Dictionaries, not Urban Dictionary and not KnowYourMeme. Oxford Dictionaries, OK? Can you hear me? Don’t act like you don’t know the difference.

Yes, we read your explanation for how words make their way onto your site. And you know what we found? Two hurdles that a word must successfuly jump in order to become part of Oxford Dictionaries Online.

1. “Is its use limited to one group of users, e.g. young teenagers?” (The answer must be no.)
2. "Does it have a decent history of use and is it likely to stand the test of time?” (The answer must be yes.)

Look deep in your soul, Oxford Dictionaries. Do words like "rly," "nuff said," "mkay" and, again, "pwnage" successfully jump those hurdles? Will “pwnage” really stand the test of time? I think we both know the answer here. Don't play dumb.

"Hangry" and "beer o’clock" are cool additions though.

Sincerely,

Me

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