Prepositions in (English) Dictionaries
Brett Reynolds
July 2024 

This paper explores the longstanding yet under-addressed divergence between the theoretical understanding of prepositions and their representation in published dictionaries. Tracing the development of the unified-preposition analysis from its historical origins to contemporary works, it examines various factors contributing to this divergence. These include lack of awareness or exposure, lack of interest, practical considerations, resistance to change from the community, and the perceived complexity of the new analysis. The paper also briefly presents a call for reconciliation, suggesting that aligning this theoretical reanalysis with practical lexicographical representation can enhance the coherence and simplicity of descriptions of English grammar.

Format:	[ pdf ]
Reference:	lingbuzz/007810 (please use that when you cite this article)
Published in:	Dictionaries: Journal of the Dictionary Society of North America. 46(1).
keywords:	prepositions, dictionaries, lexical categories, syntax
previous versions:	v3 [July 2024] v2 [June 2024] v1 [January 2024]
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