rrect
usage--with scarcely any recognition of their value as historical
evidence; and they have taken them almost exclusively from the works of
the "best" authors. But since all the data upon which conclusions with
regard to the history of a word can be based must be collected from the
literature of the language, it is evident that, in so far as the
lexicographer is required to furnish evidence for an historical
inference, a quotation is the best form in which he can give it. In
fact, extracts, properly selected and grouped, are generally sufficient
to show the entire meaning and biography of a word without the aid of
elaborate definitions. The latter simply save the reader the trouble of
drawing the proper conclusions for himself. A further rule of the new
lexicography, accordingly, is that quotations should be used, primarily,
as historical evidence, and that the history of words and meanings
should be exhibited by means of them. The earliest instance of use that
can be found, and (if the word or sense is obsolete) the latest, are as
a rule to be given; while in the case of an important word or sense,
instances taken from successive periods of its currency also should be
cited. Moreover, a quotation which contains an important bit of
historical evidence must be used, whether its source is "good," from the
literary point of view, or not--whether it is a classic of the language
or from a daily newspaper; though where choice is possible, preference
should, of course, be given to quotations extracted from the works of
the best writers. This rule does not do away with the illustrative use
of quotations, which is still recognized as highly important, but it
subordinates it to their historical use. It is necessary to add that it
implies that the extracts must be given exactly, and in the original
spelling and capitalization, accurately dated, and furnished with a
precise reference to author, book, volume, page and edition; for
insistence upon these requirements--which are obviously important,
whatever the use of the quotation may be--is one of the most noteworthy
of modern innovations. Johnson usually gave simply the author's name,
and often quoted from memory and inaccurately; and many of his
successors to this day have followed--altogether or to some extent--his
example.

The chief difficulty in the way of this use of quotations--after the
difficulty of collection--is that of finding space for them in a
dictionary of reas