World's First Global Dictionary Announced

Posted on October 1, 1998

Microsoft Corp., St. Martin's Press Inc., Bloomsbury Publishing Plc and Pan Macmillan Australia announced their plan to publish the world's first English dictionary to be derived from a single database of world English and to be published in both American and British editions around the world on the same day. The dictionary is scheduled to be published simultaneously in electronic and print forms. A worldwide publication date has been scheduled for August 1999.

The Encarta World English Dictionary establishes a new standard in dictionary publishing. More than 250 lexicographers and expert advisers working in 10 countries have produced the world's first global dictionary. With over 3 million words of text, it reflects the use of English as the language of the world, the language in which most of the people of the world communicate with one another and in which over 80 percent of the world's computer-based communication takes place. The dictionary is intended to become one of the most widely used reference works ever. The planned initial print run will exceed 500,000 copies, and it will become part of Microsoft worldwide online products and popular line of reference products.

"This will be the dictionary of tomorrow," said Robbie Bach, VP Learning, Entertainment and Productivity Division, Microsoft. "We are committed to applying technology to build projects that enhance and improve people's ability to learn and communicate. As recently as five years ago, a project of this sort could not have been completed digitally on a worldwide scale. We are delighted to be working in conjunction with Bloomsbury; St. Martin's and our other co-publishers on this exciting long-term project."

St. Martin's Press will publish the Encarta World English Dictionary in the United States and Canada. "With the launch of this groundbreaking work we will dramatically expand our presence in consumer reference publishing," said John Sargent, CEO, St. Martin's Press. "It is very exciting to be entering the market with a product that will revolutionize the way we think about and use the dictionary. We will offer consumers quality and innovation and plan to become a leading publisher in this field. In Anne Soukhanov we have one of the country's greatest lexicographers spearheading the project."