October 2
2017
August 25
2017
Dictionary Challenge Update: August 25, 2017
I set out, this year, to finish d-defining the first volume of “The New International Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary.” A few days ago, I finished d-defining all of the H-words (NOTE: I didn’t start at the A-words this year). I still have 5 more letters to go. SMH! I’ll feel a little more hopeful when I get up to finishing, at least, the K-words.
On a goal-meeting optimistic note, the J- and K-words are not too numerous. I’ll let you know when I finish the I’s.
Love, Speed, and Accuracy,
Elsie Villega
January 1
2017
2017 Dictionary Challenge
For the past couple of years, I’ve been building my dictionary by using the deluxe encyclopedia edition of “The New International Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary.” In 2016, my aim was to get through the dictionary from my starting point, at the end of the C words, up to the J words. However, I was only able to make it partially through the G words.
I started 2016 with 160,077 dictionary entries, and ended the year with a total of 207,595 dictionary entries. I inputted a total of 47,528 words in 2016. This exceeds the number of entries I inputted in 2015, although I didn’t make it to the J words like I aimed to.
I started 2016 on page 327 of “The New International Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary,” and ended the year on page 522.
In 2017, I aim to get up to page 842 of “The New International Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary.” If I can reach this page, I will have completed the A-Na volume of the dictionary. In order to reach this goal, I will have to input, on average, approximately 88% of the entries on a single page a day. I will try my best to finish out this dictionary volume this year.
All the best in 2017!
Love, Speed, and Accuracy,
Elsie Villega
September 26
2016
2016 Dictionary Challenge Update (September 2016)
As of 12:57 AM yesterday, I finished d-defining all of the “E” words from The New International Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary. I don’t know if I’m going to reach my goal of making it up to the “J” words by the end of the year, but I’m going to give it the ol’ college try.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the “F: and “G” words will go a lot quicker. I’ll Keep you posted.
July 5
2016
2016 Dictionary Challenge Update (July 2016)
My goal for 2016, in regards to my dictionary building, is to get through to the letter “J” in The New International Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary by the end of the year. I’m currently still in the “E” section though. Smh. I’m going to have to step up my dictionary-building efforts expeditiously to meet this goal. I’ll do another update at the end of August/beginning of September, or when I get through another letter. This dictionary is about to be my new summertime BFF. Lol.
January 1
2016
2016 Dictionary Challenge
Last year, I started using the deluxe encyclopedia edition of “The New International Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary” as the main resource for my dictionary building. I was able to complete A-C.
I ended 2015 with a total of 160,077 dictionary entries. I made over 47,000 new entries to my dictionary in the last 12 months. I realize this may seem like an extreme amount of entries to stenographers who have a minimalist-dictionary preference. However, my preference is to have various deviations of word entries. I’m more comfortable with my writing when I feel like I have as much ground as possible covered. Also, I enjoy going through the dictionary word-for-word. It helps me to build my vocabulary and become more familiar with some not-so-common words.
In 2016, I hope to get through some more letters of the alphabet. I’m currently on page 327 of the aforementioned dictionary (Volume A-Na). If I can enter an average of a page of the dictionary a day into my dictionary, I should be able to get through to the letter J by the end of the year. This is my goal for 2016.
I’ll periodically post my progress regarding this challenge throughout 2016.
Have a great 2016!
Love, Speed, and Accuracy,
Elsie Villega
January 12
2015
Dictionary Builder: The World’s Most Powerful Brands
The following list was compiled by Forbes in 2014. It is a list of the top 100 of the world’s most powerful brands:
(As you dictionary-build, don’t forget to D-define the brand names as capitalized words.)
1) Apple
2) Microsoft
3) Google
4) Coca-Cola
5) IBM
6) McDonald’s
7) General Electric
8) Samsung
9) Toyota
10) Louis Vuitton
11) BMW
12) Cisco
13) Intel
14) Disney
15) Oracle
16) AT&T
17) Mercedes-Benz
18) Facebook
19) Wal-Mart
20) Honda
21) NIKE
22) Verizon
23) Budweiser
24) Amazon.com
25) SAP
26) American Express
27) Gillette
28) Pepsi
29) Nescafe
30) Marlboro
31) H&M
32) L’Oréal
33) Visa
34) HSBC
35) ESPN
36) Hewlett-Packard
37) Siemens
38) Audi
39) Gucci
40) IKEA
41) Nestle
42) Frito-Lay
43) Home Depot
44) UPS
45) Ford
46) Danone
47) Hermès
48) Fox
49) Accenture
50) Pampers
51) Zara
52) Wells Fargo
53) J.P. Morgan
54) Ebay
55) Kraft
56) Volkswagen
57) Caterpillar
58) Coach
59) Thomson Reuters
60) MasterCard
61) Starbucks
62) Chevrolet
63) Cartier
64) Colgate
65) Kellogg’s
66) Shell
67) Canon
68) Nissan
69) Prada
70) Adidas
71) Hyundai
72) Rolex
73) Lexus
74) Red Bull
75) Bank of America
76) Philips
77) John Deere
78) Allianz
79) Chanel
80) KIA Motors
81) Exxon Mobil
82) Santander
83) Heineken
84) Ralph Lauren
85) Subway
86) FedEx
87) RBC
88) Chase
89) Porsche
90) Lancome
91) LEGO
92) Ericsson
93) Goldman Sachs
94) Burberry
95) Sprite
96) Heinz
97) Boeing
98) Citi
99) MTV
100) Dell
October 21
2014
Dictionary Builder: The 100 Most Common Girls Names
Here’s a list of the 100 most popular girls names as of May 2014, according to the Social Security Administration’s statistics:
1. Sophia
2. Emma
3. Olivia
4. Isabella
5. Ava
6. Mia
7. Emily
8. Abigail
9. Madison
10. Elizabeth
11. Charlotte
12. Avery
13. Sofia
14. Chloe
15. Ella
16. Harper
17. Amelia
18. Aubrey
19. Addison
20. Evelyn
21. Natalie
22. Grace
23. Hannah
24. Zoey
25. Victoria
26. Lillian
27. Lily
28. Brooklyn
29. Samantha
30. Layla
31. Zoe
32. Audrey
33. Leah
34. Allison
35. Anna
36. Aaliyah
37. Savannah
38. Gabriella
39. Camila
40. Aria
41. Kaylee
42. Scarlett
43. Hailey
44. Arianna
45. Riley
46. Alexis
47. Nevaeh
48. Sarah
49. Claire
50. Sadie
51. Peyton
52. Aubree
53. Serenity
54. Ariana
55. Genesis
56. Penelope
57. Alyssa
58. Bella
59. Taylor
60. Alexa
61. Kylie
62. Mackenzie
63. Caroline
64. Kennedy
65. Autumn
66. Lucy
67. Ashley
68. Madelyn
69. Violet
70. Stella
71. Brianna
72. Maya
73. Skylar
74. Ellie
75. Julia
76. Sophie
77. Katherine
78. Mila
79. Khloe
80. Paisley
81. Annabelle
82. Alexandra
83. Nora
84. Melanie
85. London
86. Gianna
87. Naomi
88. Eva
89. Faith
90. Madeline
91. Lauren
92. Nicole
93. Ruby
94. Makayla
95. Kayla
96. Lydia
97. Piper
98. Sydney
99. Jocelyn
100. Morgan
October 21
2014
Dictionary Builder: The 100 Most Common Boys Names
Here’s a list of the 100 most popular boys names as of May 2014, according to the Social Security Administration’s statistics:
1. Noah
2. Liam
3. Jacob
4. Mason
5. William
6. Ethan
7. Michael
8. Alexander
9. Jayden
10. Daniel
11. Elijah
12. Aiden
13. James
14. Benjamin
15. Matthew
16. Jackson
17. Logan
18. David
19. Anthony
20. Joseph
21. Joshua
22. Andrew
23. Lucas
24. Gabriel
25. Samuel
26. Christopher
27. John
28. Dylan
29. Isaac
30. Ryan
31. Nathan
32. Carter
33. Caleb
34. Luke
35. Christian
36. Hunter
37. Henry
38. Owen
39. Landon
40. Jack
41. Wyatt
42. Jonathan
43. Eli
44. Isaiah
45. Sebastian
46. Jaxon
47. Julian
48. Brayden
49. Gavin
50. Levi
51. Aaron
52. Oliver
53. Jordan
54. Nicholas
55. Evan
56. Connor
57. Charles
58. Jeremiah
59. Cameron
60. Adrian
61. Thomas
62. Robert
63. Tyler
64. Colton
65. Austin
66. Jace
67. Angel
68. Dominic
69. Josiah
70. Brandon
71. Ayden
72. Kevin
73. Zachary
74. Parker
75. Blake
76. Jose
77. Chase
78. Grayson
79. Jason
80. Ian
81. Bentley
82. Adam
83. Xavier
84. Cooper
85. Justin
86. Nolan
87. Hudson
88. Easton
89. Jase
90. Carson
91. Nathaniel
92. Jaxson
93. Kayden
94. Brody
95. Lincoln
96. Luis
97. Tristan
98. Damian
99. Camden
100. Juan
April 15
2014
