ABSTRACT
Dictionary criticism is an activity that goes back many years and has been exercised by a wide range of different people. The criticism has thus come in many shapes and sizes with focuses that tend to reflect the personal interests of individual critics. Critiques of dictionaries can be unpublished writings such as exploratory analyses that form part of lexicographical research projects but are often published as dictionary reviews in various media. Dictionary reviews should comply with the general requirements of clarity, precision and transparency because the ontological assumptions of reviewers are directly linked to their understanding of the concept of dictionary as an object of analysis, examination and research. The ontological position affects the way in which reviewers treat the dictionaries under review, and their critique should comply with the purpose of dictionary reviewing. Reviewers who use the lexicographical approach may address general issues that are relevant to all identified features.
