“Suggestions for new terms” means proposals to add a word or phrase to a terminology resource, define it, or revise an existing entry. It describes a contribution process, not a universally standardized technical term: each glossary, dictionary, thesaurus, or ontology sets its own submission and review rules.
What can a suggestion for a new term propose?
A proposal may ask a terminology project to add a new label, supply or improve a definition, add a synonym, or correct an existing entry. Which changes are welcome depends on the project. For example, SNIA’s technical dictionary welcomes suggestions for terms, definitions, and changes to entries (SNIA Dictionary), while the Society of American Archivists invites feedback and term suggestions as part of a feature that defines new archival terms and updates existing entries (SAA Dictionary of Archives Terminology).
Some resources organize terms into a hierarchy, so a proposal can involve not only what a term means but where it belongs. Gene Ontology’s guide asks contributors to provide a term’s hierarchy position alongside other proposal details (Gene Ontology term requests).
How to prepare a useful proposal
The receiving project’s instructions take precedence; the following checklist combines practices described by Gene Ontology and tekom, rather than imposing a universal submission standard.
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- Search the resource first. Look for the proposed label and likely synonyms. Gene Ontology specifically asks contributors to check whether a term already exists, including under another name.
- State the proposed term and definition. Make the definition concise and specific enough to distinguish the concept from related ones.
- Give context and evidence of use. Explain where the term is used and why existing vocabulary is insufficient. Include a credible example or published reference when the project requests or accepts one. Gene Ontology requests evidence of published use; tekom describes entries ideally including context.
- Suggest a place in the vocabulary, if relevant. For a resource with a hierarchy, identify the proposed parent or position when its guidance asks for that information.
- Follow the project’s submission and editorial rules. A project may provide a form or specify what information it needs. Do not assume that another organization’s format applies.
SNIA describes using a substitution principle when defining terms: “a term’s definition should be substitutable for the term itself in a sentence.” That is SNIA’s stated method, not a requirement shared by all terminology projects.
How do review processes differ?
| Resource | What its guidance says about contributions | Review or organization |
|---|---|---|
| SNIA Dictionary | Welcomes suggestions for new terms, definitions, and changes. | Technical review and approval by SNIA’s Technical Council; definitions use SNIA’s substitution principle. |
| Gene Ontology | Requests a label, definition, hierarchy position, and evidence of published use; contributors should check for existing terms and synonyms. | Its contribution guide specifies the information to include; the cited guidance does not state a general processing time or acceptance rate. |
| tekom terminology | Describes entries ideally including a definition, context, and synonyms. | A volunteer working group compiles, discusses, and finalizes entries. |
| CDC Environmental Health Thesaurus | Invites suggestions for new terms and points users to plain-language resources. | The cited page does not establish a general review timeline or acceptance rate. |
These examples show why it is best to read the destination resource’s own directions: evidence requirements, hierarchy fields, and review arrangements are project-specific. There is no general acceptance guarantee, acceptance rate, or typical turnaround time established by these examples.
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What makes a proposal more helpful?
- It identifies a real concept or usage gap rather than offering only a preferred word.
- It distinguishes the proposed meaning from nearby terms and explains relevant context.
- It provides evidence that people actually use the term, where the project requests such evidence.
- It follows the destination’s format and does not assume submission guarantees acceptance.
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