In dictionaries, usage labels show the restrictions in the application of a given lexical unit. In the past, the main reason for marking a certain usage was to warn users about the incorrect use of the word, whereas the current tendency is to give the usage labels a more descriptive task. The effectiveness of these labels depends on the consistency of the labelling system used, on the conventions for their use and on the cultural demands concerning the difference between marked and unmarked lexical units.
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