The dictionary consists of approximately 6,000 main entries. Many of these have subdivisions, especially those forming simple combinations and collocations (which do not require definition) and special combinations and collocations (which do require definition) so that the total number of entries is actually much larger. By far the most common method of expanding the Australian vocabulary has been by the formation of compounds and two-word combinations and collocations and it has seemed both helpful and economical to follow the Oxford practice of grouping combinations and collocations under main entries, except in such cases as the elements have coalesced to form a single, unhyphenated, word or where the combination or collocation requires fuller treatment.