diff --git a/src/components/DataEntry/DataEntryTable/NewEntry/NewEntry.tsx b/src/components/DataEntry/DataEntryTable/NewEntry/NewEntry.tsx
index 9674cc845d..1ffb6a2804 100644
--- a/src/components/DataEntry/DataEntryTable/NewEntry/NewEntry.tsx
+++ b/src/components/DataEntry/DataEntryTable/NewEntry/NewEntry.tsx
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import DupFinder, {
   DefaultParams,
 } from "../../../../goals/MergeDupGoal/DuplicateFinder/DuplicateFinder";
 import theme from "../../../../types/theme";
-import { SemanticDomain, Word } from "../../../../types/word";
+import { SemanticDomain, Sense, Word } from "../../../../types/word";
 import Pronunciations from "../../../Pronunciations/PronunciationsComponent";
 import Recorder from "../../../Pronunciations/Recorder";
 import GlossWithSuggestions from "../GlossWithSuggestions/GlossWithSuggestions";
@@ -99,12 +99,7 @@ export default class NewEntry extends React.Component<
     this.setState((prevState, props) => ({
       newEntry: {
         ...prevState.newEntry,
-        senses: [
-          {
-            glosses: [{ language: props.analysisLang, def: newValue }],
-            semanticDomains: [props.semanticDomain],
-          },
-        ],
+        senses: [new Sense(newValue, props.analysisLang, props.semanticDomain)],
       },
       activeGloss: newValue,
     }));
@@ -161,7 +156,15 @@ export default class NewEntry extends React.Component<
   }
 
   addNewWordAndReset() {
-    this.props.addNewWord(this.state.newEntry, this.state.audioFileURLs);
+    const newEntry: Word = this.state.newEntry.senses.length
+      ? this.state.newEntry
+      : {
+          ...this.state.newEntry,
+          senses: [
+            new Sense("", this.props.analysisLang, this.props.semanticDomain),
+          ],
+        };
+    this.props.addNewWord(newEntry, this.state.audioFileURLs);
     this.resetState();
   }
 
@@ -193,10 +196,12 @@ export default class NewEntry extends React.Component<
     }
   }
 
-  handleEnterAndTab(e: React.KeyboardEvent) {
+  handleEnter(e: React.KeyboardEvent, checkGloss: boolean) {
     if (!this.state.vernOpen && e.key === "Enter") {
+      // The user can never submit a new entry without a vernacular
       if (this.state.newEntry.vernacular) {
-        if (this.state.activeGloss) {
+        // The user can conditionally submit a new entry without a gloss
+        if (this.state.activeGloss || !checkGloss) {
           this.addOrUpdateWord();
           this.focusVernInput();
         } else {
@@ -312,7 +317,10 @@ export default class NewEntry extends React.Component<
                 }}
                 suggestedVerns={this.state.suggestedVerns}
                 handleEnterAndTab={(e: React.KeyboardEvent) =>
-                  this.handleEnterAndTab(e)
+                  // To prevent unintentional no-gloss submissions:
+                  // If enter pressed from the vern field,
+                  // check whether gloss is empty
+                  this.handleEnter(e, true)
                 }
               />
               <VernDialog
@@ -357,7 +365,10 @@ export default class NewEntry extends React.Component<
                 this.updateGlossField(newValue)
               }
               handleEnterAndTab={(e: React.KeyboardEvent) =>
-                this.handleEnterAndTab(e)
+                // To allow intentional no-gloss submissions:
+                // If enter pressed from the gloss field,
+                // don't check whether gloss is empty
+                this.handleEnter(e, false)
               }
               analysisLang={this.props.analysisLang}
             />
diff --git a/src/types/word.tsx b/src/types/word.tsx
index 2ca51db946..4751571c4d 100644
--- a/src/types/word.tsx
+++ b/src/types/word.tsx
@@ -22,8 +22,11 @@ export class Sense {
   semanticDomains: SemanticDomain[] = [];
   accessibility?: State;
 
-  constructor(gloss: string, language?: string) {
-    this.glosses = [{ def: gloss, language: language ? language : "" }];
+  constructor(gloss: string, language?: string, semDom?: SemanticDomain) {
+    this.glosses = [{ def: gloss, language: language ?? "" }];
+    if (semDom) {
+      this.semanticDomains.push(semDom);
+    }
   }
 }