References Evaluation – Group work

Encyclopedias, and Dictionaries

Submitted by

Group (1)
Francie Berger
Hanem Ibrahim
Heather Tebbs

ILS 504- Reference Materials and Services

Dr. Elsie Okobi

Fall 2009
 Evaluation Set 3 ( Encyclopedias- Dictionaries)
This paper evaluates 24 print, CD-ROM and Online versions of
encyclopedias. Documentation of each group member’s contributions follows
the body of the work.
1. Academic American Encyclopedia
Citation
Academic American Encyclopedia. (1995). Danbury, Connecticut: Grolier
Incorporated
General Information
The Academic American Encyclopedia was published by Grolier, Incorporated
of Danbury, Connecticut in 1995. Grolier is known as a leading publisher of
reference books and multimedia reference products in the United States.
Scope
This encyclopedia includes 32,000 entries, more than 16,000 illustrations,
and 9 million words, by 2250 authors. The articles are written with a focus on
and expectation of student usage and reflect the curriculum of American
schools and colleges. The articles’ lengths are appropriate for this purpose,
with more than half the entries being less than 500 words.
Emphasis
This resource is geared towards upper elementary, junior high, high school,
and college students, as well as the “inquisitive adult”. Although the entries
are chosen to reflect the American educational systems curricula, they are
not written with an American bias, but instead strive to grant recognition to
the diversity of practice throughout the world.
Authority
More than 90% of the articles are written by an international group of
scholars and experts, while more than 75% of the entries are signed.
Writing Style
The text is written with an eye toward making the material easy to
understand. Foreign words, abbreviations, detailed etymology, and
specialized jargon are avoided. Technical terms are defined when used. Both
metric and standard notational weights and measures, as well as Celsius,
Fahrenheit, and Kelvin temperatures are used.
Recency
The copyright date of this encyclopedia is 1995. All entries were up-to-date
at the time of publication. The encyclopedia is revised on a yearly basis, as
well as updated by an annual yearbook covering the events and
developments of the previous year.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
Controversial subjects are included in this publication, with objective entries
for abortion and homosexuality. Each article in the encyclopedia undergoes
multiple reviews to help ensure objectivity, balance and accuracy.
Arrangement and Entry
The encyclopedia is arranged alphabetically, using the word-by-word system.
If the entry is not where the reader expects it to be, there is generally a
“see” reference to show where to find the subject. While each article is
preceded by a large bold-faced heading, many of the entries are further sub-
divided by smaller bold-faced topic headings.
Each article includes extensive cross-references, of three different types.
There is the “see” reference mentioned above, the internal cross reference
within the body of the article that indicates that there are related articles in
the encyclopedia, and the “see also” references at the end of the article, that
tell the reader that more information can be found under those headings.
Some articles, particularly those about a country, state, province, or U.S.
president, will also include a fact box at its beginning with the most
commonly used information about the subject.
Additionally, photographs, maps, and other illustrations, along with captions
and other information, appear alongside relevant articles.
Index
Volume 21 of this publication is a 200,000 entry index to the encyclopedia. It
is in alphabetical order using the letter-by-letter system. The index provides
a complete list of references for each subject, as well as information about
illustrations, maps, tables and bibliographies.
Cost
Price is not available for this publication.
2. The Cambridge Encyclopedia
Citation
Crystal, David. (1998). The Cambridge biographical encyclopedia (2nd ed.).
United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
General Information
This, the second edition of The Cambridge Biographical Encyclopedia was
published by Cambridge University Press in 1998. Cambridge University
Press has been publishing academic and educational works since 1584.
Scope
This volume includes biographical information on over 26,000 people,
focusing on core facts about a person’s life.
Authority
This publication is intended for readers of any age interested in the life of a
particular person included in the biographies. A stated goal of the book is “to
ensure internationalism of coverage, especially in relation to the leading
English-speaking countries, by using contributors in the USA, Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.” Hundreds of other entries cover
people from other parts of the world. The editor has also paid particular
attention to ensuring adequate coverage of traditionally under-represented
populations, including women, African-Americans, Aborigines, Maoris, and
other minority groups.
Writing Style
The language used is easy to understand and fully accessible to all readers.
The average length of each entry is 70 words, and in only 40 cases have
entries taken a full page.
Recency
This volume is current to its date of publication, and offers a particular focus
on 20th century personalities, including those from the worlds of sports,
television, movies, music, and science.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
Controversial personalities are included in this book, as seen by the entry for
Charles Manson.
Arrangement and Entry
Entries are arranged alphabetically by person’s last name, using the letter-
by-letter system and ignoring all spaces between words. Rulers sharing the
same name are listed chronologically. Other personalities sharing the same
name are listed in the order rulers, saints, popes, and others. Letters that do
not appear in the English alphabet are given their nearest English equivalent.
Each entry begins with the subject’s name in bold-faced type, the years in
which they live(d). biographical data, important relations names also in bold-
face, and cross-references if relevant.
Index
There are several ready-reference indexes at the back of the book, among
them:
• Political leaders and rulers
• Saints- patronage and feast days
• Religious leaders
• Justices of the Supreme Court
• Nobel prizewinners
• Pulitzer prizewinners
• Competitive sports and game
Format
A pronunciation guide is included that is applied in all cases where a native
English speaker may be unsure of the correct pronunciation of a name. Over
6000 transcriptions are included. This is obviously also a vitally useful tool
for those for whom English is not the first language.
Cost
This edition of this print publication is available online from $26.99 to $50.65
U.S.
1. The Columbia Encyclopedia
Citation
Lagasse, P. (Ed.). (2008). The Columbia encyclopedia online (2008). New
York: Columbia University Press. Retrieved October 25, 2009, from http://0-
www.xreferplus.com.
www.consuls.org/book.do?id=624.
Scope
The Columbia Encyclopedia Online is a general encyclopedia. The publisher
states that it includes “physical, historical, geographical, political, scientific,
religious, and cultural” topics. The encyclopedia contains approximately
51,000 entries.
Emphasis
The encyclopedia contains information on international topics of general
interest.
Authority
Based on the print edition, published since 1935, The Columbia Encyclopedia
Online, is published by a well-respected publisher that has earned a
reputation for compiling a trustworthy reference resource.
Writing Style
The writing style is to-the-point. There is not much meat to the entries. Dates
of occurrences break up the text and make it read as choppy.
Recency
As an online resource, I would expect it to have had more frequent updates
than the print version. The entry for Barack Obama, however, has not been
updated to reflect that he is the President of the United States, nor does it
mention that he won the election. The entry was last updated before
November of 2008.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
Reading of articles on the Gulf Wars and the September 11, 2001 terrorist
attacks revealed an overall balanced, perhaps slightly anti-Gulf War tone in
the former, and a strictly factual reporting of the latter.
Arrangement and Entry
The entries are arranged alphabetically, by subject. Hyperlinks to other
subject terms used within the text are provided.
Index
The index is comprised of subject headings arranged alphabetically. One
thing that surprised me is that when a subject heading is selected that is not
the primary subject heading, rather than navigating the user directly to the
entry, the interface navigates the user to a page that says, “See under…”
and the user must click on the link provided to go to the actual entry. This
seems rather clunky in so far as it creates an unnecessary extra step for the
user.
Format
Credo Reference provides the interface to the encyclopedia as well as many
other online reference databases for the Buley Library at Southern.
For the The Columbia Encyclopedia online, Credo offers a home page which
is arranged with alphabetical expandable sections. Once expanded, subject
links are presented in alphabetical order. A search box is provided. Headings
may be perused by subject or by person.
Hovering the mouse pointer over the subject heading shows a brief pop-up
summary of the subject, enabling the user to ascertain whether or not it is
the subject heading for which they were searching.
Once a subject is selected, the user is navigated to the subject entry page.
The subject entry page contains the subject text, and Previous Entry and
Next Entry navigation buttons.
Surprisingly, as well as disappointingly, while the preface states there are
copious visual materials included in the encyclopedia, no photographs or
other illustrations accompany any of the entries as far as I could tell.
2. Encyclopedia Americana
Citation
Encyclopedia Americana. (2006). Danbury: Connecticut: Scholastic Library
Publishing, Inc.
General Information
The Encyclopedia Americana was published by Scholastic Library Publishing
Inc. of Danbury, Connecticut in 1999 through its Grolier imprint. Grolier is
known as a leading publisher of reference books and multimedia reference
products in the United States.
Scope
This 30 volume publication contains tens of thousands of articles written to
serve the educational community as a bridge between the general reader
and the specialist. Articles are presented in easy to understand language,
and are aimed at all learners and educators, from the young student to
teachers and librarians.
Emphasis
This encyclopedia is intended for use as a general reference resource in
schools, colleges, and public libraries. No American bias is detected.
Authority
All articles are signed by the author, a leading authority in his/her field,
chosen by a team of editors and advisors.
Writing Style
When an author is chosen to write an article, he/she is reminded that the
objective of the publication is to present facts and interpretations to the non-
specialist reader, as well as explain technical terms in an understandable
manner. Before publication, each article is reviewed by the editors to ensure
that it satisfies these objectives.
Recency
Information is up-to-date for the time of publication.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
Controversial subjects are included with several references for abortion,
homelessness, and homosexuality. The editors have striven for a balanced
and objective viewpoint on all topics.

Arrangement and Entry

Articles are arranged alphabetically, using the word-by-word system. If two
or more articles have the same heading they are ordered by person, place,
then thing. Each entry begins with a large bold-faced heading, and may be
further sub-divided by smaller bold-faced sub-headings. Longer articles
include a contents box for quicker searching, as well as an information
highlights box. Cross-references may be provided in the text or at the end of
article. A bibliography is included at the end of an article when appropriate.
Index
Volume 30 of this encyclopedia is a complete index with more than 350,000
entries There is an entry for each article in the index, followed by a listing of
every place in the encyclopedia that information on that subject can be
found. The index also lists thousands of entries for which there are no
separate articles, but does provide listings of articles that cover the subject.
In all cases. Volume and page numbers are provided for easy look-up.
Format
A pronunciation key and a list of abbreviations used in the encyclopedia are
included at the beginning of each volume.
Cost
The 2006 edition of this print publication is listed at $729.00 U.S.
3. International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences
Citation
Darity Jr., W. A. (Ed). (2008). International encyclopedia of the social
sciences (2nd ed.) (9 vols.). New York: Macmillan.
General Information
The 2nd edition contains entirely new content. None of the content from the
previous edition was used. A point was made to include African Americans
and female scholars as authors.
Scope
The set includes 2,990 essays covering political science, anthropology,
psychology, and contributors to these fields.
Emphasis
The editor has solicited the points of view of a diverse population of authors
from around the world.
Authority
Thomson-Gale and Macmillan are respected names in encyclopedic
publishing. The editor is “William A. Darity, Jr., Arts and Sciences Professor of
Public Policy Studies, African and African American Studies, and Economics
at Duke University.”
Writing Style
The writing style is clear to the layperson for articles of general interest and
provides enough background information to carry the reader through the
article. For specialty articles that deal more with formulas and pure-science,
the layperson will have difficulty without knowledge of, for instance,
advanced mathematics.
Recency
The encyclopedia was published in 2008 and includes historical as well as
current views on subjects where applicable. For instance, the entries on the
subject of abortion lists historical views and practices as well as current
views and practices.

Viewpoint and Objectivity

The viewpoint is U.S.-centric, but makes an attempt to be global. In the case
of the abortion subject entry, information on the international as well as U.S.
abortion laws; however, the U.S. is given its own sub-heading while the
international sub-section is general.
Arrangement and Entry
Entries are alphabetic by subject heading over 9 volumes. Bold, large font
main subject headings are followed with bold, smaller font sub-headings in
each entry. A double column style is used. The tops of the pages provide the
subject heading for that page.
In volume 1 a list of articles for the entire encyclopedia and a thematic
outline are given for cross reference. The 9th volume includes an index.
4. Kenneth F. Kister's Best Encyclopedias: A Comparative Guide to
General and Specialized Encyclopedias
Citation
Kister, K. F. (1994). Kister's best encyclopedias: A Comparative guide to
general and specialized encyclopedias. 2nd . . ed.- Phoenix, AZ.: Oryx Press.
General Information
This is the second edition of the Kister's best encyclopedias, it is a single–
volume encyclopedia, published in Arizona by Oryx Press, in 1994.
Scope
This work is an encyclopedia of encyclopedias. It’s kind of directory that
reviews encyclopedias, and evaluates them. According to a booksellers
website "industry review", Best Encyclopedias provides "in-depth evaluations
of 77 general encyclopedias, including electronic products; reviews of some
800 subject-specific encyclopedias (covering 29 subjects); and reviews of 44
foreign language encyclopedias covering nine languages" (Chinese,
Japanese, Korean, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish)
Emphasis: This edition features concise reviews, comparison charts, and a
directory of publishers and suppliers, and that is very useful information for
Acquisition librarians, as well as anyone looking for well –written, critical
reviews on English encyclopedias.
Authority
Edited by Kenneth Kister, who considered the most authoritative source for
encyclopedia reviews.
Writing Style
Appropriate language, and easy to understand for all users.
Recency
This edition published and has a copy right of 1994; It contains reviews of
1992-1993 printing, or last available printing of encyclopedias.
Arrangement and Entry
This encyclopedia starts with questions and answers about encyclopedias,
then It reviews six categories of encyclopedias: (1) Large encyclopedias for
adults or older students; (2) Medium-sized encyclopedias for adults or older
students; (3) Small encyclopedias for adults or older students; (4) large and
medium sized encyclopedias for children and younger students; (5) Small
encyclopedias for children and younger students; and (6) Electronic
encyclopedias. There are also information about the out of print
encyclopedias.
Each entry in the general section is divided into two sections. First, the fact
section which includes all bibliographic information as well as the price sales
information, and other descriptive information. The second section is the
evaluation which begins with in- depth coverage of each criteria for
encyclopedia evaluation and summary which are really helpful for as a last
step before deciding to get this encyclopedia or not, it’s like overall criticism
and evaluation, it also includes other opinion about these encyclopedias.
These encyclopedias are arranged alphabetically by encyclopedia’s names
within each category, the alphabetical order letter by letter.
Index
There is an index at the end of this book which arranged alphabetically.
There are also two appendixes :( encyclopedia resources and a directory of
encyclopedia publishers and distributors).
Cost
The cost is approximately $42 for the new copy.
5. McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology
Citation
McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology (10th ed.). (2007). New
York: McGraw-Hill.
General Information
This, the 10th edition of the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and
Technology was published by McGraw-Hill of New York in 2007. McGraw-Hill
is a leading publisher of educational materials world-wide.
Scope
This encyclopedia includes 7100 articles in 20 volumes, including a full
index. There are over 60,000 cross-references spread amongst the articles,
12,000 illustrations, and over 1400 data tables. The stated goal of this
publication is “to provide the widest possible range of articles that will be
understandable and useful to any person of modest technical training who
wants to obtain information outside his (or her) particular field of
specialization.” The articles are intended for use by students, professionals,
librarians; truly anyone seeking information on all major fields of science and
engineering.
Emphasis
This publication is written for use by those seeking information on the major
fields in science and engineering, but it is intended for use by laymen; that is
those who are not specialists and in fact, may have no prior knowledge of
the fields it covers. No American bias is detected.
Authority
Each article is signed by its author, an expert in his/her field. Authors are
chosen by the Board of Consulting Editors and come from universities,
industry, and public agencies world-wide.
Writing Style
Since this encyclopedia is intended for use by non-specialists, care is taken
to ensure that the articles are written and illustrated for easy access for the
reader.
Recency
The information provided in this text is up-to-date, with a particular emphasis
in this edition on the most quickly advancing topics in the fields, such as cell
and molecular biology; information technology and communications;
nanotechnology; environmental, earth, and climate sciences; materials
science; and cosmology.
Arrangement and Entry
The articles are arranged alphabetically, using the word-by-word system. A
comma provides a stop in inverted article titles. Each discipline covered
includes a broad survey article for easy clarification of basic concepts,
followed by numerous cross-references. Each article begins with faced type
sub-headings. Extensive cross-references appear within the text of each
article and most include bibliographies at the end as suggestions for further
reading.
Index
Volume 20 of this publication is a complete index that includes an Analytical
Index and a Topical Index. The Analytical Index lists each important term,
concept, and person covered throughout the text and directs the reader to
the volume and page numbers on the chosen entry. The Topical Index lists
90 general headings and groups the article titles according to subject. The
Index also includes a Study Guide with outlines of major scientific disciplines
and lists relate articles for each topic. Additionally, there is a Scientific
Notation section, that includes reference tables, specifies symbols and
abbreviations, and clarifies relationships between the three primary
measurement systems; U.S. Customary, metric, and international.
Format
A special feature of this edition of the encyclopedia is a companion website,
http://MHEST.com that contains updated articles, graphics, and multimedia
content pertaining to current subjects, as well as selected article updates.
Cost
The 2002 edition of this print publication is listed at $2495.00 U.S. A newer
version, published in 2007, is listed at $3495.00 U.S.
6. Subject Encyclopedias: User Guide, Review Citations, and
Keyword Index
Citation
Mirwis, A. (1999). Subject encyclopedias: User guide, review citations, and
keyword index. Phoenix, Arizona: Oryx Press.
Scope
The set assists with conventional collection development via a list of
recommended titles that a reference librarian may check against their
holdings. An additional section, the encyclopedia section, gives a greater
overview of the titles, their use, and offers a reviews-based ratings.
According to Amazon.com:
This useful two-volume set will provide buyers of subject encyclopedias with
a substantial amount of valuable information they can use in making their
purchasing decisions. It will also provide all types of librarians and their
patrons with a quick, one-stop method for locating the appropriate subject
encyclopedias for their needs and for locating articles in the 100
encyclopedias. Librarians who specialize in bibliographic instruction will also
find it to be a useful tool for teaching students how to locate needed
information.
Emphasis
The emphasis of the set is on collections development of subject
encyclopedias for the reference room and on the targeting of the correct
subject reference resource for the patron.
Authority
The publisher, Oryx Press, was founded by Phyllis Steckler in 1975 and was a
small, independent reference publisher until it was purchased by Greenwood
Publishing Group in 2000, according to a Library Journal blurb.
The back of the book states:
Allan Mirwis is Readers’ Services Librarian at Kingsborough Community
College in Brooklyn, NY. In addition to publishing many articles on making
effective use of library resources, he is the author of Guides to Educational
Media Software. Mirwis holds an Ed.D. from Indiana University and an M.L.S.
from Columbia.
The publisher is relatively unknown and the author, while he graduated from
Columbia, teaches at a community college. A search for articles he has
published resulted in relatively few hits. I also could not find any in-depth
reviews in EBSCO. There were three editorial reviews on Amazon.com which
were truncated, but the portions shown were favorable. I did not immediately
recognize any of the reviewers.
The resource is recommended by one of the reviewers for use at the
“undergraduate level.”
Writing Style
There is no real writing style. Entries are composed of abbreviated terms and
review data.
Recency
The encyclopedia is ten years old.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
The rating methodology is given in detail.
Arrangement and Entry
Entries are arranged alphabetically by full title. Entries include LC number,
DDC number, title, editor and author names, edition, number of pages,
binding, price, review average and rating numbers, reviewer information,
and awards won.
Index
Six indexes are included: Title Index, Subject Heading Index, Rating Index,
DDC Number Index, Publishers Index, and Keyword Index.
Cost
$187.95 for volume I and volume II (each) on Amazon.com.
7. New Encyclopaedia Britannica
Citation
New encyclopaedia Britannica. (1992). (15th ed.). (33Vols.). Chicago:
Encyclopaedia Britannica.
General Information:
The New Encyclopaedia Britannica (15th Edition) published by Encyclopaedia
Britannica in 33 volumes plus 2 Annuals Hardcover Binding.
Scope:
This encyclopedia is the most traditional Scholarly general encyclopedia; it
contains 44milion words, 65,100 articles, 1,600 bibliographies, and
contributions from 500, 000 editorial staff advisory.
Emphasis
Useful for college students and anyone (adults or teens) who need some
details about any topic.
Authority
In the micropedia section the articles not signed by the authors. In the
macropedia volumes, authors are listed after articles,
Writing Style
According to Kister, K. F. (1994). The articles of this encyclopedia are written
in an appropriate writing style for moderate educated adults, but some of the
articles in the Macropedia especially in math and science were written at a
level well beyond the layperson’s grasp.
Recency
The Britannica First printed in 1768. The first appearance for the 15 edition
was in 1974. The copy right of this evaluated one is 1992. The information
normally accurate, but right now some the information in science and
technology are out- of- date.

Arrangement/Entry
The encyclopedia consists of 33 volumes. It divided into three main sections;
volumes from 1-12 (Micropedia) which covered the short articles set (less
than 750 words) that addresses ready reference questions. Volumes from
13-29 (Macropedia) which contain longer articles (2+ pages) with more in-
depth information. Volume 30 (Propedia) which is a one volume covers 10
parts of knowledge (Matter and energy, The Earth and life on it, Human life,
Human society, Arts, Technology, Religion, History of mankind, and Branches
of Knowledge) , this volume summaries of contains all human knowledge.
The topic in each section in (Micropedia, Macropedia) arranged
alphabetically letter by letter.
Index
Volumes 31- 32 are two volumes index which refer to the topic in the other
volumes (subject, name, etc.)
Format
There is no glossary or dictionary, but there are many other useful features.
Articles are accompanied by over 20,000 colored illustrations to better
explain information.
Cost
The price of the entire set is $1, 299, 00 for school libraries. The retail price
is 1, 194, 00 the.
Viewpoint/Opinions
This is one of the greatest general encyclopedia, but the negative side of it is
the arrangement which really disconcert users. Some information in the
Macropedia, and others in the Micropedia, lots of places to look for complete
information.
8. World Book Encyclopedia
Citation
The World Book Encyclopedia. (2009). Chicago: World Book.
General Information
The World Book Encyclopedia was published by World Book of Chicago,
Illinois in 1999. World Book has been publishing well-respected, award-
winning encyclopedias and reference materials since 1917.
Scope
This 22 volume set includes thousands of articles, more than 27,500
illustrations of which 24,000 are in color. This encyclopedia is intended for
use by students from elementary school through high school and its contents
are specifically chosen to reflect the curriculum taught in American schools.
Articles are written to lengths appropriate for their audience.
Emphasis
This publication main aim is to serve students from kindergarten through
high school. The articles are geared
Authority
Each article is either signed by the original writer or by the reviewer who is
responsible for ensuring its accuracy.
Writing Style
The articles in this encyclopedia are written to be easily understood by the
students they are written for, hence an article on a subject aimed at a
younger reader will use simpler language than a subject more likely to be
researched by a high school student. A vocabulary list of 44,000 words
deemed suitable for use is consulted by anyone writing an article for this
publication. Any technical terms used in an article are explained in the text f
that same piece.

Recency
This encyclopedia is completely up-to-date, even including articles on
President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle. A revised edition is published
every year, and a yearbook is published each January to cover the significant
events of the previous year.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
Controversial subjects are included in this encyclopedia, as evidenced by its
inclusion of articles on abortion and homosexuality.
Arrangement and Entry
In this 22-volume encyclopedia, articles are arranged alphabetically, by
subject, using the word-by-word system. In this system, commas, then
spaces precede letters of the alphabet. Each page has a guide word at the
top to help the reader locate needed articles more quickly. Each article
begins with a large bold-faced heading, and may be further sub-divided by
smaller bold-faced sub-headings. Extensive cross-references of three types
are included for each article. Entry cross-references appear in bold type and
are included in the encyclopedia’s arrangement. Other cross-references
provide titles of other topics the reader can check for more information, and
still others indicate which section of an article in which to find more
information. Additional “see also” references are included at the end of
articles. Facts in brief tables are found in articles about countries, states,
provinces, and continents.
Index
Volume 22 of this reference is a research guide and index.. The index lists
more than 150,000 entries arranged alphabetically using the word-by-word
system. Each index heading appears in heavy type and provides the volume
and page number of the article on that topic. If the heading does not actually
have its own article, the reader will be directed to the article in which the
relevant information can be found. If an article referred to is divided into
sections, the relevant sub-heading will be given. The index entries will also
list cross-referenced articles on the given subject. Additionally, a reference to
illustrations is included in each entry.
Format
This encyclopedia includes a table of terms that defines certain words or
phrases used in specialized or technical topics. Another special feature is a
table of important dates to provide an at-a-glance look at important dates
relating to the history of that topic.
Cost
The 2009 edition of this print publication cost $1009.00-$1199.00 depending
upon binding style.
9. Acronyms, Initialisms, & Abbreviations Dictionary
Citation
Mossman, Jennifer (Ed.). (1994). Acronyms, Initialisms & Abbreviations
Dictionary Vol. 1 (19th ed.). Detroit: Gale Research, Inc.
General Information
This, the 19th edition of Acronyms, Initialisms, & Abbreviations Dictionary was
published by Gale Research, Inc. of Detroit, Michigan in 1994. Gale Research,
Inc. is a part of Cengage Learning, world leaders in educational publishing
and e-research.
Scope
This dictionary includes 29,000 new terms, most of them from the areas of
business, computer technology, engineering, graphic arts, medicine, and
military affairs.

Emphasis
This publication has an admitted bias towards acronyms, initialisms, and
abbreviations use in the United States. The editor does however make an
effort to include non-U.S. based acronyms commonly found in magazines
and newspapers.
Authority
The publication was selected by the Reference and Adult Services Division of
the American Library Association as one of the twenty-five most
distinguished reference titles published during the past quarter century in
1985.
Writing Style
Since this is simply a listing of acronyms, initialisms, and abbreviations, there
is no writing style to speak of.
Recency
The listings were current at time of publication.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
Controversial subjects are included in the dictionary, including a listing for P-
FLAG- parents and friends of lesbians and gays.
Arrangement and Entry
This is a three-volume set is, arranged alphabetically by acronyms,
initialisms, abbreviations. Volume 1 consists of 1439 pages covering letters
A-F; volume 2 consists of 2753 pages covering letters G-O; and volume 3
consists of 3970 pages covering letters P-Z. There is a list of selected
sources in the front of the book that can be used to decipher the source code
information in each entry. Entries are in alphabetical order in letter-by-letter
sequence. Each entry includes the acronym, initialism, or abbreviation, its
meaning, English translation is applicable, language if not English, source
code, location or country of origin, sponsoring organization, and subject
category.
Index
There is no index for this publication.
Cost
The 2009 edition of this print publication costs $1250.00 U.S.
10.The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations
Citation
Andrews, Robert (Ed.). (1993). The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations. New
York: Columbia University Press.
General Information
The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations was published by the Columbia
University Press of New York in 1993. Columbia University Press, founded in
1893, is the forth oldest university press in the country and is a well-
respected publisher of academic resources.
Scope
There are over 18,000 quotations covering 1500 subjects in this collection.
More than 11,000 of these quotes have not appeared in any previously
published anthology of quotations.
Emphasis
The intended audience for this publication is anyone looking for a quotation
that applies to life as it is lived today. Any quote included in this book is
deemed to be relevant to the present. In the introduction, the editor states
that this publication has made an effort to include those whose contributions
to other similar volumes may have been under-acknowledged. These people
and groups include “women, dissenters of all persuasions, minorities,
homosexuals and lesbians, and a significant sample from non-English-
speaking nations”, so no American bias is detected.
Authority
The editor responsible for this compilation is the son of a work named
Quotations for Speakers and Writers, published in 1969. His father was
working on a second volume of the title when he passed away, and the son,
in collaboration with other family members, completed the work, The Concise
Columbia Dictionary of Quotations, hence he has a proven pedigree in this
field.
Writing Style
Since this is an anthology of quotations, the style varies with each speaker
quoted, so accessibility differs accordingly.
Recency
The copyright date of this publication is 1993. As a collection of quotations
ranging from historical to modern-day, it is current up to the date of
publication.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
Quotes regarding controversial subjects are included. As an example, there
are 31 entries under homosexuality and 7 on homelessness, and 8 on
abortion.
Arrangement and Entry
The book is organized by entries under 1500 subjects that are in alphabetical
order. Each entry includes the quotation, the speaker’s name, a sort
biography, and the source of the quote.
Format
There is an index of sources at the back of the book that is arranged
alphabetically by speakers’ last name. Under each index entry is a listing of
what subjects that person is quoted on as well as how many quotes on that
subject are attributed to the speaker. Each entry includes the quote, the
speaker’s name, a sort biography, and the source of the quote.
Cost
The 1993 edition of this print publication is now listed at $64.50 U.S.
11.Familiar Quotations
Citation
Kaplan, Justin. (1992). Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations (16th ed.). Boston: Little
Brown and Company
General Information
This, the 16th edition of Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations was published by Little,
Brown, and Company of Boston, Massachusetts in 1992. Little, Brown, and
Company, one of the country’s oldest publishing houses, is a well-known
publisher of both fiction and non-fiction books.
Scope
What began in 1855 as a 258 page booklet of quotations by 169 authors has
grown to a 1400 pages volume that includes over 20,000 quotes by 2550
authors. Of these writers, 340 have not been quoted in previous editions of
this work.
Emphasis
This book is intended to be an aid for writers, speakers, or anyone looking for
a famous quotation to use to impress others. This edition strives to cover a
broader cultural base than previous editions of Bartlett’s, so no American
bias is detected.
Authority
The original editor of Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations, John Bartlett, was a
bookstore owner who eventually went to work for the publisher Little, Brown
and Company. The editor of this volume is a published author of several
biographies. He won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize for his
work Mr. Clemens and Mark Twain in 1967.
Writing Style
Since this is an anthology of quotations, the style varies with each speaker
quoted, so accessibility differs accordingly.
This resource seems to steer clear of controversial subjects. No entries were
found for homosexuality or homelessness, and only two not very relevant
entries for abortion.
Recency
The last dated entry in the book is from Sesame Street, 1969-. On the same
page, quotes from Monty Python, Bruce Springsteen, and Salman Rushdie
appear, so this volume is current up to its date of publication.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
It is difficult to determine if controversial subjects are included in this volume
unless one can recall a famous quote to reference.
Arrangement and Entry
There is an Index of Authors at the front of the book . The book is organized
in chronological order, with an Index of Authors in the front. The first entries
are credited to The Song of the Harper c. 2650-2600 B.C. Of the 1405 pages
of this volume, fully 608 are devoted to the index at the back of the book.
Each entry includes the speaker’s name, date of birth and death, if
applicable, the quotation, and its source and date.
Index
The extensive index is arranged by keywords. Alphabetization is word-for-
word, not letter-by-letter. Keywords are also ordered singular possessive to
plural to plural possessive. Each index entry indicates the page number it is
found on and number of the quotation on that page.
Cost
The list price for this print volume was $40.00 U.S. at the time of its
publication. The 2002 edition is listed at $50.00 U.S.
12.Dictionary of American Slang
Citation
Chapman, R. L. (Ed.). (1986). Dictionary of American slang. New York:
Harper& Row.
General Information
This dictionary published in one volume by Harper& Row publishers in 1986.
Scope
There are more than 19,000 slang terms covering all periods of American
history, regardless of social acceptability.
Emphasis
It ‘s not a traditional dictionary , but it is a great resource for anyone
interested in learning more about the use of slang in America. It helps
readers to identify any slang terms they found in their readings; also it helps
those regular people or researchers who are seeking the meaning and the
history of American slang terms.
Authority
There are list of the contributors, who shared their information about these
terms, but there is no defining for the contributed slang terms for each one
of them.
Writing Style
Language is appropriate.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
The date of this dictionary’s copyright is 1986, so it covers only the slang
terms till the mid 80s.
Arrangement and Entry
Entries are alphabetically arranged, word by word , for the entries considered
to have strong social or emotional impact are indicated by the delta symbol,
there are some articles about the history of slang lexicography and definition
of the slang terms. Entries also could include pronunciation, parts-of-speech
labels, word origins, examples of usage, and usage acceptability notes and
more.
Format
Hardcover
Cost
$40.00
Viewpoint and Objectivity
Since slang is constantly changing, it can be difficult to find definitions of
new terms in a printed dictionary. So the printed American slang dictionary
must be updated, and that’s why the online dictionaries of American slang
are now better to use.
13.Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary
Citation
Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. (11th ed.). (2003) Springfield, MA:
Merriam-Webster.
Purpose
This dictionary is for American English language interdisciplinary usage, it’s
the main source of information about all the words of the American English
including: (definition, pronunciation, and spelling.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
This is one of the Merriam Webster’s dictionaries that are trustable by
American people for more than a century.
Scope
More than 225,500 definitions, 10,000 new words& meanings,
40,000example, 91,000 pronunciations, 33,000 etymologies, 2,700
illustrative quotation, 650 foreign words, and 700,00 illustration Special
sections including a Handbook of Style. Includes easy-to-install Windows/Mac
CD-ROM and free, one-year subscriptions to the new collegiate website.
Emphasis
This is an important dictionary for all students at schools and colleges.
Format
Thumb-notched hardcover edition, 1,664 pages. Also available on an easy-to-
install Windows/Mac CD-ROM, and free, one-year subscriptions to the new
collegiate website.
Arrangement and Entry
This dictionary begins with an explanatory chart, and explanatory notes, the
English language in the dictionary, then there are guides to pronunciation,
abbreviations, pronunciations and symbols, after the main part of the English
words, there is a section on foreign words and phrases, there’re also
biographical names, geographical names, a handbook of style, at the end
there is an index organized alphabetically by topic, ranging from
abbreviations to zodiac table. Entries are arranged alphabetically word by
word. Each page is divided into two columns; words entry is bolded and
divided into syllables. Then part of speech, data of first use, followed by
definition, and synonyms and antonyms.

Features
The explanatory chart gives details about the formatting of the entries.
Overall Evaluation
The best selling American Dictionary. Its first edition was published in 1898.
The words printed are very small, hard to read.
Cost
Approximately $ 20
14.Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus
Citation:
Merriam-Webster’s collegiate thesaurus. (1988). Springfield, MA: Merriam-
Webster.
Purpose:
It’s a synonym and antonyms dictionary that provides similarities and
distinctions between words.
Authority
Considered more authoritative than Roget’s.
Scope
As written on the cover of Merriam’s thesaurus “Most synonyms, more than
305,000” clear guidance on word choice
Format
Hardcover, 894 pages. The words of the dictionary are bolded, two columns
pages.
Recency
This edition covers all words till the 80s. The new edition of 2010 is available
now.
Arrangement
Alphabetical order word by word.
Entries
Each word has definitions, examples of words used in context, related and
contrasted words.
Overall Evaluation
Another product of the Merriam-Webster, Inc. A very useful especially to
enrich your vocabulary, Easy to use.
Cost
About $ 15 for a new copy of this thesaurus.
15.Merriam-Webster Online
Citation
Mish, F. (Ed.). (2009). Merriam-Webster online dictionary. Retrieved October
26, 2009, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/
General Information
The Merriam-Webster Online URL is the portal to the thesaurus, medical and
Spanish/English dictionaries as well. Other content offerings include
Britannica.com, Merriam-Webster.com, WordCentral.com,
Student.Britannica.com, MySpellIt.com, VisualDictionaryOnline.com, &
LearnersDictionary.com. The unabridged dictionary and Encyclopedia
Britannica are offered as subscription services.
Scope
According to the FAQ section of the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary site,
The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary is based on the print version of
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. The online
dictionary includes the main A-Z listing of the Collegiate Dictionary, as
well as the Abbreviations, Foreign Words and Phrases, Biographical
Names, and Geographical Names sections of that book. It also includes
1,000 illustrations and 25 tables. Selected sections of the print
Collegiate Dictionary, notably the Signs and Symbols section, are
omitted from the online Collegiate Dictionary because they include
special characters and symbols that cannot readily be reproduced in
HTML.
Emphasis
The emphasis is on undergraduate college level words and their definitions.
Authority
The Merriam-Webster company has been publishing dictionaries since 1831,
originally under the name, G. & C. Merriam Co.
Writing Style
The writing style is targeted to the undergraduate level.
Recency
Copyright is as of 2009; however, the entry for Barack Obama lists him as a
U.S. politician and mentions nothing about his presidential status.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
Viewing the entry for abortion, I am not sure why the dictionary lists it as
applicable to “the first 12 weeks of gestation.” The OED states that it is
applicable through 6 months, before which time the fetus cannot live outside
the mother. This sounds suspiciously like a U.S. politicized definition of
abortion.
Arrangement and Entry
The portal offers a search box. Entering a word and pressing the “search”
button results in navigation to a list of terms in which the word searched for
occurs, including the original word. These terms link to other definitions. The
definition for the original term entered is displayed further down on the
page.
The definition is accompanied by a clickable pronunciation sound file. The
word is divided with U.S. syllabic emphasis and the U.S. phonetic
pronunciation markup is given. The function of the word (verb, noun, etc.) is
given along with the date of origination.
Primary and secondary definitions are given in order of most common
definition first in order of decreasing commonality. Occasionally links are
given to definition entries of other words used in the definition.
Links to graphics are given where applicable, but do not necessarily link to
internal site resources.
Advertisements abound on the site and are distracting.
Index
An index is not provided.
Format
The site uses a portal format.
Cost
Free.
16.The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations
Citation
Knowles, E. (Ed.). (2004). The Oxford dictionary of quotations (6th ed.).
Oxford: Oxford University Press.
General Information
One volume. 1140 pages.
Scope
This dictionary is comprised of historical quotations of permanency, historical
quotations that have acquired recent relevancy, and modern quotations such
as terms like “shock and awe”. Quotations are included from both English
and foreign languages.
Emphasis
Quotations of literary, historical, and cultural merit or relevancy are included.
This may include advertising slogans and newspaper headlines as well as
speeches, poetry, and other sources. The emphasis is on English language
quotations, but foreign language quotations of merit are included to a certain
extent.
Authority
Oxford University Press is a prestigious publishing house that has been
researching and collecting quotations for over 50 years.
Writing Style
The work in the volume is primarily quoted from other authors.
Recency
This is the 2004 edition.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
The text is Euro-centric. It does not include, for instance, the quote by
Gandhi, “You must be the change that you wish to see in the world,” which is
quite famous.
Arrangement and Entry
The text is arranged with dictionary entries in the quotation section, and also
in the keyword index.
Quotations are listed alphabetically by last name of the person quoted. The
birth and death date of the person are given as well as a blurb on their place
in history or occupation. This information is followed by the quote.
The text is arranged in double columns with line numbers for reference.
Source evidence is also given where applicable.
Index
A keyword index is provided which takes up one fourth of the book.
Keywords are in bold followed by an abbreviated list of the quotations in
which they are contained. Each quotation reference is associated with an
abbreviation of the author or source name, the page number, and the line
number where the keyword appears.
Cost
The cost is $50.00.
17.Oxford English Dictionary
Citation
Simpson, J. A., & Weiner, E. S. C. (Eds.). (1989). The Oxford English
dictionary (2nd ed.). (20 vols.). Oxford: Clarendon Press.
General Information
The New Oxford English Dictionary (OED) Project was conducted from 1984
to 1989 and resulted in the storage of the dictionary in database format.
Tags were applied to multiple facets of each entry to aid in the future search
and organization of the resource.
Scope
The OED is an integration of the original 12 volumes and 4 supplements of
the first edition
Quoted from the cover flap to the first volume:
Based on historical principles, the Dictionary covers the vocabulary of the
English language since AD 1150, and provides a historical record of the
development and change of meaning of each word. There are entries for
almost half a million words and phrases, and the definitions are illustrated by
over two million quotations selected from general, literary, technical, and
other sources.
Emphasis
Emphasis is on English language words from 1150 C.E. to 1988.
Authority
The OED is considered the definitive word in English language etymology.
Favorable reviews abound, including those from the New York Times, The
Times, and The Washington Post.
Writing Style
The writing style is advanced academic, and often times can only be
understood completely with knowledge of advanced grammar.
Recency
The OED is 20 years old and has largely been supplanted with the online
subscription.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
The viewpoint is, of course, British.
Arrangement and Entry
To quote from page xxxii of the first volume of the OED:
Entries are arranged in the Dictionary in the alphabetical order of their
headwords. Alphabetization is based strictly upon the twenty-six letter
of the standard English alphabet. An initial capital letter is treated as in
no way distinct from a small one. The spacing within a headword
consisting of two or more written words is disregarded. Hence, for
example, the sequence of the headwords all-rounder, All Saints,
allseed, All Souls, allspice.
Entries are comprised of “the identification”, “the etymology”, “the
signification”, and “the illustrative quotations”. Information is also provided
on the obsolescence of the word if applicable.
Index
An index is not included; however, a bibliography is included in the twentieth
(last) volume).
Cost
The cost is $995.00 on Amazon.com.
18.Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English
Citation
Dalzell, T. & Victor, T. (Eds.). (2006). The new Partridge dictionary of slang
and unconventional English. (2 vols.). New York: Routledge.
General Information
Two volumes are divided alphabetically into A-I and J-Z. A bibliography is
provided. This work was “taken from The Dictionary of Slang and
Unconventional English, 8th edition (first published in 1984), E. Partridge and
P. Beale estates.
The dictionary was published simultaneously in the U.K., the U.S. and
Canada.
Scope
The dictionary includes, slang and unconventional English “used anywhere in
the English-speaking world” from 1945 through 2006.

Emphasis
The emphasis is on slang words and unconventional English. The editors
state, “We have considered for inclusion all unconventional English that has
been used with the purpose or effect of either lowering the formality of
communication and reducing solemnity and/or identifying status or group
and putting oneself in tune with one’s company.”
A reduced emphasis has been placed on nicknames in this version.
Unlike Partridge’s version, this dictionary includes “the broader universe of
the English speaking world.” Pidgin and Creolized English are also included.
Authority
The editors and authors of the dictionary are all experienced writers of
dictionaries and academics. The dictionary is based upon Eric Partridge’s
1937 work, The Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English.
Writing Style
Definitions are strictly academically worded; however, the quotes used to
exemplify the slang in-situ, as it were, are of popular culture. Definitions are
purported to “use conventional English wherever possible.”
Recency
2006 is fairly recent; however, with the speed at which slang words are
adopted, one could make an argument for annual updates.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
The words included do not hint toward any bias that I found. The authors
have made an attempt to cover all words used in English speaking countries.
Arrangement and Entry
Spaces in multi-word or hyphenated words are not taken into account in the
alphabetical ordering of the entries.
Entries consist of a bolded headword, the numbered definitions or “senses”
of the word ordered by “frequency of meaning.” Also included are the part of
speech, country of origin, earliest date found, a defining phrase in which the
entry is used, editorial comment, and citations.
Index
An index is not included.
Cost
Cost is $212.00 on Amazon.com.
19.Random House Webster’s College Thesaurus
Citation
Stein, Jess M., Flexner, Stuart Berg (Ed.) (1997). Random House Webster’s
college thesaurus. New York: Random House.
General Information
One of the publications of “Random House” Publishing Inc.. This copy is
reprint of the original 1979 edition of this thesaurus. Edited by Jess Stein and
Stuart Berg Flexner and revised and updated by Fraser Sutherland, with the
Random House Firm.
Scope
It’s a thesaurus of the English words. It offers very divers options in the way
of processing synonyms (as well as apt antonyms). With more than 12,000
main entry terms, 400,000-plus synonyms and antonyms, and the handy
"Thumb Index

Purpose
A helpful resource for finding synonyms, near synonyms, antonyms, and
contrasted words or near antonyms.
Authority
Published by a reputable publisher “Random House” which also publisher of
Random House Webster's College Dictionary. This publisher is one of
authoritative sources.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
Synonym and antonym lists cover all levels of vocabulary, from formal to
slang. Easy to use.
Emphasis
This reliable reference is recommended for students, writers, public
speakers, and business people.
Format
Hardcover: 800 pages
Arrangement and Entry
Organized in a simple A-to-Z format, each word is also used in a sentence--
with different sentences for distinct meanings of the word--to help users for
complete understanding.
All the main entries are in simple A- Z listing. Entries are clearly printed with
head words bolded. Thousands of example sentences show the appropriate
context for each meaning of each main entry term. There is a guide to
abbreviations included.
Format
The Thumb Index helps you find your way quickly to the word you're looking
for.
Overall Evaluation
Plentiful white space makes it easy to read. Newly updated with new words.
Cost
$ 11 from Amazon.com.
20.World Book Dictionary
Citation
Barnhart, R.K. (Ed.). (1996). The world book dictionary. (2 vols.). Chicago:
World Book.
General Information
This dictionary is out of print.
Scope
According to the editors, “The World Book Dictionary contains 225,000 terms
in the working vocabulary of English—the vocabulary used by educated
people to communicate with each other…” In other words, slang terms are
not included.
Emphasis
The emphasis is on the stated purpose which is to supplement the World
Book Encyclopedia. Primarily English words are included and are targeted
toward the undergraduate college level. Vocabulary is U.S.-centric.
Authority
The dictionary is published by the publishers of the World Book
Encyclopedia; however, a publisher who can put together a useful
encyclopedia does not necessarily put together a useful dictionary, as the
two entities are quite different animals.
The international advisory committee working with the editors on the
dictionary number approximately 100 individuals from the global academic
community. Most are professors of English or linguistics, while some are
subject matter specialists at the academic level in the sciences, history, and
etc.
Recency
The dictionary was published in 1996.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
As an English language dictionary published in America, bias runs toward
American usage. This is natural and expected.
Arrangement and Entry
The dictionary is arranged in entries that “are listed in alphabetical order,
letter by letter. For example, the entry newcomer appears before the entry
New Covenanters, which comes before new-create.”
Contents consist of the following information:
• About this book
• Editorial information
• Using your language (grammar, spelling, parts of speech, word choice,
vocabulary help)
• How to write effectively
• Using this dictionary
• Pronunciation,
• Preparing manuscripts
• Using different languages
• Word entries
Word entries consist of single-word entries and subentries, spelling,
syllabification, pronunciation and stress information, parts of speech,
inflections, singular and plural forms, definitions, illustrative sentences and
phrases, restrictive or usage labels (which “tell you if a particular word is not
a standard part of speech,” according to the editors), cross references,
homographs, run-on words, etymology, illustrations where applicable,
synonyms, usage notes, and figurative usage information.
Index
Indexes are not provided.
Format
The dictionary consists of two volumes with thumb tabs at the alphabetical
demarcation points. Triple column formatting is used.
Cost
The dictionary is out of print.
1. YourDictionary.com
Citation
YourDictionary.com (2009). Retrieved on October 27, 2009, from
http://www.yourdictionary.com/
Scope
YourDictionary.com is the most comprehensive and authoritative language
portal on the web with more than 2,500 dictionaries and grammars in over
300 languages, dictionary, glossary and reference articles, games that build
language skills.
It also provides translation services and many other special features
including a section on endangered languages and some limited audio
pronunciation guide.
Emphasis
This is an important website for everybody (students, librarian, translators,
linguistics…etc) to help getting links to all these foreign languages
dictionaries with all the features they provide.

Authority
YourDictionary.com is owned by LoveToKnow Corporation, an online media
company with rapid-fire growth. Privately held LoveToKnow's web sites serve
approximately 10 million page views per month and continue to attract
increasing numbers of visitors with useful and unique content. The family of
sites in LoveToKnow Corporation include LoveToKnow.com,
YourDictionary.com, PublicBookshelf.com, Adviceopedia.org and
FlexJobs.com
The site developed by Robert Beard at Bucknell university and is considered
by many to be the most comprehensive and authoritative portal for
language. It has an advisory council of experts composed of dozen linguistics
scholars and foreign language adepts.
Recency
Established in 1996, it is still online up-to-date dictionary.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
More than 3,000,000 people a month visit YourDictionary.com. The graphic
interface is attractive and simple to use, if a bit ad-heavy. It is easy to move
back and forth between features
Arrangement and Entry
The home page of YourDictionary.com is easy to use m with just a click on
the feature you want there are many taps to choose if you want searching
for definition for any word just type it in the definition search box , there are
also links for dictionaries, thesauruses, word games, language, grammar ,
language articles, and so much more. These are the feature it provides:
• Exclusive Webster's New World dictionary definitions -
YourDictionary.com is the only site to offer the most useful and
authoritative dictionary online for FREE!
• Full Roget's thesaurus – The leading authority in thesauri.
• Free audio pronunciations – Hear the pronunciation for most words in
the dictionary.
• Usage examples – The help you need to choose your words precisely
and avoid usage pitfalls.
• Quotes – Great examples of word usage from art, music and history.
• Webster's New World Finance & Investment, Webster's New World
Hacker, Webster's New World Telecom, and Webster's New World Law
Dictionaries too! – YourDictionary.com is your one stop source for
specialized dictionaries.
• Language forum – Connect with other users and discuss language,
definition and grammar issues.
• Word of the Day – A convenient way to expand the horizons of your
vocabulary.
• Language Articles – An incredible archive of dictionary, glossary and
reference articles featuring original content from YourDictionary.com
writers.
• Word Games – A fun way to improve your vocabulary and build
language skills
Cost
Free
1. OneLook Dictionaries
Citation
OneLook dictionaries. (2009.). Retrieved on October 27, from:
http://www.onelook.com/.
Scope
This online index connects the user to 13,587,880 words in 1024 dictionaries
indexed. It allowed
Purpose
It’s kind of Metasearch engine for words and phrases, which helps users
(teachers, students, librarians,…etc ) who are trying to find different features
of words and phrases .
Authority
Viewpoint and Objectivity
This is one of the most authoritative dictionary portals on the web. Founded
in April of 1996.
Emphasis
This is an important web source for highly specialized subject, beside all
general public usage it helpful for students, writers, and the general public.
Arrangement and Entry
As it appears from the name of that site “Onelook” from the home page
users with one look could find words and phrases through these three taps
(Find definitions- Find translations -Search all dictionaries)
Users could search for words and phrases that end with …, find words that
start with…, find any words related to …, find phrases that contain the
word…, find phrases that spell….
They could also find an advanced help with wildcards and the reverse
dictionary.
Entries/ Special Features
The home page of this portal is especially user- friendly, having a clean
home page no pop-up ads, but ads are popping up if you search for any word
the answer will come from the other dictionaries websites which have lots of
adds.
For each entry (word) it offers a numbered list of dictionaries with entries
matching the searchable word, if you click on any of this it offers a quick
definition from the dictionaries, pronunciation with sound feature and
etymology and all the other features of this word. The site offers a word of
the day feature,
Cost
Free
Overall Evaluation
This site received many awards from commercial internet resources.