New York Times Everyday Reader's Dictionary of Misunderstood, Misused, Mispronounced Words

Reference

Urdang, Laurence

Foreign Language Study & Reference

Thomas Nelson & Sons

Praised in The New Yorker as the "lexicographer to the world," Oxford is renowned as the world's leading dictionary maker, the home of the redoubtable Oxford English Dictionary as well as an impressive array of English, foreign language, and subject area dictionaries. An important member in our family of language reference is The Oxford Thesaurus of American English, compiled by one of America's pre-eminent lexicographers, Laurence Urdang. Urdang and Oxford have rethought from the ground up the way a thesaurus is organized and used, to create the most authoritative, precise, up to date, and helpful synonym finder available. There are at present two types of thesauruses, based on access systems: the Roget's style, which groups words according to concepts (a viable but awkward system which usually requires considerable flipping back and forth from index to main text), and the Dictionary style, which groups words alphabetically (which allows fast access if the word you have in mind is a headword; but if not, you're stumped). The Oxford Thesaurus of American English combines the best of both styles with a unique double-access system: we've organized the headwords alphabetically--so that more often than not, you can turn right to the main text to find synonyms--but we include an extensive synonym index, which lists over 100,000 words in the main text that are not headwords. Thus writers enjoy both the comprehensiveness of a Roget's and the ease of use of a Dictionary style, in one authoritative volume. The double-access system allows the most precise word selection with the least effort. And to enhance precision even more, Urdang has added several other features to help writers pick the best word for each context. If a headword has more than one sense, he breaks synonyms down into groups, and within each group, he orders words according to how closely they match the meaning of the headword. Moreover, he illustrates each group with a sample sentence, so you can be sure you are making your selection from the right list of alternatives. Urdang provides complete coverage of current English, and for those desiring a richer vocabulary, he supplements the standard synonyms with unusual words and phrases, including regional and idiomatic expressions, slang, colloquialisms, and so forth. And finally, he includes a cross-referencing system within the main text which links related groups of synonyms. Fast and easy to use, up to date, and authoritative, The Oxford Thesaurus of American English is an essential tool for anyone who wants to write with more variety, color, and precision. It is a must for all writers, whether novice or expert, student or teacher, business executive or journalist.

The Oxford Thesaurus: American Edition

Dictionaries & Thesauruses

Oxford University Press

When The Oxford Thesaurus: American Edition appeared in 1992, it was hailed as a milestone in the evolution of the thesaurus. It rapidly established itself as the most authoritative, precise, up-to-date, and helpful synonym guide available. Now this superb volume has been condensed, producing an ideal reference for those who need a more portable and affordable thesaurus, one that is quick and handy to use--The Oxford Desk Thesaurus. As in the parent volume, the main entries are selected for their frequency in the language and are arranged alphabetically so that you can instantly turn to the word you have in mind. If an entry has more than one sense, the ODT shows the synonyms by group. For instance, under the headword order, those synonyms meaning "arrangement" are in one group, those meaning "command" are in another; within a group, synonyms are listed according to frequency of use (e.g., command, directive, edict, behest, ukase, fiat, etc.). Each sense group in an entry is illustrated with a sample sentence, so you can be sure you are making your selection from the right list of alternatives. A unique cross-referencing system clearly shows which synonyms in a list are themselves main entries. Labels identify those words that are used in special ways--not only colloquial, taboo, archaic, technical, or slang expressions, but also American and British usage--so that writers can avoid errors of diction (such as using colloquial words in formal writing). Finally, for those desiring a richer vocabulary, Urdang supplements the standard synonyms with unusual words and phrases. Concise and easy to use, up to date and authoritative, The Oxford Desk Thesaurus is ideal for home or office, for busy executives on the go, and for students, too. It is an essential tool for anyone who wants to write with more variety, color, and precision.

The Oxford Desk Thesaurus

First published in 1991, the very successful first edition of The Oxford Thesaurus has now sold over 126,000 copies. This new edition (NB new format), which for the first time includes antonyms in the main A-Z text, along with many additional new synonyms, broadens the book's appeal stillfurther. The Oxford Thesaurus remains the most useful A-Z thesaurus available today, with more practical guidance for the user than any other competing title.Around 350,000 synonyms and antonyms, covering general English as well as thousands of regional and idiomatic words and expressions, are listed in A-Z form for ease of reference. Generous and detailed labelling shows how to use synonyms, and example sentences throughout make it even easier toselect the correct synonym. The most useful synonyms (ie those that are closest in meaning to the headword) are listed first - a more helpful arrangement than a simple alphabetical listing under the headword.If the word for which you seek an alternative is not to be found as a headword, you can simply turn to the synonym index which lists 265,000 synonyms and shows you under which headword each synonym is located. In addition, all synonyms which also have their own headword entry (at which furtherrelated words may be found) are indicated by a simple cross-reference symbol.On the first edition:'handier than Roget both in being alphabetical and in offering example-sentences. The mot juste in just a mo.' Prof. Sir Randolph Quirk, The Observer.

The Oxford Thesaurus

Designed to complement "The Oxford Compact English Dictionary", this comprehensive thesaurus provides thousands of alternative words to choose from to aid letter, essay and report writing, and crossword puzzles and creative writing. As well as full coverage of general English, the synonym lists also include more unusual words and phrases, including dialectal expressions and many idioms. Synonyms are clearly labelled to show whether an expression is, for example, British, American, or Australian, literary or technical, colloquial, old-fashioned, or slang. If a headword has more than one sense, its synonyms are broken into groups, and each sense group is illustrated by an example sentence so that users can be sure that they are making selections from the right list of alternatives. In addition, each synonym listed which also appears as a headword elsewhere in the thesaurus is marked by a cross-reference symbol so users can look at a further range of synonyms and related words.

The Oxford Compact Thesaurus

This easy-to-use, thumb-indexed edition of the thesaurus contains hundreds of example sentences. Headwords are readily found in an A-Z listing, and a full synonym index enables readers to find synonyms which are not also headwords.

The Oxford Thesaurus: An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms

Random House Basic Dictionary Synonyms and Antonyms

Words, Language & Grammar

Ballantine Books

A curious guide through those words so slippery, at times

The Dictionary of Confusable Words

Explains the background and meaning for hundreds of common expressions from ace up one's sleeve to yellow journalism

The Whole Ball of Wax and Other Colloquial Sayings: What They Mean & How They Started

Perigee Trade

A BRAND-NEW DESK DICTIONARY FROM THE WORLD'S LEADING DICTIONARY-MAKER Originally developed by Oxford University Press's Dictionary Department and edited by noted lexicographer Laurence Urdang, THE AMERICAN CENTURY DICTIONARY is a totally new dictionary created for American English. Its unique features include: -- the latest new words and acronyms, such as NIMBY, telecommute, and grunge -- thousands of colloquial and slang expressions, such as legit, yuck, and zilch -- up-to-date computer and technical terms, such as ASCII, e-mail, fax, and virtual reality, as well as new terms from medicine and business -- special easy-to-use organization -- all entries, including prefixes, abbreviations, foreign words, and biographical and geographical names, are arranged alphabetically in one section -- separate quick-reference tables: countries, states, state capitals, area and ZIP codes, presidents, and more.

The American Century Dictionary

Grand Central Publishing

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