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Subject:Re: standard references From:Bill Burns <WBURNS -at- VAX -dot- MICRON -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 12 Jan 1995 08:18:57 MDT
This message is in response to Jan Boomsliter's question about dictionary
preferences.
I have two favorites, one printed, one online. For etymologies, I like the
Oxford English Dictionary (compact version, naturally). If you're lucky, you
can pick this up for about $50.00 if you catch the Book-of-the-Month Club's
application drive. If not, it sells for between $150.00 to 200.00. Remember to
look for the Compact Edition of the OED. The regular version comes in around
16 or so volumes and sells for a few grand.
The online version of the American Heritage Dictionary (3rd ed.) is also a
great reference item. It's sometimes a bit loose with its definitions, but
it offers good etymological notes, a thesaurus, an anagram function, and a
word-hunter option that allows users to search for terms used in definitions.
I have this one online at work, so I don't know how much it sells for.
Bill Burns
Assm. Technical Writer/Editor
Micron Technology, Inc.
Boise, ID
