Merriam Webster's Everyday Language Reference Set [Box set] [Paperback]

Merriam-Webster (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0877799709 | ISBN-13: 978-0877799702 | Publication Date: January 1998

Three essential resources are brought together to answer innumerable questions about our language that come up during the average day. This mini-bookshelf consists of The New Merriam Webster Dictionary, The Merriam Webster Thesaurus, and The Merriam Webster Vocabulary Builder--all contained in a convenient slipcase.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The Merriam brothers desired a continuity of editorship that would link Noah Webster's efforts with their own editions, so they selected Chauncey A. Goodrich, Webster's son-in-law and literary heir, who had been trained in lexicography by Webster himself, to be their editor in chief. Webster's son William also served as an editor of that first Merriam-Webster dictionary, which was published on September 24, 1847.

Although Webster's work was honored, his big dictionaries had never sold well. The 1828 edition was priced at a whopping $20; in 13 years its 2,500 copies had not sold out. Similarly, the 1841 edition, only slightly more affordable at $15, moved slowly. Assuming that a lower price would increase sales, the Merriams introduced the 1847 edition at $6, and although Webster's heirs initially questioned this move, extraordinary sales that brought them $250,000 in royalties over the ensuing 25 years convinced them that the Merriams' decision had been abundantly sound.

The first Merriam-Webster dictionary was greeted with wide acclaim. President James K. Polk, General Zachary Taylor (hero of the Mexican War and later president himself), 31 U.S. senators, and other prominent people hailed it unreservedly. In 1850 its acceptance as a resource for students began when Massachusetts ordered a copy for every school and New York placed a similar order for 10,000 copies to be used in schools throughout the state. Eventually school use would spread throughout the country. In becoming America's most trusted authority on the English language, Merriam-Webster dictionaries had taken on a role of public responsibility demanded of few other publishing companies. 

Product Details

• Paperback: 2328 pages
• Publisher: Merriam-Webster (January 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877799709
• ISBN-13: 978-0877799702
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.4 x 4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,779,988 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Merriam Webster's Everyday Language Reference Set . . ., June 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Merriam Webster's Everyday Language Reference Set (Paperback)

Every home needs to be equiped with certain items. A dictionary and thesaurus are two of those items. When looking to purchase these items I went with a name I trusted, Merriam Webster. I decided to purchase the complete set because I found it interesting that it included a vocabulary builder. My family and I choice a word a day from the informative books and use it as much as possible. We enjoy picking a word from the vocab builder, then looking it up in the dictionary. We use the thesaurus to find similar words, and words that mean the complete opposite. The choices are endless. I have yet heard a word that can not be found in one of the three books. Unlike most thesaurus' this version has almost every word. It was surprising, because often with thesaurus' the choices are limited. This is one problem that I have yet to run into. I plan to purchase a few copies for family members and friends that are graduating in this year. My fiance even mentioned that we need our own set when we get married.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have Set, November 12, 2001

By 

G. Jordan "ginazone" (Adirondacks, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Merriam Webster's Everyday Language Reference Set (Paperback)

I had a set similar to this years ago, which became dog-eared & yellowed with constant use. I replaced them with this 3-book set & the Vocabulary Builder is the best part of this set. My husband & I both love learning new words, so we'll often sit & quiz each other from this new set of books. I also use them as quick references in my writing and business ventures. The dictionary is great as an alternative to the official scrabble dictionary (when we get tired of the seemingly made up words that can't be found in any other dictionary). Maybe I'm just strange--I did read dictionaries & thesauruses for fun as a child & teen.
This set is an excellent value for the money & will be referred to & used again & again. No home or office should be without this reference set.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Reference Set that Wasn't, September 14, 2010

By 

Tom Dolan "1luckycat" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Merriam-Webster's Everyday Language Reference Set (Paperback)

This is the simplest Review I've written for an amazon order. The Reference set is junk: poor quality paper, font barely larger than an average garden variety ant, printed so lightly I suspect you'll squint in the brightest light. Save your time and money. I'm lookin' at the Oxford combo-book which sells for less, printed on bright white paper in a large font using adequate ink enabling the text to stand out from the page.

As usual, delivery by amazon was terrific, now we'll see how they handle the return of the 'set' which I believe is the 1st time I've ever returned to them. I'm a committed amazon client/supporter and this has nothing to do with amazon and everything to do with Merriam-Webster.