Customer Reviews

The Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus

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4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I like this thesaurus. I've recently returned to school after a long absence, and I quickly realized that I needed more than my trusty Webster's and the thesaurus from my computer word program. The American Writer's Thesaurus does what any standard thesaurus can do, but it has style and panache. Since I was unable to see the book before I purchased it, I relied on the reviews for guidance. Some of the commentary left me with the impression that I would be wading through essays before I found what I wanted. But I took a chance and I'm glad I did.

The essays are mere paragraphs interspersed throughout the book on an as needed basis and serve to expand the usage of a word. It's in alphabet format and contains several features such as The Right Word, Word Spectrums and Word Banks. These features are lists of words or short paragraphs that elaborate on commonly misused words. One last handy reference is the Understanding Grammar section at the back of the book. This is a super little primer or memory jogger for the rules of English.

As the author points out, a thesaurus does not replace a dictionary. But this book does make it easier to understand the connation of a word. I think that if you are looking to expand your word usage, this book is an excellent reference book that's interesting and not staid. I purchased it along with S.I. Hayakawa's "Choose the Right Word." Hayakawa's book is a fabulously helpful, interesting and easy to read reference that offers an in depth description of the subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, differences between synonym choices. With considerably more depth, but fewer entries, it is an excellent companion to "The American Writer's Thesaurus."

If you're looking to replace your worn out thesaurus, or to include an alphabet style reference, or you'd just like to add some interest to your reference book collection, this thesaurus would be an excellent pick. Preference is an individual choice and not every reference book is right for every person, but this book is perfect for me. Are you sending a child to college? Please consider Christine A. Lindberg's "American Writer's Thesaurus", S.I. Hayakawa's "Choose the Right Word," and a good dictionary as necessary tools for success.

Gustave Flaubert said, "All talent for writing consists after all of nothing more than choosing words." And how can that be wrong. Even as I write this review, I am only choosing words. But to say exactly what I mean is sometimes difficult. I want to say something, I know there is a word that expresses exactly what I want to say, but I can't think of it. Hence a thesaurus.

This new thesaurus carries things a lot further. Rather than just providing a list of alternative words, here are real-life example sentences, explicit distinctions for the most commonly used synonyms and many additional features. As an example, here is the entry for the word dramatize:


dramatize verb 1. the novel was dramatized TURN INTO A PLAY/MOVIE/MOTION PICTURE/FILM, adapt for the stage/screen.

2. the tabloids dramatized the event EXAGGERATE, overdo, overstate, hyperbolize, magnify, amplify, inflate; sensationalize, embroider, color, aggrandize, embellish, elaborate; informal blow up (out of all proportion).

I was given this as a gift and it was the best present I've received in years. The combination of essays and synonyms makes you want to rummage through the pages. The more words you run across the richer and more expressive your writing will be, and this thesaurus really introduces you to a glorious many.

I really like the personal tone of the writers' essays -- it takes what could be a forbidding, boring reference book and makes it like taking a class with these writers. (Where is it written that reference books have to be overserious killjoys to be authoritative? This one manages to be both readable and responsible.)

If you are still using a skimpy paperback thesaurus, upgrade! You'll be glad you did.

I went to the bookstore and chose five thesauruses (none of them "pocket"). I then chose five words, and looked them up in each of the thesauruses. I counted the synonyms given in each thesaurus. The Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus always had more words, usually by approx. X2. (I looked at the words too, of course, and they weren't far fetched.) I then went back to Amazon and ordered it, because it was so much cheaper at Amazon than at the bookstore. If you know your English well enough to sort out the ones from those given that actually apply to your text, then this is the thesaurus for you. I don't know about you but when I need to use my thesaurus I want the maximum selection of synonyms to choose from.

If you are looking to buy a good thesaurus with practically every word in the english language then this is the way to go. The writers give you both formal and informal synonyms to the words that you look up. So far, there has not been a single word that I wanted to look up that was not in the thesaurus. The only thing the writers of this book included that was somewhat corny were short 5-6 sentence blurbs that do nothing but take up paper (only some words have these blurbs). For example for the word sexy, the blurb talked about how if someone calls you sexy, then you have it all. Other than that, this thesaurus if flawless.

A writer friend recommended this thesaurus to me, and finding myself always in need of a good word now that I'm reviewing, I decided to give it a try. I am very pleased with this thesaurus! I have a great vocabulary, but sometimes I feel as if I'm repeating the same words over and over again, so I hit the thesaurus. I'd used the synonym finder built into Microsoft Office and Thesaurus.com for years, but the Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus often has a word or two those sources do not.

I checked around for the book in town, and found that Amazon.com has the best price. Buy it locally, and you'll likely pay about $15 more for it plus tax. Since I'm a member of Amazon's Prime Club, I received it in 2 business days with no extra charge for shipping!

Every time I write a review, I pull this off the bookshelf and keep it handy. I don't use it every time, but I keep it handy for those times when words fail me... LOL

Despite some reviews, not every thesaurus is for writers. Some are simply mean't to give the average person a few alternatives, and are quite limited. This however is different. Exhaustive even. Something a writer can greatly benefit from when needing to express themselves in a totally unique way. Keeps one from becoming repetitive.

This is an essential for those days when you can't think of the right words. (And it's way better than an online thesaurus, or the lousy one that comes with MS Word.) This version is useful but, oddly enough, also really cool and fun. The Word Notes in it are great little essays that will completely sidetrack you from whatever you were trying to look up in the first place. Some of the contributors are among the best contemporary writers--getting advice from them just adds to the power of this resource.

This thesaurus is a great tool. Of the many I own, this is the first, and only one I grab when I am looking for that perfect word. Additionally, the essays, lists, and other useful and original ideas presented in this book make it well worth the price.

If you want a thesaurus, I recommend "The Synonym Finder" (if you want an alphabetical thesaurus) and "Bartlett's Roget's Thesaurus" (if you want a traditional thesaurus arranged by subject).

If you want a book that explains the differences between synonyms, I recommended the Merriam-Webster "Dictionary of Synonyms" or "Choose the Right Word."

However, in the unlikely event that you want a thesaurus interspersed with essays by supposed writing experts, you might enjoy this book. I'd like to point out, though, that all thesauruses are for writers, and calling this a "writer's thesaurus" doesn't make it any more so.

All in all, this is an average thesaurus, but the essays are a distraction and their tone is too personal and opinionated for a reference work. Because of this, I don't think this book will stand the test of time.