Customer Reviews

Random House Webster's Concise Dictionary: Second Edition

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My copy is nearly a year and a half old, and amazingly, looks "almost new." Of everything I own, it's the only item that gets abuse, and abuse it gets. It gets dropped, laid open with other books on top of it, etc. I use it constantly. I must. I'm a terrible speller.

Rarely do I look up a word that's not included (and I look up some obscure ones!), and it has lots of extras. The "New Words" section is funny. It has everything from "Abs" to "Yada-yada-yada"..."Guide for Writers" (I should read that someday!)..."Avoiding Insensitive and Offensive Language" for the politically correct out there..."Glossary of Business Terms" if you need to figure out the fine print on a document, and much more.

The words entries are in a bold clear print, making them easy to find, and the quality of the paper is excellent and of a good thickness (I have many dictionaries with paper so thin the print on the reverse side is visible).

It's a sturdy little volume, ideal for daily use, and its bright red and yellow cover makes it a cheerful one too.

Update 2/2006: The cover is getting a little worn looking (there is a thin film of plastic that is peeling off), but the binding is still solid, after all these years of daily use!

With 60,000 entries and fine clear typeface this 7 X 4-1/4 X 1-3/4 portable is just the ticket for the reading table. Its beautiful glossy, dark red cover makes it a nice accent piece as well.

Unfortunately it does not travel well, since the cover and binding can not take much abuse. For the briefcase and the beach, the Langenscheidt Pocket Merriam-Webster (also 60,000 entries) with its slightly smaller size, sturdy binding, and flexible yellow plastic cover is better suited.