Customer Reviews

The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles. TWO VOLUMES

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I'm a mature student of linguistics and English with seven English dictionaries, including two copies of this works earlier edition, a smaller Oxford, a large Webster's and a facsimile edition of Jonson's original dictionary. This dictionary is the one that gets used the most.

For many years I swore by the earlier edition and this new one improves it with a newer selection of words and the thumb indexes for each letter making it a little quicker to find the word you need.

For a student of lexicography this dictionary is unmistakably an Oxford while moving towards a more modern world. While the pronunciation is the good old southern received from the original OED they have moved to the International Phonetic Alphabet from the one developed for the first OED. The layout and typeface for entries are still the same; easily read and well laid out. They keep the same marvelous information regarding derivation of a word but replace a definitive date for earliest use with a symbol that places it in the first second or final third of a century, probably more honest anyway. Like the earlier Shorter Oxford most entries also have usage examples for the word, many offer a usage for each sense of the headword.

While the word choice among the 100,000 or so headwords in these two volumes has some holes they are not large at all and mostly confined to more particular areas that border on jargon or industry specific terms. Like some other reviewers I can bemoan the absence of words in my particular topics of interest but there is no point, almost all people will never notice their absence.

For most of the English speaking world this is the dictionary that all high school and university students should own, the perfect answer for most of us who cannot afford or house the definitive Oxford English Dictionary. OK, it may be fairly costly but a dictionary this good is purchased once a lifetime and one this large will not be lost at school or be left at the bus stop. My family has had an earlier edition for thirty years.

Argument can perhaps be made that within the US, with its more Elizabethan spelling, a home grown dictionary such as Webster's should perhaps be recommended, since the Shorter Oxford lists US spellings and notes where they are the prevalent US spelling I would disagree.

I would recommend this dictionary to everyone who speaks the English language. Every home deserves a copy of this dictionary.

The best of the large dictionaries. Although I'll concede that the NSOED does not live up to its dust jacket claim for including all words since 1700, it is far more comprehensive than any of its desk top competitors. By breaking it into two volumes, Oxford has made each book manageable and one doesn't need to lift weights to look up a word. The use of the OED's approach to etymology makes this dictionary superior to any in its price range, including, specifically, the Random House and the American Heritage. It dwarfs the Collegiate dictionaries (Webster's and the New World) for number of words included. Easy to read, easy to browse, endlesslly rewarding. Own this, the 2nd OED, and Webster's Unabridged and you've got everything you need.

despite the odd complaints of the 'websters' fetishist who reviewed this book in 1997, this dictionary is second only to the full oed. it suffers in comparison to its sire only from necessary abbreviations due to size.

i have not been disappointed with it so far, and suspect that scholars, except perhaps of modern animal husbandry and american vernacular, will not be disapointed either. this is an ideal reference for graduate students, and others who have need of a serious text at a reasonable price.

and anyone who claims not to know that 'cilantro' is merely a recent american name for the native european herb 'coriander' (p.511) is not fit, in my humble opinion, to act as a referee for this excellent book!

Much better than Webster's unabridged in both content and organization, and even type. Certainly, you would need both to have a complete library, because there are a lot of words that are not common to both, but this is the one to get if you can't have both.

The Oxford English Dictionary has always been the standard by which all other dictionaries have been judged. However, while the 20 volume set is quite thorough, to say the least, it isn't the sort of thing you'd want to keep on your desk at work. (Unless you're employed as an English professor.) This "Shorter" two volume set is an excellent and more compact version of the full dictionary. While it lacks many of the historical word usage references (try looking up "apprehend" in the 20 volume set and compare it to this one, and you'll see what I mean), it is more than adequate for almost anyone. The thumb index tabs are very useful, and the books are bound beautifully. Along with the Oxford Canadian Dictionary, Roget's Thesaurus, and Strunk and White's "Elements of Style", this dictionary is one of the core reference books I use on a daily basis. Certainly costlier than many dictionaries, but in this case you really do get what you pay for.

I have used the Shorter OED for nearly six years now, and I have never once been disappointed. It is comprehensive (I can't remember ever not finding something I needed, whether from a literary or a scholarly text, whether from this century or the middle ages). The definitions are clearly written. The supplemental information (derivation, usage, etc.) is easily deciphered. It's also just a joy to use, and, let's be honest, provides you with two very impressive-looking volumes to display on your shelves. I can't imagine ever needing another dictionary.

Unless you have the spare cash and storage space for the full 20 volumes, or the vision and patience for the magnification-enhanced compact edition, this is the dictionary for the serious wordsmith and bookworm. As usable as any Webster's, this dictionary bests competitors in terms of comprehensiveness and concision. The OED has gotten a rap as the last bastion of English Imperialism, but if the English Language is what's left of the British Empire, well then here's the law book.

The definitions and background information provided in this set are complete for modern and even many archaic uses, but the set is quite manageable. It is the dictionary of choice even for my high school children, who can tell a weak definition as well as anyone! Clearly presented, excellent exposition of the unusual and exotic words (including many of foreign origin) that force you to use the dictionary. An immense pleasure to use.

This edition lives up to its larger predicessor. The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary claims to have every word in use since the eighteenth century. While I doubt it tp be that complete, I have never failed to find an entry. Like all of the Oxford series, this Shorter Dictionary includes notes on usage, other forms, and for certain words lengthy examples from prominent literary works for the time. This is definitely not a quick reference book, although its two 1500-page volumes are more convenient than the full version.

If you are frustrated by college dictionaries or the childrens dictionary you got for your tenth birthday, I would consider this book. It was well worth the considerable price to me.

I guess you don't buy a dictionary very often.

With this premise, "The New Shorter Oxford" Dictionary really delivers good value.

The format, layout, contents and "sheer" size of the dictionary is impressive. Also, because I am currently living in Australia it was important for me that it contained British English definitions or equivalents.

If you are looking for a comprehensive yet affordable dictionary (and have the desk space for the two volumes) this is it!