Dictionary Reviews

I agree 100% with the ESOL instructor from Lawrenceburg, IN. I, too, am an ESL instructor, and this book is absolutely my best resource. Each unit is a self-contained lesson (if you want to use it that way), with an explanation and examples of the point being covered, followed by a page of exercises for student practice. It's very easy to use for in-class work, homework, student self study, and even pre-class review by the teacher. I love it!

This text contains short lessons on at least a hundred common concepts in English, with straightforward, everyday examples.

In the appendix, there is the best-organized list of irregular verbs I've seen. The verbs are categorized according to their irregularity, so that the patterns can be studied. Each of my students has a copy that (s)he refers to often.

The Table of Contents is spectacular. Each topic is broken into several different units, which are each well-described. I find this organization particularly helpful when a student mentions (s)he is having trouble understanding, say, the use of the present progressive to express the future. I thumb through the contents, and in seconds, I know to show Unit 20. Especially helpful if you and the student don't know that it's called the present progressive, just that people say "I am playing tennis tomorrow." Waste no time flipping through the index of another book only to find it a dead-end.

Lastly, the sections on prepositions (which are so difficult to teach) are wonderful. We have teachers who won't use anything else and students who have found them very helpful.

I'm using this book to teach my girlfriend English. She is from Brazil. This book is excellent, well structured, and progressive. The vocabulary its controlled. There are a lot of work with the verbs (to be), and (to have).The book also covers progressives and irregular past verb tenses.

I basically agree with many of the other reviewers, but want to be a bit more specific. I attended the Cornell FALCON Program many years ago which focuses on spoken Japanese, but the biggest problem thereafter was developing a professional vocabulary for reading. Virtually all textbooks I knew until this one (except the Jorden book "Reading Japanese" which only covers about 550 kanji) rely on "brute force" memorization of largely unrelated kanji compounds which makes it very hard, even with a good dictionary, to learn to make sense of kanji compounds one has never seen before. I'm probably more determined to read Japanese than most, but brute force just isn't remotely time-efficient and it certainly is no fun.

This book (a very big pedigogical improvement over its predecessor by the same authors "Reading Technical Japanese") teaches you to recognize the building blocks, much as if you were expanding your English vocabulary by learning common Latin and Greek roots, prefixes, and suffixes for English words. And this approach helps build vocabulary well beyond the target areas of math, physics, chemistry, and biology also--I found I could read geography, economics, etc far more easily. Reading unfamilar material can still be hard work, but this book is FAR more efficient and I think gives a greater insight into the language.

It also teaches characteristics of the written scientific language one doesn't pick up in classes on the spoken language.

I literally went from not being able to read a Japanese elementary school math or science book easily (even though I probably knew close to a 1000 general kanji before this book, there were gaps in crucial places that made science very frustrating) to being able to read some college-level science text books and regular technical trade journal after finishing this book. And I worked through this book in about a month--that's what I mean by efficient.

There was nothing quite like it for business and finance (a great problem) and I wish they would tackle that field as well, or that someone would follow their approach.

This book is really well-thought-out and well written. But the best point about "Basic Technical Japanese" is that it pulls no punches regarding the difficulty of the language. The attitude seems to be, "look, this a tough subject, it's a lot of work, we can't and won't make it easy, so let's get on with it." The authors throw a lot of Japanese at the student in a hurry. They introduce the phonetic alphabets (katakana and hiragana) in Chapters 3 and 4. After that, romanized spellings are no longer available as a crutch, and Japanese words, phrases, and sentences are given as the Japanese read them. Kanji (Chinese characters) are introduced starting in Chapter 5. Following chapters present the grammar and further vocabulary. In other words, Japanese is presented as it really is. This looks (and is) difficult at first. But if the student is persistent and puts in a solid effort up front, he or she soon learns that the writing system, though complicated, really can be learned. One could say that, in addition to presenting the Japanese writing system, the first chapters allow for some early confidence building. It really provides a lift to the student (at least it did to me) to be able to read a little real Japanese after only a few weeks of study.

Too many foreign language textbooks try to simply the learning process. Although this may be valid for many subjects, it probably isn't best for languages. Languages just don't have the basic logic that allows for simplified texts. Languages must be mastered by brute force, meaning lots of memorizing and practicing (and this is especially true of Asian languages). The best language books, therefore, explain grammatical points clearly and thoroughly, present a large basic vocabulary, and try to be as comprehensive as possible. "Basic Technical Japanese" does this very nicely.

This book should be a model for all foreign language textbooks. I'd give it more stars if I could.

This is a marvelous book: in a few weeks you will be able of reading and writing phrases like: "zinc and chlorhidric acid mix to produce hydrogen and heat". Very clear, well constructed with a lot of examples and exercises. It does not need a dictionary or else it is totally self contained.

Berlitz makes, in my opinion, the best phrase books around. BERLITZ FRENCH PHRASE BOOK & DICTIONARY is no exception.

Colour-coded for easy reference, the phrase book contains information for any imaginable occurance while travelling in France. Plus, it easily fits into one's pocket.

To deal with tricky French pronunciation, Berlitz gives a phonetic transcription of each word. For those who want to just learn how the language sounds without having to rely on the transcriptions, there's a chapter on how French letters are pronounced.

The guide is inexpensive, too.

If you're going to be travelling to France for a brief period of time and need a simple, clear phrase book, try this one by Berlitz.

This phrase book is a must-have for travelling in French-speaking countries, especially if you know little or no French. The book offers helpful phrases (and their pronunciations) and useful advice for many situations, like ordering from a menu or asking for directions. The dictionary is limited - a trade-off for its compact size - but adequate for a visit. As an American working in France, I carry it with me everywhere.

Even in the States, I carry the "Berlitz French Phrase Book & Dictionary" with me most of the time. Why you might ask? I love the French language so much that if someone I meet wants to learn it and practice it with me, I end up giving them this little book as a present. Its organization is superb, and you can easily find the section you need, whether it be the most basic French expression, such as "Comment ça va?" or more specialized information, such as a list of foods (look up "pamplemousse"), or how to get emergency help ("au secours!"). The pronunciation guides are pretty good, but the dictionary part is spartan, so I would not rely on it alone for looking up words. On a trip, take along a small "Larousse Dictionnaire de Poche" as well. You may want to add one of the "racier" phrase books from the "Street French" series or "Merde!" or "Merde Encore!" to keep at your place of lodging. As an alternative or as an addition, I recommend "Lonely Planet French Phrasebook," which seems to have more variety in terms of content, but lacks the organization of the Berlitz.

Berlitz has been publishing these phrasebooks in many languages for years, so do not hesitate to buy this classic. Be sure to check for the most recent edition as these books are updated often.

I am social worker with an intermediate knowledge of Spanish. Big Red is awesome. It crushes 501 Spanish Verbs. It reviews 555 Spanish verbs and their conjugations. The Book is physically larger, the layout clearer, and the print easier to see than in 501. Also!!!!! Unlike 501, there are examples. For each word there are at least 4 sentences with each verb so you can get a feel of the word's actual use. Even more, the writers have identified 50 words which are common in spoken language and common in idiomatic expressions. For these words there are a couple dozen sentences showing how they are used. Big Red, depending on where you shop is the same or cheaper than 501 Spanish Verbs. I love it. This book, the Oxford Spanish Dictionary, a Bible in the Nueva Version Internacional, Advanced Spanish Grammar by Prado, the dirt cheap dual language readers by Dover, a chatroom for learning spanish, and Instant Immersion CD's have all worked wonders. Good luck!

This is, by far, the best book on verbs I have ever encountered. It is brilliantly laid out so that finding the page for a verb also tells you its meaning, tells five common conjugations right at the top, gives several examples (in some cases, up to a page!) of the verb being used, and, of course, all of its conjugations. There are exercises and answers in the back as well as an irregular verb form index which allows you to look up the conjugated verb and find its infinitive and a verb index that translates the verb. After buying one book on Spanish verbs (sight unseen) that disappointed me greatly, I bought this one and cannot be happier with it!

I love this book! Why?

Well for starters there is the logical way in which the authors have approached this daunting task. They give you a list of "50 of the most common" verbs en Espanol, then they list all 550 verbs in alphabetical order. On the page in which a "common verb" appears, there is a notation that this is a "TOP 50 VERB!"

I am also impressed by the way they have conjugated each verb in an understandable manner, and the examples of usage they offer for each of the 550 verbs.

This book has gone along way toward taking my Spanish "to the next level," and I am quite certain it will do the same for you.

As cliche' as it sounds, this book is a "must read" for the serious student of Espanol.

Let me give you an example of the great comprehensiveness of this volume...

Yesterday, I happened to watch a re-run of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, the episode in which Picard talks about Fermat's Last Theorem, how it might never be proved. Remembering that it was proved some years ago, I looked up "Fermat's Last Theorem" in my BCE and saw that it had been finally been proved in 1994. Finding an episode guide for ST:TNG online, I saw that that particular episode had been first broadcast in '89. It was really cute to see that the theorem, first referred to in Fermat's notebook in 1637 (!!), was finally proved only 5 years after Picard was made to say that it might never be done.

(Moral of the story: "Never say never"!!)

This is a condensed version of the great 32-volume work. You can't have too many reference works that you never actually use anymore in your life (now that most of it is on the web), so I thought I'd check this out. What's one more weighty tome that I never read that sits on the shelf?

Well, that was my first reaction. Actually, this is a very nicely done book. It has 28,000 articles and many beautiful, color illustrations, and it's actually a pretty good book to just browse through and look at. It's comparable to the well-known Columbia Encyclopedia, which I have often used in libraries, and now in its 6th ed. It has many more entries, at 51,000, but it's not as concise either, but the Columbia work has suggestions for further reading. Both books are fine reference works, however, and should serve you well whichever one you decide to buy.

This is must for any home. This one book will answer almost any trivia contest you and your friends have.

I suppose one might argue that other usage guides are perhaps more thorough and instructive but for quality none outshines The Careful Writer. Theodore M. Bernstein created a gem for the ages when he assembled this collection of some 2,000 entries. I cannot imagine how often I've consulted this text to resolve some slippery usage issue or to refine my own text.

If you need help sorting out the use gender vs. sex, for instance, here you will find that gender is a grammatical term and not at all synonymous with sex. If you are not sure whether the context demands the use of fewer or less, Bernstein will set you straight. Did your supervisor remove all the commas you correctly inserted into a report? Check out the clear, precise explanation here.

Even as the standards of language erode, there are still many who strive to uphold correctness, precision, and nuance over fad and fashion. If you can find a copy of The Careful Writer, you will have a powerful tool to help preserve the legacy of our language.

Any copy editor, writer, broadcast journalist, or English professor who does not yet have a copy of Mr. Bernstein's stellar book is bereft of one of the essential compendiums of usage. It's well worth the effort to track down and purchase this book, for you will consult it with increasing frequency as you become aware of what a rich resource it is.

This is, indeed, a wonderful book, just as the other reviewers have said. People who are interested in language think most books on grammar and usage are entertaining even if they're really dry as dust. That's just how we are. This book, however, is much more entertaining than those that are really dry as dust.

The format of this book is easier on the eyes than many heavier tomes on usage. The pages have only a single, full column with bold heads and plenty of white space.

Bernstein has answers that can't be found elsewhere. Here's an example. Suppose you've written a paper you hope will be published in a scholarly journal. You submit the paper to your department head. He or she sends it to a peer reviewer. The reviewer writes that your ideas are "interesting, if not innovative." Based on that comment your department head refuses to submit the paper for publication. But did the reviewer mean your ideas were interesting BUT not innovative, or did he or she mean your ideas were NOT ONLY interesting BUT ALSO innovative? I checked five reference books searching for an answer. Only Bernstein came through. According to Bernstein, only tone of voice could distinguish between the two meanings, and so the construction "[this], if not [that]" should not be used in writing because of its ambiguity.

I've been a professional editor (books and magazines) for more than 20 years, and Theodore Bernstein's book remains my hands-down favorite reference. The information is comprehensive, the explanations are crystal-clear AND often humorous, and the organization makes the book extremely easy to use. It has never failed me -- I turn to it for both my own questions and my co-workers' questions, and it always provides an answer. It's even fun to read!

This book belongs on every writer's and editor's bookshelf.

"The Chambers Dictionary" is not just the official reference dictionary for U.K. Scrabble competitions, it is the true successor of the famous 'Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary'. With more than 215,000 references and 300,000 definitions, this lexicon is (arguably) the most complete and the most comprehensive single-volume dictionary available in Queen's English. It is worth every cent you spend on it!
Misled by name, many people who rushed into buying 'The Chambers 21st Century Dictionary' instead of this one realized their mistake a little too late. And, I can understand their anger with Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd (for the confusing title which they mistook for the successor of the 'Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary'). Be sure not to be misled!

I don't know if the definition of "rocks" in Chambers would render the correct sense to the title of this review as I have only just purchased my third copy of this dictionary, having given away my previous two to people who just fell in love with them. I think that speaks volumes in itself that a simple dictionary might inspire such passion!

I use many other popular dictionaries when I want to see if most people would understand my usage of a word; but if I want to know about it myself, I use Chambers. Chambers is probably the most comprehensive single volume dictionary around. It is often highly readable and amusing. It is the official Scrabble dictionary for the UK, and if you play the game as I do, to improve your vocabulary, there's no other single volume reference like it. There is no other lexicon which captures the wealth of the language around the world with such geographical impartiality.

It is not easy to find it in some countries (which is why I had to order it at Amazon), and that is a real pity. I hope this does not mean that it is reaching the end of its lifetime as I recently heard it was out of print. I wish it came on CD-ROM with regular updates from the publishers.

Known instantly whenever its name is mentioned, this new edition of "The Chambers Dictionary" is one of the oldest single-volume dictionaries of its kind, drawing on a 166 year-old tradition of dictionary writing.

Hailed as the most comprehensive and current single-volume dictionary of international English, this newly revised edition contains over 215,000 references and 300,000 definitions. "'The Chambers Dictionary' is an official reference source for the board game Scrabble], its wide range of vocabulary provides unrivalled coverage for word game players, crossword solvers, and crossword compilers, as well as a treasure-trove of lexical delights for word lovers. "The Chambers Dictionary" has long been the choice of the discerning user of English and the preferred single-volume dictionary of academics, and professionals for its coverage of the English language from the Bible, and Shakespeare, to present day scientific, and technological vocabulary. Many new words and meanings have been added from today's world of information sciences, business, alternative medicine, and everyday life, including "cybercaf", "alpha-decay", "browser", "road rage", "birthing pool", and "reiki". With bold headwords, and clear type, the dictionary has the all the advantages of a modern, streamlined layout and makes information on words, phrases, and expressions easier to find, easier to read, and easier to understand. Special Features:

Etymological nesting of words show derivations, emphasizes linguistic links between words, and increases overall coverage

Prefaces include: "A short history of English", "Rules of English spelling" Selected phrases and quotations from Latin, Greek, and modern languages.

Appendices include: Pronunciation guide, Grammar and usage guide, punctuation, symbols, temperature, measurement and size conversions, Roman numerals, and Chemical Elements

I'm currently training to become a Pharmacy Technician, and this book has a wealth of information I constantly tap into. A great resource for anybody in the health field!

I rely heavily on this abbreviations dictionary and have referred to on a daily basis for many years. I have recommended it to all of my colleagues (medical transcriptionists) and they agree that it is focused on the information we need, making work a lot easier. Even though it came out in 1997, it serves us very well in our daily work, although I must say, we are all looking forward to the new edition!

I am a nurse in a major urban hospital who is constantly having to decipher all kinds of abbreviations. I have used many many different abbreviations dictionaries and I particularly like this one for several reasons:
1) It gives the only clinical abbreviations that are most commonly encountered in my work, so I don't have to wade through endless choices that wouldn't be applicable anyway
2) Much more accurate than other abbrev. dictionaries (you cannot imagine the mistakes I have come across in very popular dictionaries such as Stedman's and Mosby's!!). I have seen a few minor errors in this dictionary, but far fewer than other dictionaries
3)The type is large enough to read
4) Price is great
So, all in all, I highly recommend this dictionary to any health care professional, and believe me, I know of what I speak!

Aproximaciones is a wonderful tool for the student learning about Spanish literature. The selections are well analyzed by the author and the biographies provide an overview of the cultures and perspectives of the different time periods. The chronological order of the readings makes it easy to understand the different stages of the Spanish literature and the various literary movements affecting the arts, the philosophy, and society of medieval to modern times.

This is an extremely helpful book for those who start studying literary analysis in Spanish as well as for very green literary scholars. The introduction to the special terms is easy to follow and the english equivalents are in their right places and don't distract you. Go ahead, you'll love using it in your Spanish or literary analysis class!

every story is like the life of a new person yet in some way they are all connected.

I had the chance to compare the Chambers Dictionary of Etymology with the Oxford Dictionary of Etymology, and I have to say that although both books are way ahead of the competition, for me, the Oxford seemed to go into greater depth.

Admittedly, I did not have the time to compare a lot of entries, but the few words I did look up showed a pattern that was hard to dismiss. In all of the cases that I saw, the Oxford dictionary included much more of the history of the word and often went back to the Latin root as well as proposing possible alternate developments of the word. The Chambers dictionary, on the other hand, tended to trace a more linear path and often only went as far back as the Old English or Old French root.

While the Chambers Dictionary of Etymology is a very clear and concise work, I feel the Oxford Dictionary of Etymology has a slight advantage in precision and depth. I must add that although the Oxford beats out the Chambers dictionary in regard to etymology, Chambers has the advantage when it comes to quotations. I find that the Chambers Dictionary of Quotations is better than Oxford's equivalent work.

This volume is a "must-have" for readers, scholars, and absolutely any person interested in words and their origins/history. The book is rather heavy and thick but is otherwise extremely user-friendly and a great "browser" as well as an essential companion to any ordinary dictionary.

I should note that this edition, although a British re-publication of its famous US version, retains American spelling and keeps its focus on American sources while utilizing the best of all English references, regardless of country of origin.

Regarding physical quality, the book has a signature-sewn binding, meaning that it is not merely held together by glue but that its pages are actually sewn with real thread... quite a treat in today's disposable society. Thus, with reasonable care, this tome should last a lifetime and beyond!

This reference views the English language from an American perspective (as opposed to the classic OED) and presents its 25,000-30,000 entries accordingly.

The book is a supreme value and you can't go wrong. This is one for scholars and browsers alike.

I recommend this book in the highest possible sense.