Choosing a Dictionary

Most dictionaries are now descriptive. They list the most frequent pronunciations and spellings first, even if they are not the best usages. Very few dictionaries are prescriptive, giving advice on the best ways to use words.

Dictionaries, today, even include words that are considered nonstandard but have unique spellings.

In selecting a dictionary for your reference desk, keep in mind the different philosophies.

Merriam-Webster dictionary is often less clear so it can include more entries into its limited amount of space. It is slower to add new words, but is useful for finding obscure terms and meanings.

American Heritage dictionary has good usage information and is good at covering the way language behaves.

New Oxford American dictionary is excellent at analyzing language chunks, but sacrifices some coverage to achieve depth.

Webster’s New World dictionary is accurate with sensible definitions, but does not include much more than the bare bones.