Evaluation Set #3 Individual Assignment

1 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi

Terry Wasserman Dictionary/Encyclopedia Evaluation ILS 504 Spr 09 Prof. Okobi 11 April 2009

2 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi

I. Encyclopedias

Academic American Encyclopedia Academic American Encyclopedia. 21 volumes. Danbury, Conn.: Grolier, 2000. Purpose / General Information: This is a general encyclopedia, jam-packed with concise articles on a variety of different, general interest topics. Its advantages are in its authorship, many of the contributors are academics researching in the field and the brevity of the articles. Scope: This is a 21 volume encyclopedia with over 30,000 articles. Format: The encyclopedia is available in print and cd-rom versions. The cd-rom version boasts a search function as well as the entire content of the print version (maps, illustrations, etc…). Audience: Though the contributors are by and large academics, the encyclopedia is geared toward the general user, student or library patron. Authority: As many, if not most, of the contributors are academics (some from highly regarded universities) the encyclopedia is a very creditable source. Articles are signed and many have current bibliographies.

3 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi

Writing Style: The articles are generally easy to read and succinct. The reader is not overwhelmed with information, but is introduced to the subject. There is a lot of crossreferencing within the articles and many are complemented by useful and up-to-date bibliographies. Currency: The encyclopedia is revised annually. Viewpoint and Objectivity: The encyclopedia articles are predominantly even-handed, as one would expect from a source written by academics and edited to be concise. The encyclopedia was first put together in 1980 by OCLC, an organization known for its fairness—it has been published by Grolier since the mid-1980s. Arrangement and Entry The articles are arranged by subject in alphabetical order, letter by letter. Each entry consists of fewer than 500 words, is signed by the author and many have bibliographic references and illustrations. There are, in fact, over 16,000 illustrations. Index: The final volume is an index of over 200,000 terms. Cost: The encyclopedia costs $400.

4 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi Bartleby Bartleby. Van Leeuwan, S. (ed.). Retrieved from www.bartleby.com on 7 April 2009. Purpose / General Information: Bartleby is one of the oldest online reference services—it began as a personal webpage in 1993 and developed into one of the best personal reference shelves on the web. It includes standard dictionaries, encyclopedias, thesauri, books of quotation and more—and it’s free! Scope: Bartleby really is “every man’s” reference shelf—it is exactly what most college students had or wished they had on the shelf above their desks. Bartleby covers nearly all general reference topics; it has anthologies (fiction, non-fiction and poems), dictionaries, encyclopedias, English language and style books, etiquette books, factbooks, quotation books, thesauri and the Bible. It even has books on parliamentary procedures, cooking and human anatomy. Format: It is a free online source with over 30 reference materials. Audience: Its originator geared it towards “students, teachers and the intellectually curious” and it is certainly used by all of the above. Authority: Bartleby has created its own authority by delivering only the highest quality reference materials—it includes such standards as The Columbia Encyclopedia, Roget’s Thesaurus, American Heritage Dictionary, Strunk & White’s The Elements of Style, The

5 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi Oxford Shakespeare and the KJV Bible amongst others. Writing Style: Bartleby’s writing style is modern and easy to read—the sources contained on the website, however, vary from the acerbic writing of H.L. Mencken to the archaic English of the Bible. Currency Bartleby itself is updated regularly and includes on the homepage a daily section consisting of a biography, a definition, a quotation and a poem as well as a featured author section. The timeliness of the sources themselves depend both on their publisher’s updating as well as the version that is kept on Bartleby. Viewpoint and Objectivity: Bartleby is a daemon, or intermediary, and so the viewpoint or objectivity of the sources depend not on Bartleby but upon the sources’ authors and editors. Each source, then, has a different viewpoint; ranging from the humour of Aristophanes’ Frogs to the desperation of Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. . Arrangement and Entry: The homepage has tabs for reference, verse, fiction and non-fiction as well as buttons for title, author and subject in addition to buttons for encyclopedia, dictionary, thesaurus, quotations and English usage. By far the most useful trait of the page is the keyword search which allows the user to search through all of the sources on Bartleby simultaneously; a search that previously could have taken days. Index:

6 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi N/A. Cost Free.

International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, 2nd ed. 19 volumes. New York: Thomson/Gale, 2007. Purpose / General Information: This encyclopedia is the general purpose encyclopedia for the social sciences and as such defines them. It is both a “state of the field” for recent developments in the various social sciences as well as a reference tool for those interested in the topics of modern social thought. Scope The articles in this encyclopedia cover the breadth of information from abortion to white collar crime—the encyclopedia is devoted to the ideas, topics and methodologies discussed within the range of postmodern social science. Additionally, included in the 9 volumes are over 500 biographies about important and influential social scientists. Format: It is available in 9 print volumes; there is no online version. There is no glossary, however, the first volume does contain a thematic index. Audience: The encyclopedia is meant for upper level high school students, college students, professionals and non-specialists alike. Some of the statistical articles may be too esoteric

7 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi for the layman/woman but most of the articles are geared towards a wide audience. Authority: Each article is signed by one of the hundreds of well-vetted contributors to the encyclopedia. Though I, myself, had not heard of the author of the article on archaeology (a field with which I am intimately familiar), the article was accurate and well-presented. Writing Style: The articles are generally easy to read and clearly presented—only a few are overwhelmed by technical jargon. Currency Published at the end of 2007, it is absolutely current as the fields within the social sciences do change, but rarely overnight. Viewpoint and Objectivity: It is more liberal than other encyclopedias, which is probably to be expected from an academy-derived reference book. Instead of tip-toeing around the issue of abortion, for instance, the author simply assumed abortions as a phenomenon and discussed the surrounding controversy. Contributors were chosen from far and wide both based on their expertise as well as their “international-ness,” giving this encyclopedia less of a narrow American context. Arrangement and Entry: The encyclopedia is arranged in alphabetical order, letter by letter—all of the entries are signed and many contain a bibliography. Most articles also contain a number of cross-references to other articles in the encyclopedia. The final volume of the set has

8 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi an annotated bibliography as well as an index. Index: The index is in the 9th volume and lists all of the terms in alphabetical order. Cost: The encyclopedia costs $1134.

McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. 8th edition. 20 volumes. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1997. Purpose / General Information: The encyclopedia is an international reference work which attempts to bring together all modern aspects of science and technology, cross-referencing liberally, to create a subject-specific reference work encompassing all of the major sciences and their contributions to human knowledge. Scope: In this edition there are 7100 entries presenting the writing and thoughts of over 3500 scientists, 19 Nobel Laureates amongst them. Of the over 7000 entries, 1600 are either new or entirely revised from the last edition and within the articles there are 60,000 cross-references. There are 13,000 illustrations in the encyclopedia, 1750 of which are new to this edition. Format:

9 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi This encyclopedia is available in 20 print volumes or online at Access Science. The final print volume includes six study guides, “how to use” guides, as well as a section on scientific notation. The online version has a keyword search. Audience: Though written by some of the most lauded scientists in their fields, the encyclopedia is meant for the specialist and non-specialist alike. The study guide and section on scientific notation in the 20th volume will be of great assistance to students. Authority: Each article is signed and a list of contributors is given. Many of the contributors are from the most prestigious colleges, hospitals and laboratories in their respective fields. Writing Style: Unfortunately, the writing is very technical, making it not as useful for the layman/woman as it will be for the science major. The subjects themselves are sophisticated and so it is no surprise that the articles tend to assume an advanced reader, but this would not be a resource for a novice. Currency: This edition was published over a decade ago and as science advances at breakneck speed, we can assume that this encyclopedia is a bit dated. However, much of it is still useful and pertinent. Viewpoint and Objectivity: The views of many eminent scientists are included in this encyclopedia as well as bibliographic references. The articles are generally well-illustrated to ensure

10 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi clarity. Arrangement and Entry: The entries are arranged in alphabetical order, word by word. Each article begins with a description of the topic before it delves into greater detail. Each article is signed by the author (a contributor list with place of employment is included in the final volume) and in survey articles the reader is directed to more specific articles on the topic. Most articles also have a bibliography. Index: A topical index as well as an analytic index are included in the final volume. Cost: The 9th edition in 20 volumes costs $2495. The cost of an online version of the encyclopedia, Access Science, can be obtained on an institution to institution basis. For individual users, Access Science has a “pay per view” fee of $29.95/24 hours and $49.95/48 hours.

Subject Encyclopedias: User Guide, Review Citations, and Keyword Index Mirwis, Allan. Subject Encyclopedias: User Guide, Review Citations, and Keyword Index. 2 vols. Phoenix, Ariz.: Oryx Press, 1999. Purpose / General Information: The Subject Encyclopedias is really a list of good subject encyclopedias written between 1990-1997 for older students or adults. It was published by Oryx Press, an independent well-respected publisher that has since been purchased by Greenwood

11 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi Publishing Group, another, larger, well-regarded publisher. Scope: It is an index to assist students and/or library patrons in finding and using the appropriate subject encyclopedias for their research. Over 1100 subject encyclopedias are included. Format: Subject Encyclopedias was published in print form only. The 2nd volume has a keyword index to articles from nearly 100 of the subject encyclopedias—these articles were chosen so as to be useful to library patrons in beginning their research. Audience: The audience for these volumes is older high school or college students and adults. Authority: Aside from the authority of the publisher, the editor chose only subject encyclopedias that had been reviewed in scholarly journals. Writing Style: Listings are clear and concise. Currency: The Subject Encyclopedias was published in 1999. Viewpoint and Objectivity: Including all “scholarly-recognised” subject encyclopedias means a great breadth of information and without comprehensive articles there is little room for bias. Arrangement and Entry:

12 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi Articles are arranged by partial LOC classification number. Each entry includes a bibliographic citation, citations to reviews and awards from library journals, approximate number of OCLC holdings, a title index, LC subject headings index, Dewey classification index, publisher index, and rating index are also provided. Part II of Subject Encyclopedias is a keyword index to specific articles from 98 subject encyclopedias, selected from the entries in Part I because they were deemed to be useful to library patrons in beginning a subject search. Index: The source is an index—there is no additional index. Cost: $187.95 for both volumes (on Amazon.com).

Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved from www.britannica.com on 8 April 2009. Purpose / General Information: The encyclopedia itself is a general encyclopedia spanning the breadth of human knowledge in a clear and easy to read form. The Britannica.com website is a watered down version of the old warhorse, The Encyclopaedia Britannica, which is now in its third century of publication. There is also a premium version of the website that contains the entire contents of the 32 print volumes as well as an online school edition for youths. Scope:

13 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi In 1994 the Britannica became the world’s first online encyclopedia and remains a standard by which other compare. As of 1933 the encyclopedia was continually revised annually and it is updated even more frequently online. Format: While still available in a print version as the New Encyclopedia Britannica the many online versions have given it international prominence (Britannica Mobile, Britannica on YouTube, Britannica Online Premium, Britannica Online Student, etc…). A CD-Rom is also available of the encyclopedia and has been since 1989. Britannica also offers articles to users via other respected magazines and journals. Audience: The Britannica is written for a general audience of educated adults. It is considered more academic than its oft-found shelf-mate, WorldBook. Authority: The writers and editorial board of Britannica consist of leaders in their fields, from Nobel Laureates to renowned artists, presenting a nearly unimpeachable façade of respectability, knowledge and authority. Writing Style: Articles in the Britannica are clear and easy to read (despite still being written using the English spellings instead of the American ones). The interface is also very user-friendly. Currency:

14 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi The encyclopedia is updated frequently and the editorial board meets regularly to discuss changes and advances to the text. Viewpoint and Objectivity: Britannica is a fairly conservative encyclopedia where matters of controversy are concerned. It is certainly objective and gives broad coverage to a wide array of topics, but if there is a viewpoint to lean towards, the Britannica will lean towards the more conservative one. Arrangement and Entry: Keyword searches are easily performed and the interface is user-friendly, however, I repeatedly ran into the problem of not being a premium subscriber and so only being allowed to view part of an entry (not very rewarding or useful). Index: N/A. Cost: The cost can be obtained from the corporate office and depends on the features desired.

New Encyclopaedia Britannica New Encyclopaedia Britannica. 15th ed. 33 vols. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc., 1992. www.eb.com Purpose / General Information: First published in 1768, the Encyclopaedia Britannica has been a mainstay at most libraries since the turn of the last century. The publishing house moved from the

15 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi United Kingdom to the United States in 1901, but retained its British orthography while broadening its subject matter to compete in the US market. Scope: Originally written at some length, articles are now concise and straight to the point while continuing the Britannica’s tradition of erudition. Format: The New Britannica is available in print and cd-rom, as well as an online edition of the Britannica. Audience: The New Britannica is written with college students and educated adults in mind. It is a general encyclopedia, useful to someone looking to get a first grasp on a new topic. Authority: Articles are not signed, but the editorial board is made up of academics from some of the most prestigious universities in the world. There are over 4000 contributors as well as a full time staff of 100-Writing Style: The sophistication of the writing fits well with the editors’ intended readership—it is written in an academic style for use by those familiar with scholarly writings. Currency: The New Encyclopaedia Britannica begin evaluated was published in 1992. Viewpoint and Objectivity: The New Britannica is a fairly traditional and conservative encyclopedia. With the vast number of scholars a wide-array of viewpoints are given, but the encyclopedia

16 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi does tend towards being more conservative. Arrangement and Entry: Entries are arranged in continuous alphabetical order, regardless of the spaces between the words. The encyclopedia is arranged into three basic sections: a micropaedia (consisting of short articles, usually fewer than 750 words, vol. 1-12), a macropaedia (consisting of long articles, 2+ pages, vol. 13-29) and a propaedia (a summary of all human knowledge, vol. 30). There is a good deal of cross-referencing between the entries. Index: The final volumes, 31-32, are the index. Cost: New Encyclopaedia Britannica published in 2007 costs $1149

The Random House Encyclopedia New Revised 3rd Edition. The Random House Encyclopedia. Rev 3rd ed. New York: Random House, 1990. Purpose / General Information: Random House is the largest American publishing house—known for its dictionaries and fictional presses (Knopf, Bantam Dell, Doubleday, etc.). Scope: The encyclopedia is geared towards older children and as a basic reference for adults. It would be easy for a teacher to create a curriculum based on the large subject areas covered in the “colorpedia’s” nearly 14,000 entries. Format:

17 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi The encyclopedia is available in a print edition. It is broken up into a number of sections: the colorpedia, time chart, alphapedia and atlas. The colorpedia has over 11,000 color illustrations, whereas the alphapedia is a more traditional all-print listing. Audience: Too sophisticated for elementary school children, the encyclopedia was likely intended for middle school and high schoolers. The articles can be long, but are exceedingly well illustrated and will retain a child’s visual interest. Authority: Articles are not attributed and so there is no way to decide who contributed to what—there is a list of editors and contributors, many of whom are specialists. Writing Style: The writing is more complicated than one would instinctually assume, given the wonderful illustrations. A younger child would love the pictures, but would be unable to read the text. However, the encyclopedia is really too simplistic for college students or educated adults, so it is best used by 12-18 year olds and adults looking for fairly simple explanations. Currency: It is outdated, no doubt—it was published in 1990, before the World Wide Web. Viewpoint and Objectivity: Controversial topics are glossed over—there are fewer than 100 words on AIDS. Arrangement and Entry: It’s arrangement is unusual and although the “colorpedia” has excellent illustrations, the encyclopedia is not in an overly user-friendly form. The time chart and

18 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi atlas are helpful, but it would have been easier to have one encyclopedia instead of two separate parts (colorpedia and alphapedia). Index: An index would have added greatly to this encyclopedias usefulness—without one, it is difficult to find articles. Cost: At the time of purchase, this edition cost $129.95.

World Book Encyclopedia World Book Encyclopedia. 22 volumes. Chicago: World Book, 2008.

Purpose / General Information: World Book is probably one of the most used and best known encyclopedias in the library. It is a general knowledge encyclopedia and has been in publication for nearly a century. Scope: World Book is intended for a general audience and as such has an easy to use format and clear presentation of materials that elementary school children are able to follow. Articles begin with the basic information and progress to more advanced information within the article. Articles are not too long for a child’s attention span while still being informative. There are over 27,000 illustrations and 3800 contributors to the

19 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi articles. Format: The World Book is available in many forms, from the print edition to the online edition to the dvd edition (that has over 10,000 pictures and illustrations and more than 1500 maps as well as a search engine). The print edition even comes in different spinal bindings: the classic binding or the spinescape. Audience: The World Book is written with students in mind and so the articles’ depth and length are suited to even elementary students. Authority: The World Book has nearly 4000 contributors, many of whom are specialists in their fields, and each article is signed. Writing Style: The writing style of the encyclopedia is student-friendly, the English is clear and easy to follow. Each entry begins fairly simply and the longer ones progress to a more advanced level, but even younger children can usually understand the first paragraph of entries. Currency: The World Book has updated or revised nearly a third of its content over the past half decade. Published and revised annually, it is as up-to-date as possible. Viewpoint and Objectivity:

20 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi As it is written with children in mind, most topics are treated fairly and with a more international perspective due to the diversity of the contributors. Arrangement and Entry: The encyclopedia is arranged alphabetically, letter by letter. Each entry is welllayed out and easy to follow, the more complicated entries including outlines, chronologies and a list of related topics. There are also guides to writing and speech making included in the encyclopedia. Index: The index is a separate volume, entries are listed alphabetically by letter. Cost: The print edition for this year is $1009. The dvd is selling for $40 and the online subscription is $50.

*Online single volume encyclopedia: Encyclopedia of Chicago. http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/ Purpose: The aim of this encyclopedia is to present articles giving a comprehensive overview of the City of Chicago. It is published by the Chicago Historical Society and compiled by the Newberry Library and Northwestern University, Scope: With over 1400 entries written by more than 600 scholars, this encyclopedia is the definitive reference work on the City of Chicago.

21 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi Format: It is available in an easily searchable online edition as well as a print edition. Audience: The encyclopedia is mainly for college students and scholars interested in the history of Chicago, but an interested adult would have no trouble reading the articles. Authority: The Chicago Historical Society is the authoritative body on Chicago’s history— they have produced this in conjunction with the Chicago History Museum, the Newberry Library and Northwestern University. Writing Style: Articles are well-written and concise; the articles are informative without being esoteric. Currency: The copyright is 2005 on the website and the printed edition was published in 2004. Arrangement & Entry: Entries are arranged in alphabetical order, but can be searched for by keywords or browsed in alphabetical order. Entries are basic (200-400 words), mid-level (400-1000 words) or broad (1000-4000 words) and most include bibliographies and cross references. Illustrations and maps are included as are IDEs (Interpretive Digital Essays) which are one of the best and most innovative features of the website. Index: The index is done in alphabetical order and easy to glance through.

22 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi Cost: The online version is free.

. Dictionaries Acronyms, Initialisms & Abbreviations Dictionary Acronyms, Initialisms & Abbreviations Dictionary. 40th ed. 4 vols. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Purpose: The purpose of this dictionary is to assist readers in determining the meaning of acronyms, initialisms and abbreviations. Scope: In the newest edition of this dictionary, there are over 12,000 new terms covered as well as source citations. Additionally there are such subject categories as arts and entertainment, botany, business, computers, government, languages, military, natural resources, publishing and science. Format: This is a print edition in three volumes. It is also available in a cd-rom and an etext version. This dictionary is arranged alphabetically, letter by letter. Where entries are identical, like COD, the definitions are given in alphabetical order letter by letter, too. Authority: Thomson Gale is a well-respected reference publisher—the dictionary also includes citations and a list of selected sources in the preliminary pages. In the preliminary pages there is an ALA/RUSA seal proclaiming the source an “outstanding

23 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi reference.” Accuracy: Each entry includes a code explaining the source of the definition—many definitions are ascertained from the “defining” institution. Understandability: With tiny print and tens of identical acronyms/initialisms, it is not the easiest book to search, however the information contained therein is so extremely useful as to negate the inconvenience of the search process. This is a dictionary that would be useful to anyone looking up the meaning of an acronym, from a business executive to a student, this book is a necessity for most public, business, law and university libraries. Comprehensiveness: With over 800,000 entries it is likely the most comprehensive guide to acronyms and initialisms in print. Currency: The edition used for this evaluation was printed in 2008. Value-added features The Reverse Acronyms, Initialisms and Abbreviations Dictionary can be bought as a supplement or companion and is very useful—it allows readers to look up associations, idioms, etc… to find the appropriate abbreviation. Cost: The print edition is selling for $1000 on Barnes and Noble.

Columbia Dictionary of Quotations

24 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi Andrews, R. Columbia Dictionary of Quotations. New York: Columbia University, 1993. Purpose: This dictionary is meant as a popular reference work and so is organized in a “browsable” manner. However, the quotes included in this volume were chosen not just for their relevance or modernity but also on the basis of their historicity, their fame or the fame of the individual who said/wrote them. Scope: The dictionary includes 18,000 quotes under 1500 topics—the topics were created to appeal to readers and make the tome more browsable. Format: The dictionary is in a single print volume. Quotes are arranged in subjects, within each subject quotes are arranged alphabetically, letter by letter. Short citations follow each quotation and there is an index of sources included as well. A similar source, Columbia World of Quotations, is available on bartleby.com. Authority: The Columbia University Press is an academic and highly esteemed publishing house. Accuracy: A team of editors and staffers worked on this tome, thus ensuring the accuracy of the dictionary. Understandability:

25 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi This dictionary is easy and enjoyable to look through—the subjects make it easier to browse. Comprehensiveness: This book contains 11,000 quotations that had never appeared anywhere else before—though other books of quotations contain more quotations, this is likely the best source for modern quotations. Currency: Published in 1993, it is a little outdated 16 years later. However, its author and publisher came out with another dictionary (in cd-rom format), Columbia World of Quotations, in 1996 which is now available online at Bartleby’s. Value-added features: The subject headings are very useful and there is a nice, explanatory introduction. Cost: It is available on Amazon.com for $87.31.

Dictionary of American Slang Dictionary of American Slang. 3rd ed. Chapman, R. (ed.). New York: Harper Collins, 1995. Purpose: The purpose of this dictionary is to explore terms used in informal or slang English and to assist readers in understanding the various meanings of different words. Scope:

26 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi This edition includes over 19,000 terms from all walks of American life. The terms come from every era and include the most commonly used to the ones we don’t say in front of children. Format: The book is in a single print volume. Terms are in alphabetical order, letter by letter and are cross-referenced. Authority: Harper Collins is a well-known publisher and they have published such wellrespected authors as Mark Twain, Charlotte Bronte, John F. Kennedy, Shel Silverstein and Margaret Wise. This edition is based on an earlier version by the same name and has been revised and updated. A team of researchers added the new slang terms and their definitions. Accuracy: When compared to other slang dictionaries (such as McGraw Hill’s Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions) the definitions seemed accurate, though perhaps somewhat dated. Understandability: The dictionary is easy to use, includes a guide and the definitions are helpful and sometimes amusing. Comprehensiveness: The dictionary is comprehensive covering American slang across over a century. From cowboys to corporate America, the terms and their meanings are here. It is both useful and informative despite the fact that it lacks most internet terminology as well as

27 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi texting acronyms and other more recently developed words and phrases. Currency: Slang is a moment-to-moment language feature and although this dictionary is still useful, it is dated. The 4th edtion, though abridged, contains 1500 new terms. Value-added features: The section in each entry on word origin is particularly interesting as is the author’s note of derogatory or polite for terms. Cost: This edition can be purchased from Amazon for under $20.

Oxford English Dictionary Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. 20 vols. New York: Clarendon Press/ Oxford University Press, 1989. Purpose: This is a comprehensive dictionary of English words and how they are used in speech and writing. The OED does not teach proper word usage, rather it presents words as they are used. Scope: The dictionary endeavours to include all English words, providing definitions, etymologies and pronunciations from the earliest usage down to the present day. The 2nd edition has 290,500 entries; the first definition is considered to be the most often used. Format:

28 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi The dictionary is available in 20 volumes with series additions. The first volume contains a preface, a list of editors and staff, an introduction, general explanations, a history of the dictionary, a key to pronunciation, a note on proper names and a list of abbreviations, signs, etc. The final volume contains the bibliography. [Note: Webster’s Unabridged has over 150,000 more entries] Authority: In addition to the editorial board, collaborators, consultants and assisting organizations, countless critical readers and volunteers assisted with the project. The dictionary is the jewel in the crown of a publisher respected for their precision and intelligence. It is the seminal dictionary on the English language. Accuracy: The 2nd edition was revised and compiled over 5 years by innumerable individuals —it is as accurate as humans could make it. Understandability: The definitions are not always as complete as would be useful, however they are flushed out by the ever present citations. However, this is an academic tool and as such is outstanding. Comprehensiveness: This is an unabridged dictionary of the English language based on every stage of the language. Quotes and citations are taken from all periods in which English was written. Currency:

29 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi Though it is lacking more modern terms, its use as a scholarly tool is not hampered by this. Value-added features: The text in the preliminary materials on the history of English is highly informative and the bibliography is very useful for etymologists, philologists and linguists. Cost Amazon is selling the complete 20 volume set for $848.

The Random House Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary The Random House Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary. 2nd rev. ed. New York: Random House, 2001. Purpose: This is a recently published unabridged dictionary geared towards students and adults and in the price range of most. Scope: The dictionary contains 315,000 entries, thousands of entries have been added or revised from the first edition and it also includes 1500 new entries and over 2000 illustrations and maps. Format: This dictionary is available in a print edtion. In addition to the words alphabetically organized, there is also a section on new entries. Authority:

30 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi Random House publishers is an authority in reference texts—their lexicographers, consultants and editors are some of the best in the business. Accuracy: A team of editors and consultants toiled to ensure the accuracy of this dictionary. Understandability Though enormous, this unabridged dictionary is not as intimidating as it might be. The preliminary pages are full of useful guides and keys and the definitions are easy to read. Terms are defined in order of use, so the most used definition is given first. Comprehensiveness: Based on Random House’s dictionary database, which is continuously updated and tweaked, the dictionary is very inclusive. Currency: Using their database, Random House editors are constantly updating and revising and each new version is updated accordingly. Value-added features: The list of new words is a useful tool. Cost: Amazon is selling this item for $44.07.

Webster’s Dictionary of English Usage

31 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi Webster’s Dictionary of English Usage. Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1989. Purpose: The aim of the dictionary is to discuss commonly confused words or phrases explicating them via their historical and modern contexts. Scope: There are approximately 500 entries including both idiomatic phrases and commonly misused words. Format: It is available in print format and the words are listed in alphabetical order, letter by letter. Authority: The authors and editors of the volume are on staff with Merriam-Webster and are listed by name in the preface. Merriam-Webster itself is over 150 years old and one of the most well-regarded leaders in the dictionary publishing industry—it is now a subsidiary of Encyclopedia Britannica. Accuracy: Given the authority and the fact that there were five copy editors/proof-readers going over the text, this dictionary is probably as close to accurate as is possible. Understandability: Written for a scholarly audience, the language is sophisticated without being convoluted. There are explanatory notes, a guide to pronunciation symbols and a history of English usage in the preliminary pages to assist the reader further. There is also a

32 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi bibliography at the end of the volume. Comprehensiveness: The editors looked through a number of sources with similar concerns to find the subjects of this book and did a thorough job discussing most of the chosen terms/idioms. However, this is only 500 English words; many more are misused or misunderstood everyday and this is only a sampling of what the editors understood to be the most grievous issues. Currency: This volume was written in 1989 and the English language, due mainly to the introduction of the World Wide Web, has undergone an enormous overhaul. Another volume was published in 1994 and in 2002 a concise version came out as well. Value-added features: The brief history of English usage is particularly useful to the novice. Cost: $18.45 for the 1994 edition on Amazon.com.

Webster’s New Dictionary of Synonyms Webster’s New Dictionary of Synonyms. Springfield, Mass: Merriam-Webster, 1984. Purpose: A dictionary to help readers understand the subtle distinctions between synonyms. Scope: This dictionary distinguishes the differing implications, connotations and applications amongst synonyms to assist the reader in choosing the exact right word. It

33 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi also lists antonyms as well as analogous and contrast words. Format: This dictionary is available in a single volume print edition. In addition to the dictionary, the volume offers a survey of the history of English synonymy, an analysis and definition of both synonym and antonym as well as an introduction to analogous and contrasted words. There are also explanatory notes and a list of the authors quoted in the definitions. Authority: Merriam-Webster is one of the oldest publishers in the business and now a subsidiary of Britannica—it is an authority in and of itself. In addition, the writers of the dictionary were all from the editorial staff of Merriam-Webster and are acknowledged in the preface. Accuracy: This volume is a revision of a previous edition—the preface acknowledges the editorial staff who put together and revised this edition. Understandability: This is a fairly easy to use dictionary, including definitions of the words and, unlike Roget’s Thesaurus, lists of antonyms and analogous words are included with each entry as well. The definitions also use quotations to better explain word distinctions. Comprehensiveness: The dictionary is based on American English usage and as such is from a somewhat narrow perspective. Currency:

34 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi The version being evaluated was printed in 1984. Value-added features: The way the synonyms are distinguished is very useful—especially the way the synonyms themselves are not only listed but defined so that the distinction can be made exceedingly clear. Some of the quotes really bring the dissimilarities to life. Cost: This edition can be purchased for $15.61 at Amazon.com.

Webster’s New World College Dictionary. Webster’s New World College Dictionary. 4th ed. New York: MacMillan, 1999. Purpose: This dictionary is one of Merriam-Webster’s many that are on the market today. Scope: The dictionary’s aim is to assist students in the comprehension of the fairly esoteric words or unusual meanings of familiar words that they are likely to encounter in the course of their university studies. Format: This dictionary is in print form—In addition to the dictionary itself there are guides to the dictionary and to pronunciation. There is an essay by S.I. Landau on English language dictionaries as well as a world atlas. There is also an enormous Reference Supplement at the end of the book. Authority:

35 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi There are a vast array of editors, writers and contributors; most of whom have academic credentials and the least of whom is still a scholar in his or her own right. The publisher itself, Merriam-Webster, is one of the best regarded in the industry. Accuracy: The dictionary is stored electronically and thus has the double assurance of having been checked over when being digitized. In addition, it took four years to compile this edition and so there was ample time to check for errors. Understandability: The entries are nicely presented and easily followed. The word-breaks are particularly useful and comprehensible. The cross-references, idioms and usage labels are especially helpful. Comprehensiveness: The editorial staff keeps track of the way language is used via the collection of thousands of expressions and citations each month. These then form the backbone of the revisions to the word definitions. Currency: This edition is ten years old and could probably stand to be updated as the technical jargon of the last decade has been woven into our daily English usage. Value-added features: The Reference Supplement is by far the most value-adding feature including all manner of useful facts. To name but a few, the supplement contains world, Canadian and US city populations, monetary units, books of the Bible, American Sign Language, commonly used weights and measures, periodic table of elements, the Constitution and

36 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi the Amendments. Cost: This can be purchased at Barnes & Noble for under $30.

Webster’s Third New International Dictionary of the English Language. Webster’s Third New International Dictionary of the English Language. Unabridged. Springfield, Mass: Merriam-Webster, 1993. Purpose: Merriam-Webster’s comprehensive English dictionary, it defines nearly every word in the English language. It is also the dictionary of choice at the New York Public Library’s Humanities Research Division. Scope: This dictionary includes over 450,000 words—there are over 6 million citations included in the definitions. This edition took 757 editor-years to complete. Format: It is in one, gigantic printed volume. Words are listed alphabetically letter by letter. There are pronunciation and symbol guides and explanations in the preliminary pages. Authority: All of the authority of Merriam-Webster’s 100+ years stands behind this behemoth. In addition, the editorial staff consisted of scholars in almost every major field as well as 200 other supporting staff members. Accuracy:

37 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi Beginning in 1936, dictionary editors began systematically combing through magazines, newspapers, journals, catalogues and books to discover word usage to include in the dictionary—this time-intensive process guarantees a well-developed understanding of word usage. Understandability: Enormous tome, tiny print and easily torn pages—every student on earth has dealt with one of these and although it is unwieldy, the definitions it provides are valuable. Comprehensiveness: The aim of the dictionary is the entire English language as it is currently being written and spoken. It’s as comprehensive as it gets. Currency: This dictionary is now sixteen years old. It does not include most of the new terms derived from internet usage and could stand an update. But if it cost $3.5m to produce this volume in 1993, the cost alone may well be prohibitive. Value-added features: In addition to a plethora of features contained in the preliminary pages (explanatory notes on spelling, plurals, capitalization, pronunciation, etc…), there are also more than 50 tables on everything from Easter dates to Morse code to Uralic languages included in the dictionary. In addition, there are eight full page illustrations. Cost This dictionary can be purchased for $81.27 on Amazon.com.

World Book Dictionary

38 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi World Book Dictionary. 2 vols. Chicago: World Book, 1997. Purpose: World Book Inc., well-regarded producer of the student encyclopedia, created a similarly simple and user-friendly dictionary. Scope: With a clear and concise writing style, the over 225,000 entries are made easily accessible to student readers (age 10+). And the 3000 illustrations not only assist in comprehension but serve to make the 2 volume set less intimidating. Format: The dictionary is printed in two volumes. It is also available online through a subscriber service. Included in the print edition is a pronunciation guide, a guide to prefixes/suffixes and capitalization. Authority: The dictionary was created for a well-regarded encyclopedia publisher by lexicographers, etymologists and linguists—it does not have the built-in authority of the OED, Merriam-Webster or even Random House, but it is still published by a reputable source. Accuracy: Having created 3 million word usage quotations over the better 3rd of a century, the focus of the dictionary is on terms in common usage and not, say, the more esoteric terms found in the OED or Webster’s Unabridged. Understandability:

39 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi Though 2 volumes might be a bit cumbersome, the articles are easy to read and begin with the most common form of the word (ie, the one children are most likely to have heard and be comfortable with). Comprehensiveness: It is not meant as a comprehensive dictionary; rather it is a self-proclaimed abridged dictionary. However, the definitions are complete enough to be used by children or adults. Currency: It is over a decade old at this point, but it is still useful for the words it contains, it is simply lacking in newer ones. Value-added features: The online version is the best feature—it allows for keyword searches and for searches of the entire World Book library. Cost The print edition is $89.95 and the online subscription is $79.95.

OneLook Dictionaries www.onelook.com Purpose: OneLook is a search aggregator and not a dictionary in and of itself. Scope: OneLook has access to over 5 million words on 900 different online dictionaries. Users can find definitions of words, sites that translate that word into different languages

40 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi and find words that fit a certain pattern (eg., b*?d: bard, bead, bird, etc…). Format: This is a free online site. Authority: Because this is a search aggregator, the user is relying on the dictionaries or websites supplied by OneLook. The site indexes around a thousand different online dictionaries including such standards as the Compact OED, Merriam-Webster’s Online, Webster’s New World, American Heritage and InfoPlease. However, it also contains many, many unknown quantities and so the user must be cognizant of the site s/he is sent to. Accuracy: Again, the accuracy the user is interested in is not that of the search aggregator, but of the websites themselves. Understandability: The site is easy to use and has such novel features as wildcard searches (especially made for crossword buffs) and reverse dictionary searches. Comprehensiveness: Searching nearly 1000 sites defines comprehensive. Currency: The sites are all updated regularly and OneLook is updated daily. Value-added features: The ability to look up phrases is a bonus as is the translation search. But the best feature is the wildcard search that allows partial words to be queried. Though the reverse

41 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi dictionary search that allows for meanings to be looked up is also a wonderful tool. Cost: Free.

Your Dictionary www.yourdictionary.com Purpose: YourDictionary is a website for students and includes well-regarded dictionaries, thesauri and glossaries. Scope: Intended for students or those beginning in a new field, YourDictionary has a full range of sources from Webster’s New World Dictionary to community forum discussion on etymologies to Roget’s Thesaurus to the American Slang Dictionary. The website makes available audio pronunciations, language forums and articles as well. Format: The dictionary is available online and is free. Authority: The site is produced by a media conglomerate (LoveToKnow) but the accuracy of definitions is guaranteed by the dictionary’s publisher, Merriam-Webster. Each definition taken from Webster’s New World Dictionary is sited. Accuracy: The definitions from Webster’s New World Dictionary are highly accurate—as a Merriam-Webster publication, one would be hard-pressed to find a serious objection to

42 T. Wasserman Indiv. 3rd eval. Encyc./Dict. ILS504/Spr09 Okobi the validity of the content. Understandability: The layout of the webpage is fairly easy to follow, though the Google sponsored ads get in the way. A box including language and translation tools as well as a separate area on how to create an effective search are both useful and on the homepage. Comprehensiveness: YourDictionary claims to be the most comprehensive site with over 2500 dictionaries and grammars available in over 300 languages. Currency: The website is updated daily, however the important updates are those made by Merriam-Webster and Collins to Webster’s New World and Roget’s Thesaurus. Value-added features: The myriad dictionaries and articles that are available via the Language Articles tab are impressive and potentially handy. The community forums are very interesting for “word nerds” and the world games present a fun way to broaden one’s vocabulary. Cost: Free.