Paperback Oxford English Dictionary: 120 000 words, phrases, and definitions. Spelling-notes, Factfinder

120,000 words sounds like a lot, but actually there are more words missing than present, comparing with the Concise OED (one volume brick) never mind the 2 volume "Shorter OED". What's there is fine, but many times you'll be looking for a word and it won't be there. Cheap as chips, but save your cash and get a better version (or these days, just look up on line).

I was a bit disappointed because I was looking for a dictionary to look up phonetic and meaning while reading books in English.
This dictionary is comprehensive, but it clusters several related terms with the main word and sometimes you can be confused. I don't like the "figurative" phonetic nomenclature nor the fact not all words have phonetic description (A word phonetic might be trivial for a native but not for a foreigner!). All in all, it is a good dictionary if you don't want to spend much money and you need a light and comprehensive dictionary.

An un-named friend recommended "The Dictionary" to me, as apparently my spellang and grammar very awful. I was quite perplexed at the idea that a 'novel' could improve my spelling and grammar. But I shouldn't of been!

This must been one of the greatest novels ever written! It ACTUALLY contains every word of the English language, meaning that I learn as I read.

The only problem I have is that the story doesn't progress very far. With an interesting name like "Dictionary" I was expecting an apocalyptic sc-fi thriller where cybernetic organisms rule the world in a delicate balance of space-time continuum. But it's actually about an Aardvark that, in the end, turns into a Zygote.

Here's a little tip for all you guys; If theirs ever a word you don't know how to spell, just get our your copy of the "Dictionary" and find it! Because its ALPHABETICAL! Ingenious. Absolutely ingenious. What will they think of next? I bet some mucker out there will try and copy this idea and make a living out of it. If it was me, I'd call it "Word Organiser - The Book With Every Meaning".

With my recently renewed zest for story writing now gathering momentum , the Oxford English Dictionary has been a most help tool to have in my literary toolbox . This must also be said of the Oxford Paperback Thesaurus - wouldn't be without them .

C.D.Harrison .

A newer edition was required, you can't really review a dictionary as they all do the same, but it is more updated than the last one.