The New American Webster Handy College Dictionary: Fourth Edition

"A Thesaurus is not a dinosaur." This is not just a play on words. I've heard it said that a printed thesaurus is a "dinosaur;" you can get everything you need from the worldwide web. Then why do I have this copy next to my computer? Look, the www is convenient and accessible... except when it isn't. The right word is there... except when it isn't. And this paperback edition of the New American Roget's College Thesaurus is so inexpensive, it IS always there, just like my trustworthy copy of Webster's Dictionary. If you know you are going to be marooned on an island for a few years, bring along a copy of this book. If you end up having nothing to write on, you can at least use it as a fire starter!

It's tough to recommend buying a thesaurus these days when there are so many resources available on the web and built-in to word processing applications that will do the job. Nevertheless, I've kept a copy of this thesaurus close at hand for decades now and I am usually much more satisfied with the results I get from using it than from electronic sources. After my copy practically disintegrated from the ravages of time, I finally sprang for this latest edition. While I can't say it looks much different from the ancient one I had, it has been updated extensively with new phrases, and more words have been added. I like the dictionary-style organization, but that will be a matter of personal preference for you. I've also found this book to be extremely helpful in studying for standardized tests. For those who take writing seriously enough to want to use the word that best conveys their thoughts, this thesaurus will be an excellent and very affordable resource.

I came across this one long time ago.....it is really addictive....and very beneficial too.....helped me a lot to improve my english.....I have got this one and the roget's 21st century thesaurus in dictionary form by Barbera Ann Kipler.....and would suggest people to buy both of them......i am quite experienced in the matter of thesaurii....and as far is this book is concerned.....it isvery very concise,handy.....and...user friendly.....and written in a detailed manner...

This is easily the best pocket-sized thesaurus that I have seen, and I own more than a dozen thesauri, large and small. A more comprehensive thesaurus with excellent word lists (e.g. horse breeds, phobias, shades of red etc.) is The Concise Oxford Thesaurus (ISBN: 0198601263). However, for general writing, I think this one has the highest value-to-weight ratio.

Among paperback dictionaries, the NAWHCD excels in its completeness and its usage guidance. I appreciate those features in my big American Heritage Dictionary, too, but the NAWHCD is more convenient to keep on my desk, and I like having two different dictionaries so I can get a second opinion.Virtually every page in the NAWHCD has helpful notes on usage or word origin. Correct usage is generally favored over popular usage, e.g., "imply" and "infer" are distinguished without waffling. "Lay" and "lie" and their often-confused past tenses and participles are sorted out in a note, and now that I know the differences I'm annoyed by how many people don't.I examined several paperback dictionaries before selecting this one even though it didn't have a top brand name. The more I use it, the more I like it.