<p>I'm going into law, and a lot of my classes are writing concentrated. My academic advisor suggested that I get atleast two quality hardback dictionaries. Any recommendations?</p>
<p>Eew, actual paper-and-ink dictionaries? ;-) Why not buy a computer one? I have an Encarta dictionary on my computer, and it's awesome. It lists even the most obscure definitions, mini-bios of people, extensive etymologies, links to antonyms, and, most importantly, no very strange acronyms. Plus, if you click on the words, the computer says them, so you don't have to try and figure out just how to pronouce the "schwa" sound. (That's the upside-down e) There's a thesaurus and translation dictionaries for Italian, German, French and something else. Oh, and if you copy and paste a definition, it automatically cites it for you. </p>
<p>Maybe I'm biased, though. Not only am I very lazy when it comes to looking up words, but I can never remember the order of the alphabet when looking up words (like, is Q before or after T?) If you are not so lazy as me and wish to go blind at 22, trying to make out little letters, I think the Oxford English Dictionary is reputed to be the most authoritative, setting the rules for "dwarves" versus "dwarfs" and such.</p>
<p>There's also the Devil's Dictionary and Dr. Johnson's original dictionary--both make good reads. But that's probably not what you are looking for. ;-)</p>
<p>My dad is a lawyer and he is very fond of two dictionaries: a 1972 Reader's Digest (which is no longer made, I believe) and Oxford. I know that he and many of his colleagues hate any dictionary that has Webster written on the cover.</p>
<p>Oxford is gonna cost you, though. But the cheap version does come with a magnifying glass so you can read it!</p>
<p>Yeah, the Oxford English Dictionary is expensive, but it's second to none. If you want an actual paper-and-ink dictionary, there's the compact version that redski mentioned but there's also the CD-ROM version if you don't mind not actually being able to hold the book. The benefit of the CD-ROM is that you wont have to read it with a magnifying glass which (coming from someone who's mom has had the compact edition for years and years) gets really irritating.</p>
<p>ooh--reference books--one of my favorite topics! (part of me still wants to be a reference librarian though I'm planning to go into law/policy)</p>
<p>I have a compact OED and I love it for the really in-depth stuff (etymologies of strange words, the quotations from each century of existence so you can traces shifts in meaning). But for day-to-day use, I like the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. I have the 3rd edition (black cover) which is a real bargain if you buy it online...you can get a used one for $10-15. There's also a 4th edition (white cover) which I've never used, but it seems to have nice pictures and a few more definitions. </p>
<p>Additionally, some reference books I've loved throughout my college career include: On Writing Well (Zinnser..sp?), The Elements of Style (Strunk & White...such a classic), The Craft of Research (booth) a good MLA style guide--or a style guide for the citation system in your discpline, ie Chicago or APA or a more legal one, and the New York Times Usage Guide. I've also heard good things about "Eats Shoots and Leaves" as a more popular--and entertaining--read on grammar and usage.</p>
<p>it's all about the new shorter oxford. but dictionary.com is free. so is oed online.</p>
<p>I've used the collegiate webster for a long time, but what can you say about it compared to the OED?</p>
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Additionally, some reference books I've loved throughout my college career include: On Writing Well (Zinnser..sp?)
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You've gotta be joking, i hated that book so much in H.S......I think he ruined my writing than improved it :(</p>