Book Description
This newly updated edition of America"s favorite dictionary features revised biographical and geographical entries as well as up-to-date charts and tables for topics such as world currencies and chemical elements. Among the 500 entries new to this update are Amber Alert, blogosphere, gravitino, halo effect, hawala, lycopene, malware, micropolis, proteome, Qi Gong, SARS, shout-out, speed dating, sudoku, Texas hold"em, text message, and wiki.
The renowned American Heritage® Usage Panel, a group of more than 200 distinguished writers, scholars, and scientists, offers advice on problems of grammar and style; engaging notes explain word histories and clarify differences among synonyms; thousands of quotations and example sentences show words in context; and elegant definitions are enhanced by 4,000 full-color photographs, drawings, and maps, making this one of the most readable dictionaries available anywhere.
This dictionary can also be purchased with a fully loadable Windows® / Mac® CD-ROM that contains the entire text of the updated Fourth Edition, 68,000 audio pronunciations, 1,000 full-color photographs and illustrations, and a college-level thesaurus with more than 260,000 synonyms. The CD-ROM has spell-check capability and can be used in conjunction with any Microsoft® Office application to get definitions at the click of a mouse.
Customer Reviews:
I love it!!.......2007-08-11
I love every page of this dictionary. It helps me a lot finding many strange words that I have never known before. Very useful.
Dictionary browser's dream.......2007-08-03
The best thing about this dictionary is that the definitions are quick to read when you need them. The multi-color type makes it very easy for your eyes to read the page and discern the words and notes from the actual definition, it's not just a stark white page with black type.
On the flip side, if you're not in any hurry, it is very easy to get distracted by the wonderful full color illustrations. Quite often I go to look up a word and find myself browsing other entries for hours. It has a substantial heft to it and a very attractive presentation. If you're going to use another typical dictionary you might as well use an online or software based source, but the American Heritage's qualities make owning a hard copy completely worth it.
Very Good Dictionary, but the New Oxford American Dictionary is Better.......2007-07-07
The American Heritage Dictionary is an excellent 1 volume dictionary, complete with the newest words, beautiful colorful design, and over 2,000 pages on all facets of the English language. I will compare this dictionary to the New Oxford American Dictionary (NOAD) as these are the two best 1-volume English dictionaries available.
In my opinion, the NOAD is clearly a better dictionary for reasons listed below. Generally, the NOAD's entries are longer and more detailed, hence the reader gets more information. The American Heritage definitions are almost too concise (usually too concise for my preference) although many people may prefer the shorter definitions. Each dictionary will have a number of lesser know words (and even some more common words) the other dictionary will not have (especially scientific words, geographical locations, and newer words), so one dictionary is not superior as far as having a significant amount of more entries. It appears to me the NOAD has more entries, but even if it doesn't, it is still a better dictionary.
Some comparisons of American Heritage Dictionary (2006) to the NOAD (New Oxford American Dictionary)(2004)
-The American Heritage 2,006 pages long A to Z, the NOAD is 1,959 pages A to Z. The American Heritage does not list anywhere that I can see how many entries it has. The NOAD says it has over 250,000 entries. The font of the American Heritage is smaller but it is just as easy to read as the NOAD's font. The NOAD uses 3 columns per page, the American Heritage uses 2.
-The American Heritage has some newer words not found in NOAD, such as Red state, Blue state, Sudoku, Texas hold'em, but don't get the idea though this makes it better than the NOAD. Here are some words (some relatively recent) the NOAD has that the American Heritage does not have: macarana (the dance), tamagotchi (the Japanese toy), October Surprise, Hamas (the militant Palestinian group), heat-seeking, (as a missile) tarte Tatin, solid south, spaceship earth.
-The American Heritage is visually more appealing with its 4.000 color pictures complete with a nice design layout. Although the NOAD lacks color, it has many effective illustrations, and it even devotes full pages to maps.
-A big advantage of the American Heritage is that it details some interesting etymological histories of about 400 common words. For instance the American Heritage dictionary gives a 13-line history on the word Kangaroo, explaining that it is not from an Aborigine meaning "I do not know," and then proceeds to explain the true history of the word. The American Heritage also has usage notes on over 750 synonyms, 100 notes on regionalisms, 500 notes on usage issues, and 50 notes on the social dimensions of some words.
-Although the NOAD does not give these selected, interesting word histories, overall the NOAD etymology is done much better than the American Heritage's etymology. The NOAD's etymological explanations are consistently more detailed, and it will frequently add a time frame when the word came into use, e.g. early 17th century (although it will not give specific years), something the American Heritage does not. The NOAD will give folk etymology of some words, and like the American Heritage will give notes on proper usage and help the reader/writer use the right word with synonyms.
-One huge advantage the NOAD has over the American Heritage is that it adds many, many more common word phrase origins associated with a word, including proverbs, clichés, etc. For instance the word `pie" n. the NOAD will list the phrases "as easy as pie" "as sweet as pie" "a slice of the pie" and "pie in the sky" (and giving definitions of each phrase) while the American Heritage just lists and defines "pie in the sky." The NOAD will also give the origin of a few phrases such as "flash in the pan" (from the failure of gunpowder to ignite properly to fire a gun). The American Heritage does none of this with its phrases, but note that the American Heritage Dictionary publishes a separate book on word phrase origins, which is probably the reason it places little emphasis on them in its main dictionary.
-The NOAD is superior in the biographical entries to the American Heritage. Each dictionary will have some people the other will not, but when they are similar, the NOAD almost always gives more information in a biographical entry. The NOAD is also superior in geographical entries. food entries, and political terms. The NOAD is also better at including entries one would normally find in an encyclopedia, for instance Tamil Tigers, Hammond Organ, Abby Road are in the NOAD, but not in the American Heritage.
-The NOAD is slightly better in giving information about nations of the world. The American Heritage's entries on nations is short and very basic, while the NOAD's, though not much longer, it will nevertheless give a better history of a country than the American Heritage will.
I love dictionaries, and in comparing these two dictionaries, the NOAD to me has its pulse on the English language more than the American Heritage. The American Heritage Dictionary however is still very good choice, but if I could take only one, it would be the NOAD. If you love words, you should get both to enjoy the variety each provides.
Dictionary to the rescue.......2007-06-28
Large, well-illustrated book. Complete and up-to-date word usage. Clean typeface makes it easy to read. It's the extras in this dictionary that make it outstanding. History of words, notes on language variation and usage, and people and places of the world, to name a few.
Wonderful addition to our library.......2007-06-07
We have been so happy with this dictionary. It is library quality. My kids love to look words up in it and I have found them from time to time just looking through it. It is heavy, so take advantage of the free shipping!
Book Description
This is the definitive thesaurus for middle school and high school students seeking to communicate more effectively by means of a broader vocabulary. No other book at this level offers as many synonyms, example sentences, or features. New to this edition is an informative Parts of Speech table.
Customer Reviews:
the book I received has bad quality.......2007-08-15
I am not happy at the book I received. the hard cover is upside down, and many pages inside have been cut. Many pages' page number have been cut off. The quality of the book is bad. I don't know how to return it, otherwise, I am going to return.
I am very unhappy about this order.
Great addition to our homeschool library! Love it!.......2007-05-09
I bought the dictionary and thesaurus for our homeschool library. I love them both. At the front of the book a lesson in thesaurus use, as well as parts of speech and other helpful language arts tid bits can be found. When there are no true synonyms for a word it is explained in a highlighted "Word Group" box by the specific entry. My six year old can use this thesaurus, and she will continue to use it for quite some time. It is quite helpful and user friendly!
Example from book:
helpful adjective beneficial, handy, useful, valuable, practical, good, productive, constructive. My friend gave me some helpful advice. Antonyms: useless, worthless
Or
Word Group
Shoes are outer coverings for the human foot. Shoe is a general term sieht no true synonyms. Here are some common types of shoes:
athletic shoes, brogan, brogue, clodhopper, clog, flats, gym shoe, high heels, Loafers, mule, oxford, patent leather, pumps, running shoe, sabot, sandal, tennis shoe, wingtip, work shoe
Easy for the children to use.......2007-03-13
This book gives the children extensive instructions for using this book. It really maximizes what they get out of the it.
Just what we needed.......2001-12-11
As a homeschooling mom I was furstrated with the old edition we were trying to use. This one has been perfect though I know we will have to get a more advanced one as the kids get older.
If you teach children you must have this book!.......2000-03-08
This book is an amazing resource for children. My children literally fight over who gets to use the book next. I highly recommend it for any classroom grades 4-7.
Product Description
The perfect dictionary for students in grades 6-9. This edition has been updated to reflect up-to-the-minute developments in all subject areas, from technology to world affairs.
Customer Reviews:
Great addition to our homeschool library! Love it!.......2007-05-09
I bought the dictionary and thesaurus for our homeschool library. I love them both. They are easy to use and include pictures of selected entries. Some entries have a full page dedicated to them, like geologic time, and solar system. The book also includes biographical information. At the front of the book a lesson in dictionary use, as well as parts of speech and other helpful language arts tid bits can be found. My six year old can use this dictionary, and she will continue to use it for quite some time. It is NOT one of those kids' dictionaries full of pictures. It is quite helpful and user friendly!
Easy to use.......2007-03-13
This book gives children excellent instructions to get the most out of each entry. My eight and nine year-olds find it very easy to use and refer to it regularly.
Good, but not the best........2007-01-27
This is a decent student dictionary. I had thought it would have more pictures, and the reviews led me to believe there were sentence examples and synonyms for ALL words. There aren't. Still, it's a decent dictionary for upper elementary and middle school kids. It's not as costly as the really great ones so if you want to pay under $30 for a student dictionary, this is your best bet.
Excellent resource for 4th graders and up!!.......2006-11-04
The American Heritage Student Dictionary was a great choice for my son and our family. My son has a lot more vocabulary and other work that requires him to be able to pronounce and know the meaning of words this year in 4th grade. This dictionary has been very easy to read and follow. The pictures in the margins make it fun to look up other stuff that is just for fun.
I highly recommend this dictionary for any student that is reading with fluency and comprehension. For some students that may be 2nd grade or it might be 5th grade. I hope all parents will sit with there child and go through this book with them to strengthen their childs ability to use a dictionary.
Neat Dictionary!.......2006-08-01
I am in high school and was in serious need of a decent dictionary. I didn't want to spend a fortune either. I saw this dictionary and gave it a try... I LOVE IT! Great pictures and nice quality. Very helpful! My friend ended up buying one also and enjoys it as much as I have. I highly recommend!
Book Description
This newly updated edition of America's favorite dictionary features
revised biographical and geographical entries as well as up-to-date
charts and tables for topics such as world currencies and chemical
elements. Among the 500 entries new to this update are Amber Alert,
blogosphere, gravitino, halo effect, hawala, lycopene, malware, micropolis,
proteome, Qi Gong, SARS, shout-out, speed dating, sudoku, Texas hold'em,
text message, and wiki.
The renowned American Heritage® Usage Panel, a group of more
than 200 distinguished writers, scholars, and scientists, offers advice on
problems of grammar and style; engaging notes explain word histories
and clarify differences among synonyms; thousands of quotations and
example sentences show words in context; and elegant definitions are
enhanced by 4,000 full-color photographs, drawings, and maps, making
this one of the most readable dictionaries available anywhere.
This dictionary can also be purchased with a fully loadable
Windows® / Mac® CD-ROM that contains the entire text of the
updated Fourth Edition, 68,000 audio pronunciations, 1,000 full-color
photographs and illustrations, and a college-level thesaurus with more
than 260,000 synonyms. The CD-ROM has spell-check capability and
can be used in conjunction with any Microsoft® Office application to get
definitions at the click of a mouse.
Customer Reviews:
American Heritage Dictionary w/CD-ROM.......2007-10-18
Bought my first American Heritage dictionary in 1969 and used it until the cover fell apart. It was the first reference book I actively enjoyed using. It was fun just to browse through and had lots of illustrations, maps, diagrams and photos (all in black and white), but much more than any other contemporary dictionary.
This new one is even better. There are color photos and diagrams now, and a CD-ROM which, when downloaded to a computer, will allow one to hear the pronunciation of a word, which I think is VERY helpful. Also, because I'm interested in a word's history, the appendix of Indo-European roots is, to me, fascinating.
All in all, a book I'm sure I will enjoy for a long time.
Great resource.......2007-08-13
The American Heritage Dictionary with CD-ROM is a great resource for the highly mobile laptop user. The hard back book is a handsome shelf reference for office use, but the easy to maneuver CD-ROM makes working while traveling with your laptop an easy, accurate, and enjoyable task.
Very Usefully.......2007-05-16
We have been using the book and CD a lot since we received them.
A darned good dictionary, but with its own angle on English.......2007-05-05
Any lover of the English language should never be satisfied with just one dictionary in his library; all have their own strengths, weaknesses, peculiarities, biases and feel. Essentially, your decision rests between two ends of a spectrum: the Oxford English Dictionary and The American Heritage Dictionary -- regardless of which side of the pond you reside -- and a Webster's dictionary somewhere in the middle.
The AHD represents the cutting edge in American lexicography. It's hip, it's cool, and it's filled with color photos. It includes brand new verbs such as "google". It's a great book to sit down with and browse through for hours, and it is a lot of fun.
I use the American Heritage Dictionary quite a bit in my research, however I find myself asking the question; "what is the purpose of a dictionary?" Is it to preserve the English language and grammar or to simply be a repository of all the words and quirky expressions that are spoken? The AHD seems to be an advocate of the latter. Its "Our Living Language" usage notes give credence and validate dialect such as "y'all" (you all), "ax" (ask) and the continual overuse of "like" as being conversation filler. (It's not just for teenagers anymore!)
It is worthwhile to look through the list of people who comprise the Usage Panel on the American Heritage Dictionary, an eclectic (questionable?) mix of individuals to say the least: the late Carl Sagan, Molly Ivins, Robin Cooke M.D., and others including film critics, poets, and even radio commentators. Throughout the AHD there is a disconcerting acceptance of non-standard English and, as other reviewers have noted, a heavy amount of political correctness. Ultimately, this dictionary does a remarkable job of presenting current American English usage as spoken, for better or for worse.
At the opposite end of your dictionary purchase decision is the behemoth Oxford English Dictionary: the "Concise" version being comparable in size (and cost) to the American Heritage Dictionary. Here we have the keeper of our mother tongue, with a more stringent adherence to grammar -- some might say to the point of being stodgy. However, if you are concerned with the degradation of English and wish to preserve its usage and write "correctly", the OED is the better choice. Like the AHD, the Concise OED is a lot of fun to sit with and browse. Its many usage notes will clarify and take a stand on common confusions, such as "media" being a plural noun, whereas the American Heritage Dictionary seems to have given up fighting that battle and recognizes current vernacular. Which is right? I'm not sure. I like the flexibility of the AHD, but find myself referring to the OED just as often, especially in matters of grammar.
So my recommendation is to own both dictionaries if you are a true lover of English and are the type of geek like me who enjoys reading a dictionary without having anything in particular to look up. The AHD is a really cool book -- the color photos and layout make it more than worth the purchase price -- and it is on top of all language trends, slang, and dialects within the United States. The OED is to be revered and relished for its love of the language and its desire to preserve it.
Or, if you prefer, at times the American Heritage Dictionary seems flaky, and at times the Oxford English Dictionary seems stuffy.
And if you merely need to look up words from time-to-time and aren't interested in linguistic controversy, any of the Webster's line of dictionaries will make a fine, and more affordable choice.
4th edition .......2007-04-10
I have had the 3rd edition of this dictionary for 7 years and thought it was super, espically the online part. However the 4th edition is very much improved.
1. you can load everything to your hard disk so you don't need the CD inplace to get the pronunciations
2. the interface looks cleaner and has a better layout
Average customer rating:
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ASIN: 039575691X |
Book Description
A concise guide to spelling and syllabicating more than 40,000 words. Other features include the seven basic rules of spelling and the rules for forming plurals and compound words.
Customer Reviews:
A List of Words.......2006-03-16
This book is an alphabetical list of 40,000 words. Each word is broken into syllables and shows which syllables are stressed.
When I do appearances, it is fun to take the group's name and make it into a humorous acronym. If you are trying to make a sentence out of the words that start with specific letters, this handy book will give you the ideas to create "Amazon - A - M - A - Z - O - N: Access Millions and Zillions of Novels". Small and compact, it fits easily into luggage when traveling.
If you need a list of words that start with a specific letter, this is one compact way to achieve it.
Amazon.com
The latest edition of the American Heritage Dictionary is out, and that's hot news--not just for the resolute followers of lexicographical minutiae, but for the general reading and writing public as well. Why? Because the American Heritage is a long-standing favorite family dictionary (never underestimate the value of pictures) and one of the prime dictionary references for magazines, newspapers, and dot.com content providers. For scads of writers and editors across the U.S., it sets the standard on matters of style and lexicographical authority.
So this new edition is exciting and noteworthy, but how good is it? In its favor, the fourth edition is as current a dictionary as you can get. It's six years fresher than the 1994 version, with 10,000 words and definitions you won't find in the still venerable but now slightly dated third edition. For example, unlike its predecessor (and also unlike the 1996 Oxford Encyclopedic English Dictionary), this fourth edition covers dot-com, e-commerce, and soccer mom, Ebonics, Viagra, and a surf definition for cruising television channels and the Internet.
Its panel of special consultants includes authorities on anthropology, architecture, cinema, and law, plus military science, music, religion, and sports, and that is reflected in an impressively comprehensive coverage of the arts, culture, and technology. Sadly, however, there are no medical consultants on the panel, and that loss is felt in some substandard medical definitions. Other flaws: there's a greater than usual tendency to define a word with a form of the same word--for example, fuzzy, whose first two definitions are "1. covered with fuzz." and "2. of or resembling fuzz." And some definitions seem needlessly wordy, such as the entry for furious, which is "full of or characterized by extreme anger; raging." Compare that with the more succinct Oxford Encyclopedic entry: "1. extremely angry. 2. full of fury."
On the other hand, there are valuable entries throughout the dictionary supplying additional information on synonyms, usage, or word history, and these extras, such as the history of diatribe and the usage notes on discomfit, are interesting. The layout is easy on the eyes, with dark blue/green bold type setting the words apart from their definitions, and 4,000 color photographs, maps, and illustrations that are both useful and delightful. On one page, the margin provides color depictions of Francis Bacon, bacterium, and a Bactrian camel. Theodore Roosevelt and a rooster share another margin, while a third page offers Isak Dinesen, a dingo, and dinoflagellate. It is a fascinating book to peruse, and a compellingly scholarly addition to the American Heritage Dictionary line. --Stephanie Gold
Book Description
* Over 70,000 entries
* Thoroughly revised and updated
* 1,000 new words and meanings
* Over 400 photographs and illustrations
* Expert guidance on correct usage
Based on the bestselling
American Heritage®
Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
American Heritage® dictionaries are widely known as the most innovative and informative dictionaries in today's market. This all-new fourth edition of the best-selling classic continues that tradition with its clear and precise definitions, its expert usage guidance, and its wealth of illustrations. Newly updated to reflect our changing language, this revised edition is the most up-to-date and authoritative dictionary available today.
* More than a thousand new entries for such terms as e-tailer, zine, bioreserve, chatroom, red card, domestic partner
* More biographical and geographical entries than any other paperback, thoroughly updated for the new millennium
* The most lavishly illustrated dictionary on the market -- with over 400 images
* Expert usage guidance based on the American Heritage® Usage Panel
* Regional notes from around the country
* Hundreds of synonym lists, fascinating etymologies, and much more
American Heritage® Dictionaries. Setting a new standard.
Customer Reviews:
The Gold Standard for Writers.......2007-08-23
I am a budding writer. As part of my research for developing a freelance commercial writer practice, I read "The Well Fed Writer" by Peter Bowerman. In his discussion of writer tools, Bowerman recommended The American Heritage Dictionary above all others. He called it "THE happening dictionary out there."
How do you measure a dictionary? I looked up current usage of words not in common use when I bought my Webster's Collegiate twenty-odd years ago. I found a definition of "hip-hop" [n. 1. A popular urban youth culture, closely associated with rap music and the style of innre-city African-Americans.] There is a brief discussion of the distinction in use of the words "Hispanic" and "Latino." Though not an encyclepedia, American Heritage lists prominent historic figures with the source of their fame and life years.
I bought the paperback version for the price. Next time, I will buy the trade edition [larger paperback] or hard cover version to take advantage of the larger type. The paperback is pratical for carrying around. I use my dictionary in my office.
Quality has decreased over the years.......2007-08-21
I own the 2nd paperback edition of this dictionary that I've had since around 1989. It was getting quite worn out on the covers, but pages are fine but simply yellowed. Since I've liked this dictionry for so many years, I thought it's about time to get a new edition. When I got this new 4th edition, it looked about the same size but bit thicker, of course they better have added some new words over the last 20 years. So I put the old one away and started using the new one. After a couple of months of using it, the binding have almost splitted in half and some pages are starting to fall out just from normal flipping and looking up words. I'm quite careful with books, and the old 2nd edition still has it's binding and all pages intact. In terms of the number of words, it was really not necessary, at least for me, to have this new edition, because I've learned these so called "new" words from TV, newspapers, magazines, friends, co-workers, colleagues, and Internet increasingly for the last two decades. I think it would be strange for someone today in the 21st century needing to know a supposed "new" word like email(e-mail), unless he or she has been living in a cave or a coma all these years.
Always excellent.......2007-08-01
This is the best dictionary I've found. It has many contemporary references that are useful for many situations. Others have been surprised I found some information in my dictionary. They thought I got it out of a reference book like a encylopedia.
Great Resource, especially for people who are serous about American English...........2007-05-10
In my opinion, despite shortcomings pointed out by other reviewers, this is the gold standard for American English. It is comprehensive enough to cover a lot of territory that an educated person is likely to encounter, but not so much detail that you can't carry the thing around or use it easily. If you just want a dictionary for magazine and pleasure reading, you can probably get buy with something less than this. However, if you read classics and more intellectual material, this is a must have.
I agree with some of the criticisms of this particular version. However, American English is what it is. If you want a companion volume that compliments it, then I suggest Concise Oxford English Dictionary. This has more nuanced definitions with more of a focus on proper usage. It is complimentary to the dictionary I am reviewing and you can get both along with a useful CD version for about $10.00 more.
I find that having two dictionaries gives me two angles on a particular word. If you want even more depth, you may also want The Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology (Dictionary) and Roget's International Thesaurus, Indexed, Sixth Edition Revised & Updated. I find that the thesaurus with THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY is limited and not as flexible to use. If you are a writer, this will be a problem.
Unfortunately, a good dictionary is expensive and if you could only buy one and you are American, this is excellent. It also has rather concise definitions without a lot of complications that require you to keep looking up words in a circular fashion to get the information that you need i.e. it gets to the point. The Oxford dictionary is a bit less accessible, but it has more detail in the definitions and sticks to strict standard usages.
A dictionary.......2007-03-20
I've tested it during class and works great. That's all I can say. It has pictures in it. The font used is very easy on your eye. The bold arrows help as well. Good dictionary, I guess. I really would not know how to review a dictionary.
Product Description
The 2006 update of this award-winning dictionary for young readers encourages language exploration with accessible definitions and thought-provoking feature notes. Entry words are illustrated throughout with clear, colorful artwork.
Amazon.com
The revised, 21st-century edition of The American Heritage Children's Dictionary, designed for ages 8 and older, doesn't contain the words "plethora," "treacle," "metaphor," or "reciprocal." What use is it, then? you may ask yourself, but that's a question that many kids could answer for you. The letters are large enough to read! Every word is used in a sentence! There are over 800 color photos and illustrations! When you look up the word "erratic" in The American Heritage Dictionary for grownups (Third Edition), it says, "1. Lacking consistency or uniformity; irregular. 2. Unconventional; eccentric." When you look "erratic" up in this children's dictionary, it is defined as, "Not following a steady or usual course; irregular. Our rowboat's course was erratic after we lost our oars." More third-grader-friendly? Certainly.
More than 400 words have been added to this edition--"electronic mail," "online," "seersucker," "vagabond," and "millennium," to name a few. This hefty, appealing hardcover dictionary contains 14,000 main entries and 37,000 boldface forms; it's the only children's dictionary to feature a 10-page phonics guide to help early readers sound out and spell words; and it includes a thesaurus (even if it is very basic, at six pages long). Throughout the book are information blocks such as "Word History" ("hibernate" comes from the Latin word for winter), "Language Detective" (how do you pronounce "creek" where you live?), "Vocabulary Builder" (with word parts such as "-less"); and "Synonyms." If you're looking for word fun for the whole family, younger children ages 4 to 6 may enjoy The American Heritage Picture Dictionary, and older kids ages 11 to 15 might find The American Heritage Student Dictionary helpful. It's never too early to give your children the tools they need to learn! --Karin Snelson
Customer Reviews:
Great for early elementary school.......2007-06-10
This is the dictionary used in my childrens' school. The definitions are child-friendly and the words included are ones on many spelling lists. So far my kids have used it through third grade.
Wonderful.......2007-01-13
I purchased this for my 8 year old Daughter. Instead of her asking me how to spell this and that word, I showed her how to find it herself in the dictionary. It is very colorful and has beautiful pictures.
An essential kids dictionary.......2005-12-16
I am a homeschooling Mom and we use it every day! Great pictures. Only slight drawback is that not every word we need is listed in it - most are though. Althogether a good investment.
Great 1st Dictionary - 1st-4th grades.......2004-12-11
My review is based on the 2003 version. This version must be vastly improved over earlier reviews, as earlier reviews said it had no pronunciation guide. This version is great! It has blue text for the word. Short, concise definitions and a pronunciation guide at the end.
I feel this is a great "real" 1st dictionary for kids. I picked it for it's readability, suitability/content, and concise definitions. And, as some reviewers said, it may not have "every" word, but I found this version to be the easiest to start with and "entice" them into using the dictionary. I really like the DK/Merrian version, but alas, it's really hard for me and my little guys (1st and 2nd) to decipher through all the blah text, symbols, and more complex definitions. I want them to be excited about reading. My plan is to use this one now until the kids seem to outgrow it, and then I'll upgrade to an "older dictionary". Maybe by then DK/Merriam will have an easier format in a few years. In the interim, I'll use the dictionary.com or merriam-webster online for the missing vocab words. Multiple resources are great.
In closing, I did sit in Barnes and Noble for 20 minutes comparing between the Scholastic, DK/merriam, New World Webster, and American Heritage. I still think for a first children's dictionary that this is a great solution. I would have thought Scholastic would have done a better job. The New World Webster was good with definitions, but the artwork consisted of drawings that were not as "good" and the readability was not quite as good.
Hope this helps all in the market.
Well laid out. Good for the younger students........2003-10-31
There are many things I love about this dictionary. Number one is the way it is put together; easy to read text, plenty of eye-catching pictures and artwork, guidewords conspicuously typeset to make locating entries easier, homographs, inflected forms, and example sentences that show use in context.
Even my SLD students are able to use this book. It has been an excellent source in helping them to learn how to use a dictionary as it is less intimidating that the old black and white texts.
Book Description
The newest title in the popular 100 Words series is an informative
and entertaining resource that can help anyone be right on the
money when looking for words that will make a point, seal the deal,
or just keep folks listening. Chosen by the editors of the American
Heritage Dictionaries, these words will appeal to anyone who wants
to be a more compelling communicatorâas a worker, consumer,
advocate, friend, dinner companion, or even as a romantic prospect.
The book includes a colorful variety of words, including handy
words of just one syllable (such as glib) and words derived from the
names of famous people (such as Freudian slip and Machiavellian).
There are expressions from popular culture (Catch-22) and words that
date back to classical civilization (spartan and stoic). Each word is
clearly defined and shown in context with quotations from contemporary
sources: magazines, newspapers, broadcast media, movies, and
television. For many words, quotations from distinguished authors and
speakers are also given and word histories are explained.
Like its predecessors in this successful series, 100 Words to
Make You Sound Smart provides an affordable and enjoyable way
to communicate more effectively. It offers the coveted gift of gab to
anyone who needs to "say it right"âand to anyone who wants to sound
more articulate.
Customer Reviews:
Gateway to Learning HUGE Words.......2007-10-10
I recently got this book at my elementary school's book fair, and I was sucked into it immediately. I love to learn big words and impress my peers. I also adore writing, and now that I have this book, I can use the vocabulary in my stories. My dream is to be in the Scripp's National Spelling Bee, and these are the type of words given to contestants. I reccomend this book to anyone who had a love for reading and most of all, spelling to impress!
save your money.......2007-03-15
I bought this because I wanted to expand my vocabulary, so you could imagine my disappointment when I got this book and already knew most of the words in it. Save your money.
not for everyone.......2007-01-07
The book would make a cute stocking stuffer for the kids, but I wouldn't recommend it for the educated adult. Most of the words in the book are words you probably use regularly. It is something to flip through on the commute to work.
Words, words, words.......2006-12-08
True, these 100 words in the book may make me sound smart, but I wonder if I use them in writing to the eighth-grade-reading-level public, will I make them feel stupid?
A book I read recently said that we are to write to that reading level, not because our reader's ability, but because today people are sssssoooooo busy and stressed they don't want to take the time to read "harder," higher-level words.
I was thrilled that a writer/editor of other people's words, I knew every single one. So now let's see how many of those 100 words I can use in a sentence (do I need a hobby, or what?)
The lurid (explicit/vivid) paradox (contradict) is insidious (treacherous), making me peevish (irritable) in that it is Spartan (simple manner) and without stigma (disgrace), but is also stoic (show no emotion), ostentatious (pretentious), and fastidious (attention to detail)--a dichotomy (divided into two parts) that is a red herring (draws attention from matter at hand) that is 100 percent non sequitur (does not follow logically).
So there. Writers and readers, if you can catch an idiosyncratic word (peculiar to a specific group), write me at P.O. Box _____.
Armchair Interviews says: The 100 Words That Make You Sound Smart would be a fun gift for anyone, including you--because anything that can make you sound smart can't be all bad. You think?
This Is Fun! .......2006-10-27
Words are fun, entertaining, and educational! And that is what '100 Words To Make You Sound Smart' is all about folks. I have purposefully never reviewed a reference title, but this was simply to good to pass up. The editors of American Heritage Dictionaries really did a nice job here in selecting interesting, useful words that can and are used in our day-to-day vocabulary.
Each specific word was easily defined and placed into a useful context for readers to understand. Quoting from an assortment of sources including movies, television, magazines, and newspapers, it was fun to explore new words and to reacquaint myself with some old friends.
I have a suggestion for anyone interested: next time you're taking a road trip with someone you like, take this little diddy with you . . . and have some fun!
Book Description
The newest title in the popular 100 Words series, 100 Words Every Word Lover Should Know is the perfect book for people who enjoy reading about words that have absorbing histories, intriguing coinages, surprising but useful meanings, or have been used by famous writers throughout the history of English.
Many of these 100 words are accompanied by notes that explain in detail the path the word has undertaken in its journey to its current meaning, providing useful etymological information about how the usage of a word develops over time. Additionally, 100 Words Every Word Lover Should Know features scores of quotations from classical and contemporary authors, from Henry James and Jane Austen to Sylvia Plath and William Golding, Douglas Coupland and Donna Tartt.
A great gift for anyone who appreciates the beauty, history, and depth of the English language, 100 Words Every Word Lover Should Know will appeal to all who are avid readers and take pride in a vibrant, active vocabulary.
Customer Reviews:
100 Words Every Word Lover Knows.......2007-10-17
Word lovers know or should know almost every word in this book. It's really a book for people who don't love words but think they want to. The format is good and the price is right. Maybe it's a good stocking stuffer for a young person who likes to read and write.
100 Words.......2007-09-27
Some words are wonderful to know. Others are once-in-a-lifetime kind of words and they should not really be included as one of the 100 words. And some of the examples they use by quoting actual text from old writings do not make these words any more useful in the modern context. Over all, not very useful.
A Great Little Book.............2007-01-27
I love words. There are so many ways in the English language to convey thoughts, emotions, opinions and allegories. I love using new words and whenever I come across a newly discovered term, I do my best to retain and reuse. This book is great because it lists the word, shows how to pronounce it, provides the definition and uses the word in lucid contexts. The price of this book is rather cheap, but the quality is not. Great to build or reinforce a wonderful vocabulary.
A lovely little treat.......2006-03-15
This is an inexpensive and enjoyable little book that you can absorb in an afternoon, but spend months returning to enjoy. Some of the words are common, some are uncommon, and some I had never heard before.
Also from reading this, I realized that I had been using some words improperly, which was also a great experience.
So, what word do I think that everyone should know?
Humuhumunukunukuapuaa
You can look it up on the web, or delve into this book to find out what it means, as well as many other delightful words.
Book Description
The 100 Words series continues to set the standard for measuring and improving vocabulary, with a new title focusing on words that are best known for getting people into linguistic trouble. 100 Words Almost Everyone Confuses and Misuses is the perfect book for anyone seeking clear and sensible guidance on avoiding the recognized pitfalls of the English language.
Each word on the list is accompanied by a concise and authoritative usage note based on the renowned usage program of the American Heritage® Dictionaries. These notes discuss why a particular usage has been criticized and explain the rules and conventions that determine what's right, what's wrong, and what falls in between. Troublesome pairs such as affect / effect, blatant / flagrant, and disinterested / uninterested are disentangled, as are vexing sound-alikes such as discrete / discreet and principal / principle. Other notes tackle such classic irritants as hopefully, impact, and aggravate, as well as problematic words like peruse and presently.
A great graduation gift or stocking stuffer for anyone who cares about language, 100 Words Almost Everyone Confuses and Misuses is guaranteed to help keep writers and speakers on the up-and-up!
Customer Reviews:
Words Some People Confuse.......2007-10-17
Not for advanced readers. This is pretty rudimentary stuff and is really for someone who doesn't read or write much. Price and format are both good. Might be a good gift for a high school student who is daunted by English courses.
100 Words Almost Everyone Confuses.......2006-03-20
An excellent introduction to commonly misused words. Although
basic, the book could be a useful tool for the average speaker
and writer of English.
Could of passed..........2006-02-24
To me, this book was simply a dictionary of 100 words sorted in alphabetical order. What I was hoping for was a book that would describe the common misuses of words and separate out differences between misused words. Instead, it seems each word was just simply stated and then defined. It's a great book to simply read about words and their meanings, but just wasn't what I expected. Not an expensive book, so I'm not complaining too much.
Terrible!.......2006-02-20
If you need this book, you will not understand it. If you understand it, you don't need it! Unless you were the one student in thousands whose jaw dropped in rapt fascination when your seventh-grade teacher diagrammed the parts of speech, you will not follow the alleged explanations in this book. The explanations come straight out of that seventh-grade grammar text. Such and such a word is the intransitive past participle of another word. There, that cleared it up, didn't it! There is almost never a simple declarative sentence about how to use a confusing word... here is a lovely example from page 88...
"The adjective precipitate and the adverb precipitately were once applied to physical steepness but are now used primarily of rash, headlong actions. Precipitous currently means "steep" in both literal and figuratrive senses: 'the precipitous rapids of the upper river; a precipitous drop in commodity prices.' But precipitous and precipitously are also frequently used to mean "abrupt, hasty," which takes tham into territory what would ordinarily belong to precipitate and precipitately..."
Hope that cleared it up for you!
This book suffers from "junior high math teacher's syndrome," where if you didn't understand the problem, and found the courage to raise your hand, the teacher just looked at you as if you'd just gotten off the special-ed bus and repeated exactly the same indecipherable explanation using the exact same words, only slightly slower and with more condescension.
The writers of this book are dictionary editors, and therefore presume that telling us the part of speech and Greek or Latin derivation will make things clear. They do not. I write for a living, in part. I do not think I found one confusing word clarified by this book in a way I will incorporate in my work.
Great Desktop Reference for Writers of all Categories.......2006-02-18
Anyone who writes, be it for business or pleasure can surely benefit from this slim 100-word volume presented by the American Heritage Dictionary people who have prepared other such guides like "100 Words Every High School Graduate Should Know" An "100 Words Every High School Freshman Should Know."
Instead of targeting SAT word-building wannabees, this book presents a quick desktop reference for those words that when mispelled and misused in writing, perilously changes the meaning of the sentence. My personal bete noir pairs--- "effect" versus "affect", "augur" and "auger" and "lie" and "lay"--- are covered here starting with a simple definition, explanation of the part of speech, etymology, related words, sentence examples and most importantly ends with a usage problem label that warns the writer of possible difficulties when applying the word in a sentence.
All words are alphabetically listed meaning that confusing pairs like "affect" and "effect" will not necessarily be discussed sequentially. However, the usage note will alert the writer to the word's most confused mate and direct one to the appropriately numbered (1-100)word.
The book does not contain an index where the confused pairs could have been listed together as another form of possible language misusage nor does it provide cross-referenced page numbers. However, the wealth of information provided for each word makes the $4.95 fee for purchase a worthy and timeless value.
Bottom line: "100 Words almost Everyone Confuses $ Misuses" is a great reference for any writer, particularly those for whom English is a second language. Recommended for all who write.
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Roget's International Thesaurus, Indexed, Sixth Edition Revised & Updated
The Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus
The New Oxford American Dictionary
The American Heritage Dictionary: Fourth Edition (21st Century Reference)
The Chicago Manual of Style
