Product Description

This new edition of the Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus is more exceptional than ever, solidifying its place as the one thesaurus every writer (or aspiring writer) will want to have. It provides more than 300,000 synonyms and 10,000 antonyms, with copious real-life example sentences and careful selection and ordering of the most relevant synonyms. Additional features include notes on American English usage and word spectrums showing the shades of meaning between polar opposites. The text is enhanced with thoughtful mini-essays on favorite words by ten noted contemporary writers--David Auburn, Michael Dirda, David Lehman, Erin McKean, Stephin Merritt, Francine Prose, Zadie Smith, Jean Strouse, David Foster Wallace, and Simon Winchester.
This new edition has been updated and enhanced, including a new foreword by award-winning author Rick Moody. Additionally, the second edition introduces new Word Toolkits, which use an exciting visual display of information to demonstrate the nuances in meaning and use of closely related words. Also new to this edition is a center section including thematic word lists, as well as a comprehensive language guide with writing tips. The new features are based on findings from Oxford's groundbreaking language research program and the Oxford English Corpus.
The Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus is truly (surely, certainly, unquestionably) the perfect tool for discriminating writers of all varieties looking for the perfect word.
Praise for the first edition:
"The best new array of synonyms around."
--William Safire, The New York Times Magazine
"The only problem in consulting this book could be that the original purpose soon is lost while the reader becomes immersed in one fascinating passage after another." --Richmond Times Dispatch
"Practice writing sharper essays with just the right words from the new Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus."-Parade
"A person looking up a word may continue reading for another 15 minutes or so just out of interestThis is probably the best thesaurus yet."--Desert News
"Written by writers for writers, this innovative thesaurus truly advances the time-honored word source."--American Libraries
"A title that breathes fresh life into a genre very much in need of CPR. This work breaks away from the traditional format of simple lists of synonyms and antonyms by offering a number of ingenious and helpful features set within boxes in the text.... Highly recommended."--Library Journal (Starred Review)
"In the jargon of sportscasters The Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus is a triple threat: It's a freshly conceived guide to finding just the right word, it's published by the greatest name in English reference books, and it offers thoughtful, amusing and provocative mini-essays on 240 favorite words by nine distinguished contemporary writers."
--Michael Dirda, Pulitzer Prize winning critic and longtime journalist for The Washington Post
"This very readable reference will help writers find the most precise word for their needs.... Current, thoughtful, and attractively formatted, this is an indispensable tool for writers."
--School Library Journal (Starred Review)
"Perhaps the thesaurus's most fascinating feature is lengthy lists of words that link opposites--fat and thin, comic and tragic, interesting and boring. With this book close at hand, no one will call you the thesaurus's ultimate synonym for writer: a hack."
--Village Voice

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13580 in Books
• Published on: 2008-11-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 1128 pages

From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 8 Up–This very readable reference will help writers find the most precise word for their needs. Word entries include synonyms and antonyms, sample sentences, parts of speech, phrases, and cross-references–all labeled and easily distinguishable by bold, capitalized, or italicized font. A variety of editors have contributed "word notes," for meaning and usage, such as distinguishing between "ethical" and "moral" and "virtuous" and "honorable," or when to use "who" and "whom." These mini-essays are conversational in tone and provide nuances that writers will appreciate when struggling to put a word into the proper context. "Word spectrums" is a unique feature that starts with a word such as "frank," then offers a list of terms leading by progression to its polar opposite, in this case, "evasive." A number of inset boxes list specific words for types of dances, coffees, leathers, fish, and more. The back of the thesaurus contains a lengthy "Language Guide," consisting of grammar and punctuation rules, lists of commonly misspelled words, clichés to avoid, and redundant expressions. A dozen "Writing Prompts" include questions with universal appeal, such as "What's the best breakfast you've ever had?" and "Who was the first person you ever hated? loved?" Current, thoughtful, and attractively formatted, this is an indispensable tool for writers.–Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
An improvement over sterile word books and scattered online reference works, this succinct and focused thesaurus offers 300,000 synonyms and 100,000 antonyms, with pedagogy sprinkled along the way. A readable layout blends boldface entries and italicized models among word lists and limits dingbats to arrows. The text favors a variety of users. For the beginning writer or student of composition, “Choose the Right Word” notes encourage contrast, such as sterile versus sanitary. “Word Links” advance readers to alternate listings, for example, from reptile to herpetology. “Word Spectrum” sidebars offer a word continuum, as with the scale of terms from plain to fancy, and new “Word Toolkits,” a form of cross-referencing, connect the reader to close synonyms, such as daunting and formidable. Signed commentary under “Word Notes” offers insight into how and why connotations collect around words. Some, such as David Lehman’s analysis of foundation garments, stray from pedagogy to a cutesy irrelevance. Michael Dirda’s definition of patriotic implies that lovers of their homeland are all male. For this edition, the thematic tables of words from architecture, cooking, geography, and other areas have been collected in a “Wordfinder” section in the center of the volume along with a three-page list of archaic terms and a two-page compilation of such artsy terms as troublous and espy.  Although the thesaurus does not seem to have grown, and updating appears to be minimal, this edition is easier to read. Recommended for most libraries that did not acquire the first edition as well as for libraries where the first edition is dog-eared.

Review

"...the best new array of synonyms around."--William Safire, The New York Times Magazine
"To help today's writers in the "grail-quest" for the true word, the folks at Oxford have come up with a title that breathes fresh life into a genre very much in need of CPR. This work breaks away from the traditional format of simple lists of synonyms and antonyms by offering a number of ingenious and helpful features set within boxes in the text.... Bottom Line Although loaded with special features, this thesaurus doesn't undermine its more traditional duties. Under a generous 25,000 headwords, it lists 300,000 synonyms and 10,000 antonyms in usefully laid-out entries. Highly recommended."--Library Journal STARRED REVIEW!
"Anyone who writes for a living knows how valuable a good thesaurus can be in finding the exact words to express a variety of thoughts - and this book has more than 300,000 synonyms and 10,000 antonyms from which to choose. Arranged alphabetically, it includes example sentences and distinctions from the most commonly used words....The only drawback to this book is that a person looking up a word may continue reading for another 15 minutes or so just out of interest.
This is probably the best thesaurus yet."--Deseret News
"In the jargon of sportscasters The Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus is a triple threat: It's a freshly conceived guide to finding just the right word, it's published by the greatest name in English reference books, and it offers thoughtful, amusing and provocative mini-essays on 240 favorite words by nine distinguished contemporary writers.--Michael Dirda, Pulitzer Prize winning critic and longtime journalist for The Washington Post
"Oxford also scores high for its new The Oxford Writer's Thesaurus ($40), which employed the skills of several contributing editors. This guide is a tribute to the precisions of the English language, listing more than 300,000 synonyms and 10,000 antonyms. Of special interest are the interspersed notes of the editors, who expound on nuances and crotchetsThe only problem in consulting this book could be that the original purpose soon is lost while the reader becomes immersed in one fascinating passage after another." --Richmond Times Dispatch

Customer Reviews

A thesaurus with flair
I like this thesaurus. I've recently returned to school after a long absence, and I quickly realized that I needed more than my trusty Webster's and the thesaurus from my computer word program. The American Writer's Thesaurus does what any standard thesaurus can do, but it has style and panache. Since I was unable to see the book before I purchased it, I relied on the reviews for guidance. Some of the commentary left me with the impression that I would be wading through essays before I found what I wanted. But I took a chance and I'm glad I did.

The essays are mere paragraphs interspersed throughout the book on an as needed basis and serve to expand the usage of a word. It's in alphabet format and contains several features such as The Right Word, Word Spectrums and Word Banks. These features are lists of words or short paragraphs that elaborate on commonly misused words. One last handy reference is the Understanding Grammar section at the back of the book. This is a super little primer or memory jogger for the rules of English.

As the author points out, a thesaurus does not replace a dictionary. But this book does make it easier to understand the connation of a word. I think that if you are looking to expand your word usage, this book is an excellent reference book that's interesting and not staid. I purchased it along with S.I. Hayakawa's "Choose the Right Word." Hayakawa's book is a fabulously helpful, interesting and easy to read reference that offers an in depth description of the subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, differences between synonym choices. With considerably more depth, but fewer entries, it is an excellent companion to "The American Writer's Thesaurus."

If you're looking to replace your worn out thesaurus, or to include an alphabet style reference, or you'd just like to add some interest to your reference book collection, this thesaurus would be an excellent pick. Preference is an individual choice and not every reference book is right for every person, but this book is perfect for me. Are you sending a child to college? Please consider Christine A. Lindberg's "American Writer's Thesaurus", S.I. Hayakawa's "Choose the Right Word," and a good dictionary as necessary tools for success.

A New Concept, More Complete than Most
Gustave Flaubert said, "All talent for writing consists after all of nothing more than choosing words." And how can that be wrong. Even as I write this review, I am only choosing words. But to say exactly what I mean is sometimes difficult. I want to say something, I know there is a word that expresses exactly what I want to say, but I can't think of it. Hence a thesaurus.

This new thesaurus carries things a lot further. Rather than just providing a list of alternative words, here are real-life example sentences, explicit distinctions for the most commonly used synonyms and many additional features. As an example, here is the entry for the word dramatize:


dramatize verb 1. the novel was dramatized TURN INTO A PLAY/MOVIE/MOTION PICTURE/FILM, adapt for the stage/screen.

2. the tabloids dramatized the event EXAGGERATE, overdo, overstate, hyperbolize, magnify, amplify, inflate; sensationalize, embroider, color, aggrandize, embellish, elaborate; informal blow up (out of all proportion).

A new and thought-provoking tool for writers
I was given this as a gift and it was the best present I've received in years. The combination of essays and synonyms makes you want to rummage through the pages. The more words you run across the richer and more expressive your writing will be, and this thesaurus really introduces you to a glorious many.

I really like the personal tone of the writers' essays -- it takes what could be a forbidding, boring reference book and makes it like taking a class with these writers. (Where is it written that reference books have to be overserious killjoys to be authoritative? This one manages to be both readable and responsible.)

If you are still using a skimpy paperback thesaurus, upgrade! You'll be glad you did.