Shorter Oxford English Dictionary - Sixth Edition (set of 2 books)

First of all I was not sure if the dictionary would run with Windows 7. Windows 7 was not included with the operating systems quoted on the back of the cd cover but it works fine. Installation was a pleasant surprise. I have the full OED on cd and installing that can take quite a while. This was lightning fast. My operating system suggested that installation was faulty but on trying it out it worked fine. I like the set up. It's easy to navigate around, very smooth. The entries, quotations etc. are clear. As for the dictionary itself I have yet to make up my mind as I will need to work with it a little bit. In my opinion the OED is the best English dictionary for fulfilling the most important function of a dictionary - imparting an understanding of a word. This version of the Shorter Oxford Dictionary is less forbidding than the older versions which is all to the good. I expect and hope that this latest edition has not lost the clarity of explanation which is a hallmark of most Oxford dictionaries.

This abridged edition IN BOOK FORM of the multi-volume OED covers enough words for language fans as well as editors and teachers. More often than not, an advanced learner's dictionary does not include enough words or the inflected forms of some words which also require explanation and it is here that this dictionary comes in to help. For example, most advanced learner's dictionaries include "halo" as a noun but no defined entry on its corresponding verb form. Also, the Shorter OED provides clearer definitions on simple words. For another example, "crotch" is not just about human groins, but also means "a fork of a tree or a bough" in a language context in which part of a tree is concerned. A wonderful compilation!

After obtaining this Shorter Oxford English Dictionary I have proof that has been denied me in all other dictionaries I have delved into to date. That quite simple word, having been part of my vocabulary since childhood, is the noun ( conjunction and adverb ) 'whilst', which has origins going right back to the late Middle English period. This means that it has been in use for at least 500 years, yet I was once castigated by my school's English teacher for using it in an essay, and computer spelling checkers now try to correct me when using it in internet correspondence. I know it is silly but, at 70 years of age, I eventually feel that I have been absolved of the ironic sin of using a word that has existed all along. The price of this two volume set alone is worth the settling of that matter in my mind. Eamonn

This is without a doubt the most useful dictionary I have ever bought. It's not oversized as it comes in two standard dictionary-sized volumes and fits neatly on the shelf. I am happy that it contains extended definitions plus contextual passages to back the words up. The sheer number of words contained in the dictionary makes it one of the most comprehensive dictionaries available. I have noticed that many people have given this product negative reviews due to the CD contained, however I find the CD to be an irrelevance to the dictionary as a whole and give it five stars in spite of the discontent expressed by some of the customers. For anyone who is familiar with the dictionary game, this is perfect as it contains a vast plethora of words which I never knew existed!

The SOED is an excellent resource for me. I was gifted the set by a family member for my birthday after I suggested that a dictionary would be a good gift as I currently read law. I find myself dipping into the set daily to find words and occasionally to prove people wrong with meanings and pronunciations! I did, however, have a few problems with the dictionaries when they arrived. The first set had a big grease mark across a couple of pages, so I ordered a replacement only to find that that also was defective and had very poor print quality in the second volume, another set was ordered and the same issue was in that one. After this I gave up and decided to just keep the third one with the ink issue seen as it was just very faint, but still there.

If you cannot afford the £750 for the 20 Volume edition of The Oxford English Dictionary, or if you do not have the shelf space to put them upon, then this is the edition to get. The two great volumes contain nearly four thousand pages, more than half a million definitions, and eighty-five thousand quotations illustrating the meanings and context of many words. What more could you ask for? Whenever I come across a new word or one I am not sure of the definition, I turn to my copy of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary and find a lot more information than I expected. It is the kind of book that you think you only put on a shelf and refer to it "once in a blue moon", but when you discover all sorts of interesting words and etymologies of common words you want to look further. It is my number one reference book.

We are a crosssword loving family and these two volumes have already been well worth the money. Apart from being purely practical they are a never-ending source of interest about words and their origins. The entries are set out in a clear and easy to read fashion and the books themsleves are a delight to read.

As a Celtic Frenchman of Scottish origin living between countries using both English and French, these 2 volumes give me a good grasp of the subtleties of the English language. And I haven't forgotten Scots and Scottish Gaelic. Those are the joys of linguistics.

It is a good dictionary

ضروري اقتنائه لمحبي القواميس الضخمة

Englisch scheint eine sehr einfache Sprache zu sein, sie kann aber auch sehr reich sein, wenn man sich darauf einlassen will. Das "Shorter Oxford English Dictionary" (SOED) gibt dazu einen Einblick ins Vokabular, in die Herkunft der Wörter, in die Vielfalt der Ausdrucksmöglichkeiten. "Shorter" ist dabei typisch englischer Humor, denn das SOED kommt in zwei mammutgroßen und elefantenschweren Bänden, die sich aber erstaunlich gut handhaben lassen. Die Schrift ist klein, aber sehr gut lesbar. Dreispaltiger Satz mit vielen Textbeispielen aus Presse und Literatur machen die Lektüre angenehm. Ja, Lektüre! Oder kauft jemand ein Wörterbuch nur zum nachschlagen? Das SOED schlägt man auf, aber nicht gleich wieder zu. Es ist spannend zu lesen und kann süchtig machen, wie eine Enzyklopädie oder ein großes Lexikon. Wem die zwei Bände SOED nicht reichen: Es gibt noch ein sündhaft teures komplettes "Oxford English Dictionary" (OED) in 20 Bänden. Das SOED enthält alle alle Wörter vom 17. Jahrhundert an bis zur heutigen Computersprache plus die älteren Wörter der englischen King-James-Bibel und die von William Shakespeares Werken. Wer mehr Textbeispiele und ganz altes Englisch vor dem 17. Jahrhundert braucht, sollte zum OED greifen. Das "Shorter Oxford English Dictionary" kommt in zwei Bänden im Schuber und ist fadengeheftet. Das heißt, man kann die Wälzer aufschlagen, und sie fallen nicht wieder zu, und die Bücher sind dauerhaft haltbar, weil die Seiten eingenäht sind. Was ich so von Langenscheidt und Duden bekomme, ist alles nur geklebt und wird früher oder später zur Loseblattsammlung. Wer mehr Amerikanisch nachschlagen will, ist wohl mit einem Merriam-Webster (M-W) besser bedient. Leider hat M-W keine Internationale Lautschrift, sondern etwas selbstgestrickt-amerikanisches, das man erst erlernen muß. Da ist das Shorter Oxford im Vorteil. Vom Preis her war Amazon bei weitem der günstigste Lieferant, 20 Euro unter dem günstigsten Preis auf dem sonstigen Markt. Das "Shorter Oxford English Dictionary" ist in jeder Hinsicht empfehlenswert! Ich bin sehr zufrieden.

Best usable dictionary of English. Contains One third content of Oxford English Dictionary in one fifth of its size. Printing and packaging upto mark.

Ce dictionnaire - c'est un pavé - est ce qu'il y a de plus complet et fouillé pour les amoureux de la langue anglaise. Je ne me lasse pas de m'y promener Rebecca