Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus

I'm a professor and regularly write academic journal articles. Online thesauruses leave me at a loss for words with other simplistic suggestions. I bought this thesaurus for when I start a PhD program in the fall, and I'm sure it will be helpful as I attempt to take my writing to the next level.

I've always relied on traditional thesauri, online and in print, though I love having a hard-cover thesaurus to keep on my desk as an active reference. I was looking for an alternative to thesaurus.com and the built-in thesaurus on my MacBook when I came across different writer's thesauri on Amazon. After reading the reviews, I put this on my Christmas wish list, and was excited to receive it from my family.It is very different from a standard thesaurus but is an excellent supplement. I find it is the resource I first reach to when I am writing non-fiction and fiction. Not only is there context given for various uses of a word, but there are connotations given as well - the subtle differences of synonyms that are often missed. There are also slang and a few (noted) archaic uses. Periodically, there are insets of a group of common misused groups of synonyms focusing on context and connotation.Is it perfect? Like any reference book, it misses a few things. I wish there was an online version to make it faster to follow a word tree, but I love having it on my writing desk, ready to explore when needed. An excellent addition to any writer's toolkit, even business writers.

This is an outstanding thesaurus in just about every respect. I have several different versions on my shelf, but this is the one I reach for every time.I have yet to look up a word and not find it (as has happened with the other versions). It's formatted like a dictionary, meaning there are synonyms listed for each meaning/definition of the word, making it easy to find the *right* synonym for how you intended to use it. In addition, each definition includes a sentence (in italics) to demonstrate how the word is typically used. Personally, I find that really helpful.It's also very comprehensive, often listing words AND phrases that I don't find in other references or from an online thesaurus (which I also frequently use, simply for convenience). I've also found that the suggested synonyms are more closely related to one another, unlike the online version which seems to cast a really wide net when it comes to synonyms. I get more accurate and more descriptive words with this book than I do with any other source.The thesaurus also includes "extras" that ordinarily I would probably never even glance at, but in this case actually find helpful. The thematic lists are limited, but if you just need a random example (like a specific breed of dog or butterfly) then it's easier than wading through google. And, if you want to pepper your work with spiffy latin phrases or archaic words, then those lists makes it really easy to sound far more intelligent than you actually are.And yes, I'll admit it - I've even skimmed the grammar section at the back. Damned commas.A note on the "stories" - yes, there are lots of "notes" and "quotes" interspersed throughout the book. Personally, I enjoy them and find them informative. Most of them are just odds & ends - funky "word links" you've never heard of or clever quotes, but they're entertaining in a Trivial Pursuit kind of way and don't get in the way of looking something up. Honestly, if you take the time to read them you actually learn something and it does add to your overall understanding of whatever you just looked up - at least it does for me.Overall, I'm more than satisfied with this thesaurus. Well worth the expensive price tag IMO.

I don’t have to much to say but I love it

This thesaurus certainly beats using an online one such as thesaurus.com. This book is much more comprehensive and is a must if you a writer.

Shocked by the amount of value in this book. $30 seems like a steal.

This book has earned the privilege of staying open on my desk at all times. I used to use Google or Merriam Webster's website. I also tried downloading apps. But I still felt like I was often failing at finding the correct word for what I was trying to convey in my writing. This thesaurus quickly solved that problem. The examples of usage make it so much easier to figure out the exact word I'm looking for. I reference it multiple times a day. The Language Guide is also extremely useful. If you are on the fence about purchasing this thesaurus, do it! It's so worth the price.The only reason I took off a star is I wish it had index tabs! Since I use it so often, being able to flip from one letter to another would make it that much better. But I ordered a set of tabs and will index it myself in order to solve that small problem.

It proved useful. It gives me lots a words to replace one that I used too much. That said, I couldn't find some words in the way that I meant it. I would give this four stars and a half but since they don't have that I put a four.

This 1000-page thesaurus is rare among oxford thesauruses as it includes usage notes for the user.Sometimes, two or three words have similar meanings and so a language user is in a difficult situation to decide which is the best word that expresses his or her idea . It is at this point that the usage notes can help a great deal.Since Merriam-Webster no longer revised its dictionary on discriminated synonyms, this Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus is the one to be had.

I'm glad I bought it.

I suppose it's okay for a student writing a high school paper or maybe even a freshman but other than that - blah! I looked up a few entries for suggestions and nothing extraordinary popped up. The words I was using in my text weren't even in the main bodies of suggestions. I teach the English language for a living. I know where I'm coming from. Stephen King was right. Throw the Thesaurus in the waste paper basket.Mine is on the shelf collecting dust. An impressive paperweight however.

Amazon doesn't cut corners. They delivered it real fast. I am amazed also at the quality of this book. I wish I had bought it when I started writing. Because English isn't my first language, using thesauruses and other writing resources has been of the essence to improve my writing; I have made extensive use of Merriam-Websters Thesaurus, the one with the yellow cover, in paperback. That one was good, but this Thesaurus by Oxford simply outdoes any other in quality and excellence.

This is undoubtedly the best thesaurus I have come across and it will stay within my arm's reach for the many years to come, if not forever. In fact, this is more than a simple thesaurus. Any students, particularly of high school and university levels, should have one. I am not a writer but I have a strong urge to improve my English. I am sure that this will help me get closer to my goal. For the price, you cannot go wrong with the purchase. It is worth every pennies.