Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus

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.

This is a wonderful thesaurus and my absolute favorite for excellent coverage of the English language and quality synonym hunting and finding. It is well constructed from high quality materials. As mentioned, it is comprehensive and excellent in its coverage. I have never failed to find the right word and shade of meaning while using it. I am a word nerd and dictionary nut, and this thesaurus is superlative. It is a joy to use. Seriously, if I could only have one thesaurus (electronic or book form), this would be it! The paper used is nice high quality stock, and with the typesetting they are using it makes it easy to read and find the entry. A great thesaurus!

Absolutely the best thesaurus for readers and writers on the market. Excellent tool for building vocabulary and putting new words to use. I use it every day.

As a writer, I need words. Sometimes I need THAT word. Thus, the thesaurus. This is a good one. In just a few months it has sparked many word changes (for the better, I think). There are lots of resources online, many free. Why buy this book? It is a different source, for one. I like multiple sources. The online results are sometimes great, sometimes worm food. And, you can make marginal notes in a book -- notes that will be there the next time you're in the neighborhood. Every writer should have a thesaurus, and this one is good. Write well.

I just picked this up to replace my grossly out of date thesaurus and am really pleased. It's in alphabetical order! That in itself was enough to sell me on it. No more spending five minutes trying to track a word down, like I did with my old one. This also offers examples of how to use words in a sentence (another thing my old one did not have) along with some interesting histories and facts about certain words and their usage. In the center of the book are several pages of thematic lists including: Animals, colors, drinks, food and so on, each broken into separate categories. The Literary Words and Latin Phrases are a nice addition as well. The Language Guide is also a plus as now I don't have to use a separate book when I need to double check myself. This is quite a goldmine of information. It's much more than just a thesaurus. I've only had it for two days and it has already served me well.

A thesaurus is like a dictionary on steroids. Definitions are often found through synonyms, and this thesaurus in particular is awesome. I'm a horticulturist and gardener, but I find that involves a lot of researching, writing, and sharing information. In order to sound more professional and expand my vocabulary, I've used an online thesaurus. But those have limitations. Like any good reference book held in the hands of any ADHD individual, looking for a word in a book becomes a rambling adventure in itself. Like the title says, I've exploited this book in more discreet instances than any of my other books since it arrived into my library. It is more complete than other thesaurus's I own and it includes some interesting appendixes for curious minds.

I am not a writer but I understand what the editors were attempting to accomplish here: a thesaurus by writers for writers. It looks to me that they have achieved their goal since I get the impression that they have anticipated the common objections to the traditional Roget thesaurus format and addressed them, with some twists of their own. It's a brilliant idea and I'll keep this book because of that. I did wish though that there were more “word links.” It's a good tool since most of the time the word I'm looking for is only tangentially related to the only clue word I have. Incidentally, this is where a traditional Roget thesaurus really shines: hunting for that elusive word when all you have for a clue is its cousin 10 times removed. What bothered me was the printing error. In almost all pages I saw text with a double image, as if blurred (see photo). It's likely that the plates misaligned during ink transfer. It's a good thing that they used high quality paper and a good sized font. So, even with some blurring it's still legible. But the sheer number of these makes me reluctant to recommend it, even though the book's content itself is quite good.

Very informative. Is full of information, word tips, writing tips, and lots everything having to do with writing and words. I found myself reading it as if the Thesaurus was a book.

This thesaurus is very helpful for young, new writers. Very professional and makes you sound smart!

Great book but i can not receive a receipt yet

I purchased the thesaurus after reading rich reviews. But I found it not as good as Rogers. Number of entry words are much much less.

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.

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.