Most Often Used References--books and sites

[novella]

I use reference sources all day long in writing.

Obviously Roget's Thesaurus.

The dictionary I use most is Merriam-Websters Collegiate, as this is the standard for US publishers, but I also reference Chambers (UK) because it is so well written, and the two-volume Concise OED.

For online, my go-to site is Bartleby's. Anyone who doesn't know about it should. bartleby.com.

I also love slang and idiom dictionaries, both serious and goofy, English and American.

The Online Etymology Dictionary is great. etymonline.com

I love the Perseus Project at Tufts University. It's a staggeringly huge, linked resource on classical mythology. I don't use it much professionally, but it's like having the famed library at Alexandria online.

Any resources you care to mention?

Word-meaning resources are particularly fun for me.

Also, the Academy of American Poets site (poetry.org) has many complete poems, bibliographies, and biographies of poets.

 

[Freya]

The Urban Dictionary entertains me. I'm rather easily amused though

 

[demetrio]

Buy a subscription to oxfords online.

 

[ladyjune98]

I love the Chicago Manual of Style. It has the answer to everything. Also Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage. It's so much fun--you can look up common phrases and get an opinion on their usage--and also the reason behind the opinion.

I also think that every writer should read Joseph Williams' book Style. It is a good read and it will change the way you write forever.

Another one I enjoy but that I don't use much is called The People's Chronology. It's basically a giant timeline. I love to sit down with it and open it up randomly and see what happened in 1500, 1900, the year I was born, etc.

I really love reference books. They hold facts so I don't have to remember them.

 

[Renee]

Bartleby's is a great all-around source. I've had the site bookmarked for years. All the rest of my favorites are books:

American Heritage Dictionary
Encyclopedia of Literature
Roget's Thesaurus
Rand McNally World Atlas
Time Almanac
New York Desk Reference
The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy
The Oxford Companion to:

Philosophy
the Bible
the Supreme Court
​

I haven't found an encyclopedia that is affordable and excites me. I wouldn't mind getting an old used set, something printed before 1970.

 

[Kookamoor]

I have a Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com window in my browser. If I come across a word I don't know I punch it in there and the definition will come up in a new window. Marvellous little tool!

 

[Mari]

Any resources you care to mention?

Word-meaning resources are particularly fun for me.

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms is my current favorite of this type of book.

 

[SFG75]

Some interesting links provided. What a great thread!. Allow me to add a really good one. A relative of mine joined a book club and obtained this one for free. It's the Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable.
This is a book you won't regret buying.

 

[steffee]

Some fantastic links!!

I'm boring and stick to wikipedia and wiktionary.

I have a well-thumbed Encarta World English Dictionary, which I love

 

[SFG75]

I love the Chicago Manual of Style. It has the answer to everything. Also Merriam-Webster's

I got to konw CMS(or "Turabian")very well during my undergraduate years. I psent many nights searching as to how you cite online material, or unpublished works....ahhhh...the memories. MLA is my favorite citation style though.