Thesaurus - Writers Forum

PianoMaster107 · 07-11-2006, 04:53 PM

I am looking for a good thesaurus. Just wondering if anyone has a good one they use. And unfortunately the internet can not be one for me because I am on dial-up and the amount of time I can spend on the internet is less than the time I write.

Fantasy of You · 07-11-2006, 05:35 PM

Collins Dictionary and Thesaurus. 2 books in 1. Pretty big. I don't use it, I just got it out to see the name. Btw, there is one built into word, just right click and see.

Mike C · 07-11-2006, 05:53 PM

Rogets. Anything else is an imitation.

Scarecrow's Arrow · 07-11-2006, 06:00 PM

The one in word isn't that good IMO. It's pretty limited.

mammamaia · 07-11-2006, 07:22 PM

the best by far, is:

"the new american roget's college thesaurus in dictionary form"

pub. signet [paperback; red cover]

it's the one i've been using just about forever, since it's the most comprehensive as well as the easiest to use... it's the best-selling one, so i'm not the only one who thinks so...

you can get a new 2002 revised ed. for 7 bucks, used copies of that or the one i have [updated 1985] in good condition for a dollar and up...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/045...813414?ie=UTF8

the best thing about this is that it's just alphabetical, no index to fiddle with... has cross-referenced entries, so if you don't find the word you want at first look, it refers you to the other places it may be hiding...

in checking current prices for this post, i noticed that it now also includes quotations and phrases, so i just may have to get a new copy for myself, as well as touting it here... so, thanks for the question, pm!

love and hugs, maia

bryce · 07-11-2006, 07:24 PM

Agree with Mike and maia. Rogets takes some beating. However, I find the International edition is the bee's knees ( damned big bee!)

You see maia...I'm a born fiddler. (Must be the celt in me).

But always remember, PianoMaster...a thesaurus is just a tool. Won't make you a better storyteller. But hell...it's a damned good read!

Bryce

mammamaia · 07-11-2006, 07:46 PM

adding a bit of caution to bryce's, i have to note that many beginning writers so abuse and overuse their thesauri [

] that their writing becomes pompous and pretentious to the point of pain... they just grab whatever nifty words look good, not bothering to check out their exact meanings in the dictionary, with lamentable/laughable results... so, to all newish writers who read these posts, i offer my best advice... don't use your roget's w/o making equal use of your webster's!

PianoMaster107 · 07-11-2006, 10:10 PM

Thanks for the advice.

I understand your advice about over use of thesaurus. I have been cautious of that. If I do choose a word from the thesaurus I attempt to make sure it is the right meaning I need for the sentence.

But I do need a thesaurus. I am good at creativity but lack in vocab. So I am looking for a thesaurus to help me build my vocabulary. And yes Microsoft words thesaurus is very limited.

bryce · 07-12-2006, 01:41 AM

Extra bit of caution to maia's.
To all newbie writers...don't use your pen w/o making equal use of your brain.

As for you PianoMaster...once you've built your vocabulary, could you build one for me, too?

Bryce

FrankBlissett · 07-12-2006, 08:33 AM

Quote:

"the new american roget's college thesaurus in dictionary form"

pub. signet [paperback; red cover]

"Red cover"?! I just looked at the paperback Roget's I bought new back in the 1980s and the color of it's cover is "masking-tape" tan.

Ditto the advice on the dangers of overusing it.

-Frank

mammamaia · 07-12-2006, 06:41 PM

if it's not a red cover, frank, then it's not the 'new american college' one 'in dictionary form' that i found to be the best version of all roget's... the one i recommend is published by signet and the exact title is given above... the link is to the latest updated ed., but it's not too much changed from the 80s pub'd version i have...

there are many different editions of 'roget's' but few are dictionary-form and that's what makes this one such a joy to use...

FrankBlissett · 07-12-2006, 10:41 PM

Sorry Maia - I meant to imply that it's been rebound from overuse when I was a teenager.

I think it was a blue cover originally.

I will certainly keep your advice in mind if I get in the market for a new one though.

-Frank

mammamaia · 07-13-2006, 09:45 PM

oh... still, if it had a blue cover, it wasn't the one i use and recommend... but seems to have been good enough for you, over the years, regardless...