by Lucius Trae

Created on: May 21, 2010

Online dictionaries are one of the most magnificent things a writer can utilize. In my teens, I had a small dictionary that I wore out from overuse. To build my vocabulary, I would look up every word I didn't know. Since I was young and learning new words regularly, this was a painfully annoying process. It would sometimes take me ten minutes to get through a page of a particularly difficult book.

That said, I can now read most books without constantly fumbling through a dictionary. However, I still like to have access to a dictionary. With online dictionaries, you can type in words quickly and save time. Furthermore, you get more detailed explanations of the words than you might find in a traditional dictionary. Traditional dictionaries often only have one usage of the word, and the dictionaries that are detailed are large and cumbersome.

As I read dictionaries, I often encounter a somewhat ironic twist. In attempting to learn a definition, I am given one that contains a word I don't know. Again, time is always valued, and an online dictionary is much more efficient at solving this problem. Of course, I used to see words I didn't know on the same page as the word I was looking up. My vocabulary thanked me, but it made reading books a slow process. If I want to learn vocabulary, online dictionaries often have vocabulary building exercises words of the day, and a thesaurus.

As a writer, having access to a thesaurus online is incredibly beneficial. When I can't remember the word I'm thinking of, I often put in the phrase or meaning of it. My paperback dictionary can't do that. In a flash, I've found the word I couldn't remember, and I'm back to writing. Furthermore, if I don't like how a word is sounding in a sentence, or I've used it too much, I can look in the thesaurus. Although I know tons of vocabulary "when I see it," I hardly have the same amount incorporated into my everyday speech. The thesaurus feature allows me to expand my writing vocabulary.

With modern technology, online dictionaries can even be accessed by phone. I was a bit slow when it came to cellphones, but I received an iPhone as a gift. It was incredibly beneficial in a variety of ways, but I was pleased to have access to dictionary features both on and offline using the device. I have a more comprehensive dictionary than in the past, and it's smaller and lighter than a paperback.

Of course, I don't advocate throwing out offline dictionaries. I simply prefer to keep my library dictionaries in the larger format. If I want to build my vocabulary, it's a nice and relaxing way to look through words. You can also play word games at parties with a larger dictionary. Plus, you can impress people with how sophisticated you are by having a large dictionary. It's a bit silly, but I like seeing books on the self almost as much as reading them.

Outside of specific situations, I'll stick to using an online dictionary. It's faster, easier, more detailed. The only negative is if you're spending a long time reading it, you may get tired of staring at a screen. That being said, I do the majority of my writing at the computer - most people do these days. Online dictionaries are fantastic, and there are many of them to choose between. I don't have many personal preferences regarding online dictionaries, but you're sure to find one that suits your tastes.

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