University of Kwazulu-Natal

Dictionaries And Encyclopedias English General Research Guide

Bonisiwe Shabane
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dictionaries and encyclopedias english general research guide

Encyclopedias contain full coverage of information about an area of knowledge. They can be general or can cover a specific subject, and contain alphabetically organized entries with varying detail. These are great starting points for fact-finding, getting background topic information, learning of key events and individuals, or starting a research project. Below is a major general encyclopedia. See Best Practices on this guides Home page to pinpoint valuable subject-specific encyclopedias. Standard dictionaries give an alphabetical list of words and their definitions, but there are several useful variations also classified as dictionaries.

Thesauri contain synonyms and antonyms (opposites) but usually don't define the words. There are also dialect and slang dictionaries, dictionaries of abbreviations and acronyms, dictionaries of quotations, and picture dictionaries. Dictionaries can be unabridged (general) or can be thematically organized in some way. The Oxford English Dictionary is the most comprehensive work on the English language. It includes word etymologies and quotes covering the history of each definition. You can access it through our databases below:

Once you have identified the main topic and keywords for your research, find one or more sources of background information to read. These sources will help you understand the broader context of your research and tell you in general terms what is known about your topic. The most common background sources are encyclopedias and dictionaries from the print and online reference collection. Class textbooks also provide background information. Subject encyclopedias offer a very quick way to get yourself started on research topics. They are compiled by experts in the field.

To find a subject encyclopedia in ONESearch, just add encyclopedia to your subject heading: i.e.: "Shakespeare encyclopedia." The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy B41.C35 1999 The Encyclopedia of Philosophy REF B41.E5 1972 Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Literature Encyclopedia Mythica A searchable database of mythical personae, mostly text but with some images. Dictionary of Classical Mythology BL715.G713 1987

Call the Wilson Library front desk to get help by phone during open hours, or leave a voicemail for next-day follow-up. Use the web form to email us. We respond within 1 to 2 business days. Real people, no bots. All day and night, with help from librarians everywhere. Reference tools provide background information on authors and their works, as well as lists of additional resources.

The UW Libraries has many specialized encyclopedias, dictionaries & bibliographies devoted to British and American literature. Some are online (see items below); others are in print only. To locate print resources in Suzzallo Reference (1st floor), browse by call number: PR = British Literature; PS = American literature. While thousands of our encyclopedias are available online, some reference works are only available in print. All titles are included in Muscat Plus. You may also browse by subject using their call numbers.

If you're looking for an encyclopedia or dictionary on a specific topic, stop at the Research Help Desk on the main floor for assistance. Below are Specialized Databases, Online Encyclopedia's etc... A database of encyclopedias, almanacs, dictionaries and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research. it is an excellent resource for general overviews. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language. It is an unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and usage of 500,000 words and phrases past and present, from across the English-speaking world.

As a historical dictionary, the OED is very different from dictionaries of current English, in which the focus is on present-day meanings. You’ll still find present-day meanings in the OED, but you’ll also find the history of individual words, sometimes from as far back as the 11th century, and of the language—traced through 3.5 million quotations,... The OED started life more than 150 years ago. Today, the dictionary is in the process of its first full revision. Updates revise and extend the OED at regular intervals, each time subtly adjusting our image of the English language.

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Encyclopedias Contain Full Coverage Of Information About An Area Of

Encyclopedias contain full coverage of information about an area of knowledge. They can be general or can cover a specific subject, and contain alphabetically organized entries with varying detail. These are great starting points for fact-finding, getting background topic information, learning of key events and individuals, or starting a research project. Below is a major general encyclopedia. See...

Thesauri Contain Synonyms And Antonyms (opposites) But Usually Don't Define

Thesauri contain synonyms and antonyms (opposites) but usually don't define the words. There are also dialect and slang dictionaries, dictionaries of abbreviations and acronyms, dictionaries of quotations, and picture dictionaries. Dictionaries can be unabridged (general) or can be thematically organized in some way. The Oxford English Dictionary is the most comprehensive work on the English langu...

Once You Have Identified The Main Topic And Keywords For

Once you have identified the main topic and keywords for your research, find one or more sources of background information to read. These sources will help you understand the broader context of your research and tell you in general terms what is known about your topic. The most common background sources are encyclopedias and dictionaries from the print and online reference collection. Class textbo...

To Find A Subject Encyclopedia In ONESearch, Just Add Encyclopedia

To find a subject encyclopedia in ONESearch, just add encyclopedia to your subject heading: i.e.: "Shakespeare encyclopedia." The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy B41.C35 1999 The Encyclopedia of Philosophy REF B41.E5 1972 Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Literature Encyclopedia Mythica A searchable database of mythical personae, mostly text but with some images. Dictionary of Classical Myth...

Call The Wilson Library Front Desk To Get Help By

Call the Wilson Library front desk to get help by phone during open hours, or leave a voicemail for next-day follow-up. Use the web form to email us. We respond within 1 to 2 business days. Real people, no bots. All day and night, with help from librarians everywhere. Reference tools provide background information on authors and their works, as well as lists of additional resources.