30 April 2008
Grant Barrett, over at The Lexicographer’s Rules has an article on what criteria to use when buying a dictionary.
His comment on etymology makes me a bit uncomfortable. Although he’s right that etymology is not an absolute requirement for most everyday uses. If you’re going to invest $30+ for a good dictionary that will last you several years, you should get one with etymologies. Chances are, you will want to look up a word’s origins at some point.
And note that his criteria apply equally well to evaluating online dictionaries.
