Skip to Main Content

International Students' Guide to the Dalhousie Libraries

Dictionaries and Encyclopedias You May Find Useful

Dictionaries will help you to understand the meaning and the pronunciation of words.

 

Image of the OED logo.

The Oxford English Dictionary - ONLINE: An excellent electronic dictionary giving the meaning, history, and pronunciation of words -- past and present -- from across the English-speaking world.

--

An image of Fowler's Dictionary of Modern English Usage

Fowler's Dictionary of Modern English Usage - IN PRINT: In the Killam Library Reference Collection at CALL NUMBER: PE 1464 F65 2015

--

Shorter Slang Dictionary (2003) - ONLINEThis new collection brings together some 5,000 contemporary slang expressions originating in all parts of the English-speaking world. It gives clear and concise definitions of each word, supplemented by examples of their use and information about where and when they came into being. 


Encyclopedias can be print or electronic and contain general information on many different areas of knowledge. 

 

A screen shot of the Credo logo.

Credo Reference- ONLINE: An electronic encyclopedia containing lots of information about many, many different topics. A great source to learn the basics about a topic.

--

 

A screen shot of the Gale Virtual Reference Library logo.

Gale Virtual Reference Library - ONLINE: Provides the fulltext of many different reference books, including encyclopedias, handbooks, and dictionaries in a wide range of subject areas.