Release date 09/09/2004

'Accurate' 'precise' 'exact' ...

English is the richest language with the largest vocabulary in the world. Yet, in a recent Oxford survey of hundreds of millions of words, 'nice' and 'good' were identified as two of the most commonly used adjectives in the English language. Buck the trend and exploit the full potential of English with the groundbreaking Oxford Thesaurus of English!

The Oxford Thesaurus of English does more than any other thesaurus. Each and every word has its place in the language, with subtle differences from its closest cousins. In fact, there is no such a thing as a true synonym. Compiled using new evidence from Oxford's unique language research programme, we have used cutting-edge techniques to get inside the English language and give you the tools to use your own language more accurately, colourfully, effectively, and to the full. Each of the 16,000 entries has an average of 38 alternatives ? over 600,000 alternative and opposite words in total. These include not only everyday words but also modern colloquialisms (bootylicious), unusual words (acclivitous), colourful expressions (shockumentary, blond moment, kidology, faith community), and specialist terms (littoral).

Features new to this edition:

Word links
What is the term given to describe an animal that eats only fruit? What's the name for a machine that measures pressure? What do you call a specialist heart doctor? Look up the key words FRUIT, PRESSURE, and HEART, and all will be revealed (frugivorous, barometer, and cardiologist)! Find the word on the tip of your tongue - or expand your vocabulary - quickly, effectively, and with ease, using more than 700 word links.

'Choose the Right Word' panels
120 panels devoted to explaining the differences in meaning between close synonyms, allowing you greater accuracy in word choice, whether it's a choice between accurate, precise, and exact, or between appropriate, suitable, proper, and fitting.

Word lists
And for the ultimate collector, over 400 lists (and 40,000 words) covering everything from types of cheese (Beaufort, Bel Paese, Boursin, Brie...) to species of bird and names of dance (jaleo, jazz, jig, jitterbug, jive, jota...). Perfect for crossword solving, word games and quizzes, as well as for brushing up on general knowledge and solving arguments!

The Oxford Thesaurus of English is an indispensable aid at work, at college, at school and in the home!

Press date 9 September 2004, price £25 hardback

Also publishing...

Paperback Oxford Large Print Thesaurus

Designed in association with the Royal National Institute for the Blind, the Paperback Oxford Large Print Thesaurus offers enlarged fonts, larger margins, generous line-spacing, and good-quality paper to ensure minimum 'glare' and 'show-through'. With over 130,000 alternative and opposite words, the most useful meanings are given first: ideal for your everyday writing needs.

It is a perfect companion to the Paperback Oxford Large Print Dictionary.

Press date 9 September 2004, price £12.99 paperback

Oxford has the largest language research programme in the world, a programme that includes the Oxford English Corpus, a huge databank containing hundreds of millions of words of text representing every type of writing and speech. Oxford's on-going investment in language development gives you the guarantee you need that Oxford thesauruses are thoroughly researched and up to date.

For more information, or to speak to an editor of the Oxford Thesaurus of English, please contact Sarah Kidd on 01865 353911 or email sarah.kidd@oup.com

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