Compact Oxford English Dictionary for Students

New dictionary to boost standards in student writing

Timed for the start of the college year, this brand-new dictionary is specially tailored to meet the needs of today's students.

With many lecturers identifying a need to raise standards in writing and study skills and employers rejecting job applications full of grammatical and spelling errors, it's more important than ever to give students the support they need.

We asked students and lecturers how they used dictionaries and what features would help with student writing and study skills. The Compact Oxford English Dictionary for Students is the result of that research. With its handy size, affordable price, attractive two-colour design, and clear and accessible layout, it's the ideal companion for student life.

Targeted materials to develop writing skills

The dictionary's central section, Effective Writing for College and Career, contains a wealth of practical guidance and samples of good writing to take students through their studies and on to their chosen occupations. It includes:

• useful information on essay-writing, referencing, and note-taking
• samples of CVs/résumés and job application letters
• extra help and tips on grammar, punctuation, and spelling

The main part of the dictionary provides comprehensive and accessible information on the vocabulary of today's English. Its 150,000 words, phrases, and definitions include a wide selection of terms from specialist areas such as computing and the Internet, for example VOIP, gigabit, and megapixel.

There's also clear and straightforward guidance on grammar and usage, based on analysis of actual mistakes that people make. In-text notes explain the difference between commonly confused pairs of words such as pedal and peddle and give advice on such matters as whether you should say 'bored by' or 'bored of'.

Extra online support

To help students even more, we're also launching an Online Resource Centre. This offers additional materials for developing writing and research skills, and includes a handy jargon-buster, a revision guide, examples of letters to banks, landlords, and employers, and top 10 grammar, spelling, and punctuation tips.

Test yourself...

How does YOUR spelling measure up? Are you confident about grammar and punctuation? Test yourself at the Online Resource Centre.

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