Clarifies and explains words and phrases spanning a range of fields, from law and music to philosophy and cuisine. This title contains entries that include pronunciations in American English, parts of speech and other relevant grammatical information, languages of origin, definitions, examples of use, and etymological backgrounds.
Identifies and explains the importance of significant historic treaties, laws, speeches, letters, court decisions, and other writings, from the Code of Hammurabi to Mao's "Little Red Book."
The first purpose of any student's dictionary is to provide the basic information necessary to be able to understand a meaning, decipher a pronunciation, make a correct syllable break, and employ vocabulary appropriate to a particular situation. The Facts on File Student's Dictionary of American English is designed to provide such information as accurately, concisely, and clearly as possible. Its modest entry list of about 90,000 words includes the vocabulary most of us use every day in ordinary writing and encounter in reading a newspaper, novel, magazine, or online article. The dictionary also includes a selection of widely used new terms in English, from science and technology to contemporary American culture. The design is exceptionally user-friendly. Each entry of the standard vocabulary has been evaluated and revised according to current usage. Unlike other dictionaries--including collegiate--this dictionary features long entries that have been trimmed to their core meanings; shades of meanings are illustrated by phrases or sentences that follow a definition, rather than by different definitions entirely. The result is a reliable, easy-to-use guide to the English language.
The Facts On File Guide to Research is a comprehensive guide to doing thorough and accurate research. It includes a detailed listing of available resources and explains general research methods and proper citation of sources. An invaluable reference, this book helps researchers make use of the many new resources available today. Divided into four sections, this easy-to-use guide helps students and general readers prepare for research papers and class studies. Step-by-step guides, detailed explanations, and valuable appendixes covering style guides, such as APA. MLA, and The Chicago Manual of Style, combine to create an incredibly authoritative accessible reference.
Praise for the previous edition: "...an excellent resource for word lovers...inherently fascinating and an excellent place to look for old chestnuts galore..."—Library Journal "...[thorough]...Recommended for all libraries..."—Booklist "The meanings and origins of literally thousands of words and definitions come to life...recommended..."—Midwest Book Review "...an invaluable tool for writers and general readers."—Christian Library Journal The Facts On File Dictionary of Clichés, Third Edition is the largest, most comprehensive, and most entertaining reference of its kind. Featuring hundreds of new clichés, this updated and expanded edition explains the meanings and origins of more than 4,000 clichés and common expressions. Each entry includes the meaning of the cliché or expression, its origin and early uses, its historical development, and its present-day usage. This fully indexed and cross-referenced resource is essential for students, writers, and anyone seeking the gift of gab. New entries include: "Don't go there" "Flavor of the month" "Ground zero" "Not so much" "Show me the money" "So yesterday" and more.