Language/Linguistics E-Reference Ratings

Bibliography of Pragmatics. John Benjamins Pub. www.benjamins.com/online
This annotated bibliography of the field of linguistic pragmatics (with no full-text articles) is updated annually and as of summer 2008 boasts 43,500 entries. The interface is plain but the overall presentation impressive. Help features make it easy to understand: Boolean logic and search terms such as NT (narrower term) and RT (related term) are clearly defined. A hyperlink to the newly added thesaurus sends the user to related terms. 

Chicago Manual of Style Online. Univ. of Chicago. www.chicagomanualofstyle.org
Just like its revered print version (now in its 15th edition), this resource is user-friendly and well organized online. Several interactive features are worth noting, including the option to add your own notes, bookmark the sections you use most, and create your own list of guidelines. Those accustomed to the book form will appreciate the hyperlinks in the Table of Contents that allow users to go directly to a specific section. Priced to fit any budget. 
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CSA Linguistics. ProQuest. www.proquest.com
This massive collection of over 400,000 entries and 1500 serial publications (1973–present) is pure joy to browse for anyone in the linguistics field. Tabs (such as journals, peer-reviewed journals, conferences, books, chapters/essays, book reviews, and dissertations) make the database not only easy to navigate but also add to the overall appearance. Searching by journal title, author, or date is another plus. 

Database of Latin Dictionaries. Brepols. www.brepolis.net
This product contains a full-text database of 500 Latin texts, including, for example, Dictionnaire latin-français des auteurs chrétiens (Albert Blaise) and Glossarium ad scriptores mediae et infimae latinitatis (C. du Fresne). Although unique, the file lacks user-friendly features like tables and hyperlinks to the Table of Contents, making it useful only to the serious Latin scholar; curious lay readers may find it a challenge to browse. 

Dictionary of Old English: A to G Online. Univ. of Toronto. www.doe.utoronto.ca
Covering the first six centuries (600–1150 C.E.) and 12,000 words, Dictionary of Old English (DOE) is an excellent complement to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED, below), the more widely known work that covers the entire history of the English language. DOE isn't as visually attractive as the OED, but look past its stark appearance, and you'll discover a nifty online tool, with ample hyperlinks among entries and simple but effective searching. 

Handbook of Pragmatics. John Benjamins Pub. www.benjamins.com/online
Unlike Bibliography of Pragmatics (above), which covers the same language study, Handbook of Pragmatics is a full-text database complete with diagrams. It has been around since 2003 and continues to be updated annually. The Browse feature retrieves a list of articles, authors, or subjects (with hyperlinks), giving users an alternative way to locate information. Searching is fast and easy, retrieving both topics and authors. 

Merriam-Webster Online. Merriam-Webster. www.merriam-webster.com
With over 700,000 definitions and pronunciation audio links, Merriam-Webster Online is a heck of an online resource. Based on the print version of the 11th edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate^® Dictionary, it includes the main A–Z listing of the Collegiate, as well as countless other web-only features, enhancing its overall value and appeal. The easy-to-use Search box allows the user to select Main Entry, Begins With, Ends with Crossword, Definition, Rhyme, Etymology, or Jumble. 
More: Backtalk, Review of print

Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford Univ. www.oed.com
Eighty years in the making and needing no introduction, the Oxford English Dictionary is more than a dictionary; it is the history of the English language. Containing over 500,000 entries (and counting), the 20-volume print edition is made accessible online via a smart, attractive format and a ton of valuable extras. Each word is placed in the context within a sentence, history, culture, and society.
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