Writing—General References
Writetools.com
http://www.writetools.com
This Web site is a one-stop reference site for anyone who writes, edits, or checks facts.
Refdesk.com
http://www.refdesk.com/
This Web site calls itself "the single best source for facts on the Net."
Dictionaries
Dictionary.com
http://www.dictionary.com/
This Web site offers a wide range of reference tools, such as word-search feature in both dictionary and thesaurus modes; Roget's Thesaurus for synonyms and antonyms; "Word of the Day" entries; access to German, Greek, Latin, Spanish, and other language dictionaries; translator for instant translation of Web pages and text; writing resources for grammar, usage; style guides and writing tips; online help for questions about words, grammar, and usage; and free software that works with both the dictionary and the thesaurus and allows users to look up words while working in almost any program.
Merriman-Webster Collegiate Dictionary
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary.htm
This Web site contains the definitive online dictionary.
Webopedia.com
http://www.webopedia.com
This Web site provides a searchable index of technical terms and acronyms as well as what each stands for and an explanation about what they mean.
Thesauruses
Thesaurus.com
http://www.thesaurus.com/
This Web site, which allows users to browse an alphabetical list of headwords and subjects, contains a translator for instant translation of web pages and text, writing resources for grammar and usage, style guides and writing tips and free software that allows users to look up words while working in almost any program.
Merriam-Webster Collegiate Thesaurus
http://www.m-w.com/thesaurus.htm
This Web site contains the definitive online thesaurus.
Word/Vocabulary References
A.Word.A.Day
http://www.wordsmith.org/awad/
This Web site offers a daily entry that follows a weekly theme and provides etymology, usage, and definition. Audio files demonstrate pronunciation.
The Mavens' Word of the Day
http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd
This Web site, sponsored by Random House Dictionary, provides entertainment as well as informative answers to questions about word origins. It also includes a section about words added to our vocabulary in the last 60 years.
Language Info Zone
http://www.m-w.com
This Web site features the Merriam Webster Dictionary and Thesaurus online,
both fully searchable. It also features a Word for the Day (with pronunciation, etymology, etc., and searchable archives), Word for the Wise (the web version of the popular radio program), Word Game of the Day, Vocabulary Builder, and a word puzzle.
Jargon Scout
http://www.tbtf.com/jargon-scout.html
This Web site features internet-generated terminology as "Jargon Inventions," "Jargonated
Job Titles," and "Jargon du Jour."
Travlang's Word of the Day
http://www.travlang.com/wordofday/
This Web site offers an international vocabulary in the word-of-the-day section. Also features translating dictionaries. Users can subscribe to receive a foreign word a day in up to 70 languages.
Writers Resources
Grammar and Usage Guide
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/index.html
This Web site, sponsored by the Purdue Online Writing Lab, offers a guide for spelling, punctuation, and grammar. All materials can be downloaded for class handouts.
A Glossary of Literary Terms and a Handbook of Rhetorical Devices
http://www.uky.edu/AS/Classics/Harris/rhetform.html
This Web site offers a comprehensive glossary of literary and rhetorical terms. An easy to use search engine is also available.
Citations Guides
MLA
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html
This Web site provides a guide for the MLA style format.
APA
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html
This Web site provides a guide for the APA style format.
Columbia Online
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cup/cgos/idx_basic.html
This Web site provides a guide for "electronically-accessed sources" for both humanities-oriented formats (MLA and Chicago) and for scientific styles (APA and CBE).
Karla's Guide to Citation Style Guides
http://bailiwick.lib.uiowa.edu/journalism/cite.html
This Web site, compiled and edited by Karla Tonella, a University of Iowa journalism student, offers an annotated collection of links to the best and most up-to-date citation guides that show how to properly cite resources from the Internet. It includes style guides for APA, MLA,
Chicago, Turabian, BSE styles, as well as a description of how to cite references from Lexis/Nexis.
Web Writing
Writing for the Web
http://www.useit.com/papers/webwriting/
This Web site is a research paper based on studies by John Morkes and Jacob Nielsen, with links to related resources by Nielsen: writing headlines and page titles, how to write for the web, and how to write inverted pyramids in cyberspace. There are also links to the Sun Microsystems guidelines for Writing on the Web, as well as links to other writing sites.
Reading
Feed Magazine
http://www.feedmag.com
This Web site features an award-winning quirky, literary, and original online magazine that covers media, technology, pop culture, science, and the arts.
