A List of Dictionary Recommendations - based on level, paperback, hardcover, and online

Index

• Based on My Level or Course, Which Dictionary Should I Purchase?
• Recommended Book (Paper Version) Dictionaries and Collocation Dictionaries
• Recommended Online (Free) Dictionaries and Collocation Dictionaries

Based on My Level or Course, Which Dictionary Should I Purchase?

Purchasing a dictionary is a long-term investment. A good dictionary is going to last you 15 or more years. For this reason, you may wish to spend a little more money than you would normally be willing to on a dictionary.

The following recommendations are provided to you based on your level, as follows:

• Levels 1 and 2 (Basic English and Lower-Intermediate Levels): the Longman Active Study Dictionary. See below for more information about this dictionary.
• Levels 3 and 4 (Upper-Intermediate and Advanced Levels): Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, and Canadian Oxford Dictionary. See below for more information about these dictionaries.
• For all levels: a collocations dictionary is also a useful tool. This dictionary would be in addition to one of the above-mentioned dictionaries. See below for more information on this dictionary.

Recommended Book (Paper Version) Dictionaries

This is a list of recommended book (paper) dictionaries for learners of various levels:

Title, Author, ISBN	Notes
Longman Active Study Dictionary (Longman Active Study Dictionary of English), Pearson, 1408232367, or 978-1408232361	Was $30 in 2015. The ISBN points to the 5th edition; however, a newer edition may now be available.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Pearson, 144795419X, or 978-1447954194	Was $40 in 2015. The ISBN points to the 6th edition; however, a newer edition may now be available.
Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, Oxford University Press, 8th Edition Paperback:  978-0-19-479900-3 8th Edition Paperback with CD-ROM:  978-0-19-479902-7 8th Edition Hardback with CD-ROM:  978-0-19-479904-1	Was $55, new, in 2015.
Canadian Oxford Dictionary, Oxford University Press, 2nd Edition Paperback:  9780195424393 2nd Edition Hardback:  9780195418163	The paperback was $25 and the hardback $60 in 2015, new.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English, Oxford University Press, 0194325385, or 978-0194325387, or 978-0-19-43258-7	What is a collocation?  It's a word or phrase that is often used with another word or phrase, in a way that sounds correct to people who have spoken the language all their lives, but might not be so obvious a to someone learning the language. For all levels, a collocations dictionary is a useful tool. This dictionary would be in addition to one of the above-mentioned dictionaries. Collocations dictionaries are very useful if you have difficulty with prepositions. The paperback version was $35 in 2015, new.

Recommended Online (Free) Dictionaries

This is a list of recommended online dictionaries for learners of various levels:

Website	Description
REGULAR ENGLISH DICTIONARIES
Merriam-Webster's Learners' Dictionary	A useful reference to quickly look-up words and their meanings. If you click on the speaker icon, you'll also be able to hear how words are pronounced. The site provides important information for basic learners of English; for example, the site indicates whether nouns are count or non-count.
Online Dictionary	A useful reference to quickly look-up words and their meanings. If you click on the speaker icon, you'll also be able to hear how words are pronounced. This is a great site to use when you can only remember the word 'dictionary' (remember, there is only one 'n' in the word 'dictionary'). Just enter "dictionary.com" in the URL field and you're all set!
Merriam-Webster Dictionary	A useful reference to quickly look-up words and their meanings. If you click on the speaker icon, you'll also be able to hear how words are pronounced.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary	--> Provides pictures  --> Indicates if nouns are countable or uncountable  --> Find any word-either search or double click words in entries to look them up  --> Improve pronunciation-with British and American pronunciation of all words  --> Understand meanings-entries are written using only the Oxford 3000 key words
Oxford Advanced American Dictionary for learners of English	The Oxford Advanced American Dictionary is a dictionary created for learners of American English. And now you can use it online too! --> Find any word: either search or double click words in entries to look them up  --> Improve pronunciation: with American pronunciation of all words  --> Understand meanings: entries are written using only the Oxford 3000™ keywords
Vocabulary.com	In addition to providing definitions, this website offers crystal clear, slow pronunciation of most words in the English language.  So far it is the best resource I've seen for pronunciation.
Longman	The site has a nice auto-complete feature. Pronunciation of words is offered in British and North American English accents; however, the sample sentence pronunciations are in British English.
Word Reference	This site is a bit more complex in terms with how you can interact with words. It's worth checking out. French translations are offered up alongside the English definition.
Cambridge Dictionary	In addition to providing definitions, this website offers crystal clear, slow pronunciation of most words in the English language.
COLLOCATION DICTIONARIES
Ozdic English Collocations Dictionary	Collocations dictionaries (FR:  Dictionnaires des cooccurrences) provide students with words that are often used together.  These types of dictionaries are especially useful for prepositions.
Pro Writing Aid Collocations Dictionary	This dictionary pairs a pair or group of words that are habitually juxtaposed.  This type of dictionary is ideal for students that have trouble with prepositions.

Note:  the word "dictionary" is not spelled "dictionnary" or "dictionnaire" in English.

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