Ready Reference - A selection of Web resources


	This selection of ready reference Web Sites, picked by the staff of Lakewood Public Library, is far from a complete list of sites for the various subject areas. However, we have tried to select sites which we have found to be useful, accurate and authoritative. Ready Reference uses a subject index based on Dewey Decimal Classification, a numerical classification scheme for breaking down fields of knowledge. We have kept our listing fairly broad by using the primary subdivisions.

000 General Works UFOs, Computers, Encyclopedias/Facts, Directories 100 Philosophy & Psychology Occult, Astrology 200 Religion Mythology 300 Social sciences Economics, Law, Government, True Crime, Education, Costume, Etiquette, Folklore 400 Language Grammar, English & Foreign Language Dictionaries 500 Natural sciences & Mathematics Physics, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Botany, Zoology 600 Technology & Applied Sciences Medicine, Diet & Fitness, Automobiles, Gardening, Cooking, Pets, Business, Home Improvement 700 Arts & Recreation Architecture, Landscaping, Art, Antiques & Collectibles, Crafts, Photography, Music, Entertainment, Sports 800 Literature Writing Guides 900 Geography & History Biography, Genealogy, Baby Names, Travel © Lakewood Public Library. All rights reserved. The Dewey Decimal Classification is © 1996-2001 OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Incorporated. DDC, Dewey Decimal Classification, and Dewey are registered trademarks of OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. Used with Permission. Lakewood Public Library Lakewood, Ohio, USA		Merriam-Webster Online Use the Collegiate dictionary or thesaurus. Wordsmyth A combination dictionary-thesaurus. A single search results in definitions and synonyms (which are, in turn, linked to their own specific meanings). Provides closest spelling matches, allows sounds-like searching, has advanced searching using word relationships and parts of speech filters. Your Dictionary.com Successor to the Web of On-line Dictionaries. Links to more than 1500 dictionaries -- specialty dictionaries and dictionaries in 230 languages. Includes links to other language tools: grammars, thesauri, language identifiers and translators, and the "Endangered Language Repository." AllWords.com The standout feature here is the searching options to find words "starting with," "ending with," or "containing." OneLook® Dictionaries Queries its index of more than 2 1/2 million words in 652 dictionaries. Also find a Reverse Dictionary here. Describe the word you're looking for and see what it returns! The Logos Dictionary The dictionary from the Logos translating company contains over 7.5 million words in 30 languages. Type in a word or phrase and it will be translated for you. RhymeZone rhyming dictionary and thesaurus If you like words you will love this site! Find perfect rhymes and find words which match last sounds only. You can also find homophones and synonyms, definitions and related words. This is a great site for poets and writers of all styles, shapes and sizes. A Basic Dictionary of American Sign Language Terms If the World Wide Web is all about ease of communication and the rapid transfer of information all over the world by all kinds of different people, then this can be regarded as a textbook site. This excellent resource gives detailed explanations of the hand signals used in American Sign Language. There are also animations of many of the words. You will need the quicktime plug-in to view these animations. On-line English Grammar Links to all your favorite grammar topics! Guide to Grammar and Writing Of all the grammar sites, this is a favorite. It is written in a style which makes it accessible to all, and it is attractive and easy to use. Select from various headings such as rules for comma usage, and building a better vocabulary, or use a pull-down menu to go to the different topic areas of the site. There are computer graded quizzes for various topics such as spelling and punctuation, and grammar logs with hundreds of useful questions and answers. Links to other excellent writing resources are also provided. Try this site! American Heritage® Book of English Usage This 1996 publication is a detailed reference work on grammar, style, diction, word formation, gender, social groups and scientific forms. It's searchable and includes both a word and subject index. Fowler's The King's English 2nd edition This 1908 publication is a classic reference work. The language may sound a little stilted to our modern American ear, but the common sense grammar and style is sound. iLoveLanguages! Formerly the Human-Languages Page. It remains a "comprehensive catalog of language-related Internet resources. The more than 2000 links...have been hand-reviewed to bring you the best language links the Web has to offer.... whether you're looking for online language lessons, translating dictionaries, native literature, translation services, software, language schools..." Ethnologue - Languages of the World This is a fascinating catalog devoted to the languages of the world. In the words of its introduction it provides "for each language, its alternate names, number of speakers, location, dialects, linguistic affiliation, multilingualism of speakers, availability of the Bible, and other demographic and sociolinguistic information...." travlang's Translating Dictionaries Translates to/from English, German, Dutch, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Frisian, Afrikaans, Hungarian, Czech, Esperanto, Latin. American Translators Association Translation Services Directory Find a translator or interpreter. Search by name, language, zip code, and subject or technical specialization. Roget’s II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition The 1995 version of the standard reference source with 35,000 synonyms and over 250,000 cross-references. Thesaurus.com This is the 17,000-entry Roget's New Millennium™ Thesaurus. Internet Anagram Server Sometimes a person just has to stop looking for answers on-line. Take a break and go to the anagram server, that's I Rearrangement Servant. It allows you to endlessly rearrange words and phrases. One staff favorite - the morse code becomes here come dots. If this site is not your cup of tea, try the Anagram Genius. Does a great job but the results a free rearrangement will be e-mailed. Internet Acronym Server This has a keyword search function. It will bring up any acronym which includes the letters entered and will then define it. The expansion mode will provide the acronyms associated with the word entered. (e.g. Los Angeles brings up LA, LAX, LAPD and UCLA). Acronym Finder This extensive database, more than 100,000 entries, allows exact, truncated or wildcard search, plus a keyword reverse search. A good source for "common" acronyms, but the claim is it's geared to computers, technology, telecommunications, and the military. Go to Statistics to see the Top 50 searches. Acronyms A free website with more than 600,000 published abbreviations, compiled by "acronym enthusiasts."