I would also second that, reading texts of the era will certainly help
with the feel of the language and the way that people thought and
expressed themselves.
Also, I highly recommend etymology online, http://www.etymonline.com
which has helped me enormously when writing my 17th century English
novel. I'm English, but I needed to make sure that phrases and words
were in use at that time.
I've just joined a historical writers critique group, and that's an
enormous help too, as sometimes other people spot things that you
don't. I found myself using the term "thought crime" in a 19th Century
setting... OOPS!
Francis A. Miniter wrote:
> Jean S. Barto wrote:
>
> > Hi folks--
> >
> > I'm an older returning student who's taking a creative writing class
this
> > semester, and expect to take a technical writing class next semester.
I've
> > gotten through life until now without owning a dictionary or thesaurus
of my
> > own until last year. However, I'm at the point now that I feel I need
a
> > more comprehensive dictionary than the pocket/paperback editions in my
> > community college bookstore. I bought the hard-cover Merriam-Webster
> > Collegiate Dictionary there, as well as some smaller palm-sized
publications
> > that I can fit in my backpack (dictionary, thesaurus, rhyming
dictionary),
> > just to get me started this semester.
> >
> > I've found the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary straightforward
and
> > concise, good for "normal" use now, but perhaps not detailed or
nuanced
> > enough for my long-term requirements, which could include writing a
long
> > short story (for my class now) or novella (expanding on the SS) set in
late
> > 16th/early 17th century New England, as well as research papers for
medical
> > technology/molecular genetics cl***** I'll be taking in the next
couple of
> > years. Naturally, the other pocket-sized volumes are for using at
school
> > when I might not have access to more comprehensive works.
> >
> > So, *which* edition of the OED should I consider? I've researched
> > Amazon.com and have gotten thoroughly confused reading all the
reviews.
> >
> > I can't really afford, or have the space for the 20 volume OED, so
*which*
> > smaller edition should I consider? Also, I'm a Mac user, so the OED
on
> > CD-ROM isn't an option. I visited the local B&N and Borders today,
and
> > neither place had all the smaller/abridged OED editions for me to
compare
> > one against the other, and neither had any of the two volume editions.
> >
> > So, what are the pros and cons of the different OED editions? Which
ones do
> > all of you own and use? Is the print in the Compact OED really that
small?
> > Would the two volume Shorter OED be a good compromise/alternative?
> >
>
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