The Web is now the home of many wonderful and useful resources, but when you need to find a definition are Web dictionaries recommended?
First, let's compare print with Web dictionaries. Traditional print dictionaries from respected publishers have a long history of scrupulous attention to detail and a good reputation.
Dictionaries on the Web can be created by anyone: a respected publisher, an individual (scholar or not), or an organization. You have to evaluate who created this, whether or not there is bias, and whether or not this source is reliable.
Now let's look at the situations and what your options are:
Quick definition look-up for your own edification: Either one. Just to remember to evaluate a Web source first.
For your paper or dissertation: The most respected source you can find. At this time, this still means a print source. Now if you are thinking of convenience remember that there are also print dictionaries in digital form in ebrary. This is a source you have access to 24/7 with full text searchability but you can cite it and trust it as if it is print.
First, let's compare print with Web dictionaries. Traditional print dictionaries from respected publishers have a long history of scrupulous attention to detail and a good reputation.
Dictionaries on the Web can be created by anyone: a respected publisher, an individual (scholar or not), or an organization. You have to evaluate who created this, whether or not there is bias, and whether or not this source is reliable.
Now let's look at the situations and what your options are:
Quick definition look-up for your own edification: Either one. Just to remember to evaluate a Web source first.
For your paper or dissertation: The most respected source you can find. At this time, this still means a print source. Now if you are thinking of convenience remember that there are also print dictionaries in digital form in ebrary. This is a source you have access to 24/7 with full text searchability but you can cite it and trust it as if it is print.
