It used to be true that any professional whose job involved business writing at any level would need at least one dictionary at the ready; more experienced writers might have a thesaurus, style guide and industry-specific dictionary, such as a medical dictionary or law dictionary, on the bookshelf as well. Today, it’s easy to have all of these reference materials and more right on your computer thanks to online dictionary services.
If you wanted to, you could probably find every type of dictionary imaginable on the Internet, but just like other online resources, some are more reputable than others. Consider the following when exploring online dictionary services:
1. Choose an English dictionary online and make it the standard for your office.
2. Use reputable sources for an industry-specific dictionary like a legal dictionary or a science dictionary.
3. Use a translation dictionary on the Internet to assist with international business matters.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Choose an online English dictionary and stick with it
While the definitions tend to be the same - or, at least, ultimately mean the same thing - there are many, many words in English that vary in spelling from dictionary to dictionary. In order to establish a cohesive writing style in your office, select a reputable English dictionary that is easy to use, and tell staff it is their one and only source for spelling and usage.
I recommend: The name
Merriam-Webster has always been synonymous with dictionaries, and it, too, has become a known brand for online dictionary options. You’ll also find interactive features like the
Learner’s Word of the Day and a new
Word Game each day.
Bartleby.com provides the latest American Heritage Dictionary of the English language on its site.
Find an industry-accepted dictionary for your business
If your company is involved in a very specific industry with very specific jargon, be sure to find industry-specific dictionaries from reputable sources. Professional associations, trade publishers and other online sources accepted in the field are good places to start.
I recommend: The legal dictionary at
Law.com defines legal terms as well as lets you search by keyword among all definitions. You can also find definitions by the first letter of the legal term.
FindLaw also has an easy-to-easy law dictionary online.
MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, has a free online medical dictionary powered by Merriam-Webster.
Select a translation dictionary to assist with international business communication
As a company in the global marketplace, if you haven't yet had to conduct business in another language, chances are it's bound to happen soon enough. Be prepared by using handy translation dictionaries online.
I recommend: WordReference.com offers a few translation dictionaries, including an English-Spanish dictionary,
English-French dictionary and
English-Italian dictionary.
Foreignword.com searches 275 online dictionaries to help it provide translations to and from nearly 70 languages.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Appease staff members who prefer to thumb through their dictionaries rather than scroll down them by choosing a dictionary with the same version available online and in hardback.
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