Do You Use a Thesaurus?
I recently reviewed the new edition of the Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, and it got me thinking about thesauruses in general. Rick Moody begins his foreword to the book by describing the encounter with Donald Barthelme that made him a thesaurus user: "And yet if Barthelme -- who had, in my view, the most inspiring ability to summon up the forgotten verbal doohickey whenever it was called for -- if Barthelme was using a thesaurus, then maybe it was permissible. I could, in fact, get one for myself." With this story, Moody fights the impression that using a thesaurus is wimpy or un-writerly. Garrison Keillor does the same thing when he calls Roget's Thesaurus his favorite book. The way he puts it makes complete sense. What writer wouldn't like a whole book devoted to the relationships between words?
And yet, most writers I talked to while writing the review turn to the Internet when they use a thesaurus at all. It's convenient, certainly, but is it the best resource? Roget's International, the descendant of the original 1852 edition, is organized thematically. The process of searching the book actually helps you clarify your meaning. Though most people -- at least the ones who still use paper reference books -- seem to prefer the more familiar dictionary-style thesaurus, Roget's is the one that inspires passion in its users.
In an attempt to foster this same kind of loyalty, Oxford's Writer's Thesaurus offers mini-essays by famous writers, word usage sidebars, and word spectrums. I understand the impulse: they're competing not only with the classic Roget's, but with the Internet. They have to offer something more, and what Roget's offers in exchange for convenience is very subtle. Why not try a few celebrity writers?
My attempt to start a discussion on all of this in the forum failed miserably, a sign that I've stumbled into wordgeek no man's land. Nonetheless, I'm going to risk the attempt again here: Writers, do you use a thesaurus? Why or why not? And is there still a place for the old-fashioned bound reference book, or has the convenience of the Internet rendered them obsolete?
I use Rodale’s “Synonym Finder” as my thesaurus of choice, rather than Roget’s (which I have too) – but always with a dictionary to confirm that the great words it helps me find mean what I think they do. (Like Roget’s, “Synonym Finder” has a very devoted following; check the Amazon reviews.) Personally, I’d take help from the devil if it improved my writing. Take help from a thesaurus? That’s a no brainer, IMO.
My love of Roget’s Thesaurus developed early – around 10 – and has remained with me into adulthood. Wordgeek Alert: I actually read it, far too often probably, when I want something to read before going to sleep. Fascination with words is a passion and the thesaurus helps by creating one of the best fabrics for language available – it is allows one to explore connectivity between not only words but ideas.
I guess I’m a word geek (and proud of it!) I love the thesaurus – the thought that there can be so many different ways one can say a word just pleases me to no end. Yup. Word Geek.
I use both a physical Roget’s and online thesauraus.com. Sometimes I want to take my time and flip through actual, physical pages and sometimes if I’m in the middle of something it’s easier to have the website open on my browser for quicker access.
I feel that my personal vocabulary is quite weak, so I often write characters who use words I never would. It’s like a treasure hunt at times to find just the right word for the moment for the character…. Yup. Word Geek.
I often use The Synonym Finder more often then not myself in addition to an earlier version by Websters that I found used at a library sale from the mid 1950’s. I also have a varity of dictionaries ranging from two-volume sets from the 50’s up to a new American Heritage hard cover. I have also learned to employ crossword dictionaries as well. When I am not home I have a 300,000 word dictionary/500,000 word thesaurus in electronic form but it has one failing no memory of what I looked up.
I have over the years learned to realize that I do not need to use obscure words but on the other hand plain every day words are just as bad. I do not use the internet whatsoever for any of my word geek needs being I am 37 I am very tactile by nature. I would suggest that any writer get the The Synonym Finder and a few older dictionaries at used bookstores or thrift stores because sometimes an older definition is what works best in a given situation. Will I ever rely on the net for these needs? No; I have about twenty some odd books that I love and use so why go digital now?
Thanks for the comments and the tips, fellow wordgeeks! I’ll have to add Synonym Finder to the poll.
Interesting I am always looking for any Story to read.
I’ve had a love affair with my trusty Oxford Thesaurus since I my early teens (I’m a little pathetic that way). As an amateur, unpublished, writer I could never be expected to compete with the depth of choice that this magic book holds. From time to time, I’ve used an online thesaurus and they work, but they’re not the same as a real book in my humble opinion.
A thesaurus is essential for me. I always use Roget’s – not only to find synonyms, but more often to find exactly the right shade of meaning for the concept I want to convey. Often I have the feeling that the word I need is out there somewhere, if only I could think of it. The thesaurus doesn’t so much make suggestions as help me towards the word I’m looking for.
I haven’t tried an online thesaurus, but I find it more convenient to pick up the book which is right next to the computer. Online searches usually require several steps, and often distract you from your original task.
I haven’t tried many other thesauruses, but I find the organization of Roget’s convenient, with related concepts together under one heading. Simple lists of synonyms are more limited, and don’t encourage you to think round the concept you’re searching for.
I utterly despise dictionary thesauri, and have struggled with growing disgust at their prevalence vs the original Roget’s format. The latter is becoming increasingly difficult to find in the reference sections of even major bookstores. (Powell’s City of Books here in Portland, OR had 2 on 2+ shelves of dictionary thesauri. . .) The conceptual structure and flow of Roget’s can be fascinating in its own right. For ease of use when writing I’ve been looking for a good (resident) thesaurus program among freeware, and use WordWeb and TheSage, but haven’t been very satisfied. There’s a very visual, mind-map/hypertext style program online (can’t recall the name at the moment,) but it requires a subscription. The format looks like it can replicate the utility of Roget’s in electronic media quite well, however I’m not certain how comprehensive it is. One of the biggest problems with the dictionary style editions which I’ve encountered is that they simply don’t offer any more words than those I can think of on my own, so if I have to go to a reference to find “just the right word,” they invariably fail to meet my basic need, while Roget’s International goes well beyond that.
I use, very frequently, the edition of Roget’s published in 1965 by St. Martin’s Press — a wonderful reference book, although time-consuming and clumsy to use. I think that publishers of alphabetical thesauri just don’t understand the thesaurus concept, or how one can best be used. I would be pathetically grateful if someone would publish Roget’s in a PC-loadable/searchable format. I have yet to find even a barely adequate thesaurus on disk or on the Web. This includes thesaurus.com, the thesaurus on the American Heritage Dictionary disk, and the thesaurus function of Merriam-Webster on line. With so much marginally useful stuff on the Web, I would hope that someone could put Roget’s there.
There is an application called, “Word Menu” and can be found at:
http://www.screenplay.com/p-16-word-menu.aspx
It’s very visual and based upon an interesting type of “mind mapping” concept.
I’m in an MFA program and just recently heard the young instructor in a writing workshop mock users of the thesaurus–Who’s he kidding? Perhaps only himself. After reading his only published book–with its flat, stale, rampantly cliche use of language, and badly reviewed all around–I felt he should have resisted whatever false pride or arrogance kept him from opening his.
It’s a wonderful tool for writers, nothing more, though if used intelligently, priceless. Writers who mock the thesaurus remind me of a couple waiters and waitresses I once worked alongside who would take orders without pen and pad, making the couple ordering anxious that their order would be botched and the other wait staff unduly anxious about their stress-life-job-induced ADD and short-term memory limitations. The “Look, Mom, no hands!” approach is just dandy so long as you steer well with your feet and don’t disparage those who don’t or would prefer not to. My point being, perhaps those who don’t use a thesaurus are the real show-offs, not those who do.
I’m in complete agreement, Rona! If excellence is your goal, arrogance only gets in the way. Personally, I’ll take all the help I can get!