Proofreading Resources: Online Dictionaries

Online dictionaries are an essential tool for proofreaders and editors. As a proofreader, you’re probably very proud of your vocabulary – but we all need to look up words now and then!

To save yourself some time, it pays to bookmark a few online dictionaries. But which are the best online dictionaries for proofreaders? Keep reading to find out! In this blog post, we’ll share our top recommendations.

Why Are Online Dictionaries Useful for Proofreaders?

Before we dive into our favorites, let’s take a look at the reasons why proofreaders should never be without one (or two, or three, or four). Aside from the obvious – they help you catch potential spelling and grammar errors – online dictionaries:

• Are accessible from anywhere in the world with an internet connection (so you can look up words quickly and efficiently without needing to lug around a physical dictionary)
• Typically include a wider range of words than physical dictionaries (including newer and more technical or industry-specific terms)
• Usually provide information about a word’s etymology and historical usage (helping to clarify meaning)
• Frequently include example sentences (to provide context)
• Often offer synonyms and antonyms (allowing you to find alternative words that might better suit the situation)
• Cover spelling and usage variations by dialect (for example, British, American, and Australian English)

What Is the Best Free Online Dictionary?

Of the major print dictionaries available online, Cambridge and Merriam-Webster stand out:

• The online Cambridge Dictionary covers British and American English, with definitions, examples, pronunciations, idioms, synonyms, and grammar advice all present.
• Merriam-Webster, meanwhile, is the leading American English dictionary. In addition, it features medical and legal dictionaries for all your jargon needs.

As for dedicated online dictionaries, top choices include the Dictionary.com and the Free Dictionary:

• Dictionary.com – as well as having an enviable domain name – is easy to use and offers an excellent thesaurus.
• The Free Dictionary, a standard English dictionary and thesaurus, also features medical, legal, and financial dictionaries.

One other online dictionary of note is the Collins Dictionary, which also includes a thesaurus and grammar guides.

What Is the Best Subscription Dictionary?

You may have noticed the absence of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) among our top online resources. That’s because the OED is only available online with a subscription. However, it remains the foremost English historical dictionary, so it’s worth the price for dedicated logophiles!

For those working with Australian English, the Macquarie Dictionary is a great (subscription-based) resource. Again, though, it requires a subscription to use.

What Other Types of Dictionary Are There?

Legal Dictionaries

Legalese can be difficult to penetrate. If you proofread legal writing, the following dictionaries will help:

• Law.com (one of the leading online legal dictionaries)
• Nolo’s Free Dictionary of Law Terms and Legal Definitions
• Wex (hosted by the Legal Information Institute at the Cornell Law School)
• Legal Dictionary of Law Terminology (a free glossary of legal terms)

Scientific and Medical Dictionaries

For proofreading scientific and medical writing, you may find the following sites useful:

• The New Oxford Dictionary for Scientific Writers and Editors
• The Science Dictionary (a search engine for scientific terms)
• Concise Medical Dictionary (contains over 12,000 entries)
• Medical Dictionary Online (includes a glossary and search function)

Other Dictionaries

Other online dictionaries you may want to use include:

• Computer Dictionary of Information Technology (great for tech jargon)
• Online Etymology Dictionary (useful for understanding word origins)
• Acronym Finder (good for looking up unfamiliar abbreviations)
• The Phrase Finder (phrases and idioms defined and explained)
• Urban Dictionary (an extensive repository of slang, from the innocent to the adult)

Are there any online dictionaries you think we should include in this list? If so, leave a comment below to let us know. 

Becoming a Proofreader

If you’d like to brush up on your proofreading skills, our Becoming A Proofreader course is a great place to start! Sign up today or take a look at our free trial.

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