Usage Dictionaries

Oftentimes, in the midst of composing a paper, you’ll find that your spell check just doesn’t help (of all those suggestions in the drop-down box which one is right?) and only later do you discover, when your paper comes back, that you should have used effect instead of affect, or that you have erroneously substituted the word discreet for its nearly identical counterpart discrete. In any case, to avoid the scourge of red pen, students should refer to a Usage Dictionary when they have any doubts concerning the proper use of a word. What, you might ask, is a Usage Dictionary? Well, a Usage Dictionary differs from normal dictionaries in that it gives explanations instead of definitions, and shows specific examples of proper use. Paul Brians is a Professor at Washington State University and has created a handy little website called Common Errors in English Usage that is much like a usage dictionary. For those looking for fuller treatments on particular words nothing can beat the Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage where a typical entry spans half a page. We also have a collection of others here!

So whether you lean more toward the descriptive side of the linguistics debate or tend to be one those who insist on using King’s English even in Instant Messages, consider that Professors and Employers appreciate attention to detail in all matters and you can certainly convey that in your written work.

Tired of reading the same old stuff?

Well, check out the Ritz Library's "New Books" display! The library is constantly purchasing new materials to support the school's curriculum. From psychology to mathematics, new books are constantly being added to the library's collection. Works of literature, poetry, fiction, criticisms, scientific discoveries - the latest and greatest information can easily be found by walking into the library and heading to our "New Books" display.

There are several ways you can find the "New Books" in our library. First, stop on by and browse the collection itself. Second, take a look through myDCC. Click on the Library tab, and in the bottom right hand corner there is a link that is automatically updated weekly which brings you to a list of new books in our collection. Click here to go directly to the new books list. Third, you can go directly to our catalog and click on "Limit by collection", and then select New Books from the drop down list.

The "New Books" display is located diagonally across from the Circulation desk in the middle of the sitting area of the library.

What is the Scoop on Ceramics?

Discover how the study of Ceramics encompasses more than just Art. It includes six other subjects. Can you guess what they are?

Come visit the Francis U. and Mary F. Ritz Library Display Case located on the 3rd Floor of Hudson Hall and find out what the scoop on ceramics is all about.

Yale University's Open Archives

Check out this article from "Inside Higher Ed" on Yale University's open access to 7 of their courses, covering astrophysics, modern poetry, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, and religion. Course documentation, videos and transcripts are available online, free!

Other links to open access courses are also mentioned.

E-text books coming this way?

An age-old argument is about the cost of textbooks to college students. Is it time for reading habits to change and for textbooks to go digital? Well, maybe... for further information, click here.

Can Google's New Open Encyclopedia Best Wikipedia?

Google in competition with Wikipedia - for more info, click here.

Cloud Computing

Have you ever had compatibility problems with Microsoft Office? Are you working on a Mac at home but printing on a PC at school? Do you only have the powerpoint viewer on your computer but need to create a slide presentation for class? Ever lose or break a Flash Drive? Is your Floppy Disk more corrupt than a Jack Abramoff dinner party?

Well, these and other issues can be a real headache for Students and Professors alike. A new way of thinking about document creation and storage is being led by (get ready for a really big surprise here) Google and it could alleviate, if not solve, many issues like this.

The concept is simple. Instead of creating your documents and storing them on your computer (which is liable to crash, freeze, melt, etc.) you create all your documents on the web and store them there. You would access them the same way you access your email, so only you would have access to your documents. Google Docs has all the basics covered: word processing, spreadsheets, a slide-presentation creator, and even a calendar; and each in a simple-to-use (ahem, Word2007...) layout. If you already have a Gmail account simply login to Google Docs using that information. Or, if you don't have a Google account, you can sign-up for one at no charge and test out all the features for yourself.

Click here for a New York Times article on the subject.