[.ca] Scribner-Bantam English Dictionary (ISBN 0553264966)

simply the best:
I have been a dictionary freak for many years, but nothing matches the scribner bantam dictionary. written in beautiful english , its like reading a good book. My poor unabridged dictionary is collecting dust. if you want to expand your vocabulary and get the correct word each time, buy this little treasure trove. you wont be sorry.

best bang for the buck for your reference shelf or backpack:
You can look at a lot of paperback dictionaries before you find one that is so robust and easy to read. A number of paperback dictionaries have poor printing techniques that make the text hard to read, especially when the text is particularly small. I got this as a graduation gift and I've used it ever since. I've looked at a number of other dictionaries, but I can't find a small paperback like this one that has as many definitions (over 80,000) and is as easy to read with the small text. The "bad" words aren't in there... but seriously - do you really need to look them up to know what they mean?

Best inexpensive paperback dictionary, hands down:
Of all of the English dictionaries I have encountered, this one is clearly the best value for the price of the \oinexpensive\c paperback dictionaries. It is one of the few paperbacks I have seen that covers etymologies. It avoids the overly concise definitions found in other paperback dictionaries while still remaining compact and inexpensive. I consider it an alternative to a bulky hardback desk reference dictionary.

Best Dictionary Less Than 20 Pounds:
This is the best dictionary that I have found that weighs less than 20 pounds. This was highly recommended in my college English grammar courses, but I compared all of them myself. If you want a smaller volume, get this one. If you want a larger bookshelf volume, but not as large as the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), get the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (10th edition). That, in addition to this book, would be an excellent combination. This book has good descriptions and comparisons of usage, exactly what college students need, especially if they want to fit it into their backpack of books.