OEDear ...

[blamebrampton]

I accidentally attended a book sale today, but was very restrained and only purchased language books that I actually need for my appalling French and Italian, and a couple of history tomes, which are [Poll #1580212]And lil, thank you for your comment! I had to delete and start again because the poll was not working for me, hope it does this time!

Comments

[okydoky.livejournal.com]

I vote yes, because one day, I will have a copy too :) and I can't be the only person I know to own one!

I laughed out loud at the first sentence of this post

[schemingreader.livejournal.com]

We have that one-volume OED. It is the best thing in the entire world. I think that price is too high though. I will ask my husband how much he paid. I believe he got it by joining a book club. (Yes, the fact that he owned an OED was a contributing factor in our decision to marry...)

[leochi.livejournal.com]

One never can have enough dictionaries or encyclopedias. ;)

[nuclearsugars.livejournal.com]

Welllll, I have a subscription to the OED through my uni if you don't end up purchasing it. *shifty eyes*

[(Anonymous)]

Whether you buy it or not, you can always check this out: goldendict English (http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/5205813/Goldendict_dictionary_interface_and_english_dictionaries)

[inamac.livejournal.com]

My local library allows users to log on to their subscription copy using their library ID - you might try that as a first option before heading for the bookshop.

ETA That's log in to the OED from my home computer - I don't have to go to the library.

[shadowclub.livejournal.com]

Haha, I was confused by the date on this entry as you are writing this entry from the future (which admittedly makes sense with the time different, but I am rather tired today...).

That is a lot of money for the dictionary, but if it's something that'll make you happy and be useful you should get it... Or just continue to depend on the internet:)

[alicambs.livejournal.com]

How do you 'accidently' attend a book sale? :-)

[siria.livejournal.com]

Oh god, I'm such a cheat. First I voted yes, because DICTIONARIES are obviously the best thing since, since, since something very, very fabulous!!

But then I figured that really, you could buy a whole lot of different dictionaries in all sorts of languages for that kind of money, and so I'm torn. SORRY but you don't want my advice anyway, because I'm horrid with money to begin with - I spend it all on silly things, like coffee, books, dentists and food and then wonder where it went. Much better to buy something you'll genuinely love. Like, that fantastic Dictionary (when it comes to English dictionaries, I only have a couple of different one-volume New Oxford dictionaries, nothing spectacular - BUT MY ENGLISH COULD BE BETTER, so this is totally an argument in favour of buying MORE dictionaries, come to think of it, damnit) or a pony.

Mind you, that whole last sentence was a good demonstration of 'reasons to buy better dictionaries'. :)

[chantefable.livejournal.com]

I vote yes because I honestly believe it will make you happy. Also, I would do the same in your place. It's a book sale. How can anyone expect sanity and restraint when we are talking about a book sale? I still have a stack of unread, crispy new books from the last sale I happened to attend... Basically, if the book!purchase does not leave you & your loved ones hungry and destitute for the next month, then you can afford it. It's right there in The Complete Idiot's Guide to Attending Book Sales and Living Happily Ever After.

[goddessriss.livejournal.com]

I know you're knitting.

I find dictionaries endlessly fascinating. I recently bought a nice, compact one for my 13 year old niece who, I'm sure, thinks her biro comes with a built-in spell-checker. She may or may not use it, but at least she has it. Lord knows, she needs it! Youth of today, eh?

My own copy of the compact OED is fairly old and was purchased from a the local hospice charity shop for a fiver (in the days before they got wise to the book collecting market. I still remember finding those hardback Chalet School books for 75p each!). I love it.

Hmm.

[wemyss.livejournal.com]

I still say, Buy it, but, then, I would do, wouldn’t I. What’s a 1st edition of Dr Johnson’s Dictionary selling at these days, £400 or so?

[shu-shu-sleeps.livejournal.com]

Even though I chose to make a comment on the state of the world in this poll (there was no option that said of course you should get it and don't forget to claim it as a tax deduction!), I think you should get it - after all, its the OED! I think it belongs on your book shelf or I could look after it for you (and congratulations on being so restrained with your other purchases), and if you really need a reason - well if you had a copy then I could come visit it :) because frankly the Macquarie is driving me NUTS! And reading through this reply you can see how badly I need the guidance of the OED!

[auntpurl.livejournal.com]

You make your living and derive much of your pleasure in life from words, and you're asking whether you should spend money on something that is so eminently worth it? Woman, PLEASE.

[brissygirl.livejournal.com]

Almost $800 for a book is pretty steep! Even if you can claim it on your tax or get some money back or whatever. Me, I still have my dictionary and thesaurus that I had for school. I don't use them, they just sit on the shelf gathering dust.

If you buy it I'm sure you'll find somewhere to put it even if it's on the floor besides your bed. :D

If the book is 'compact' why the hell is it $795? *shakes head in dismay*

[maevemist.livejournal.com]

I said no it is far to much money but you know what? I really mean... Go now before you regret it!

[mabonwitch.livejournal.com]

Clearly you should own this dictionary! However, I think instead of getting it at the book sale, you should use your wily international travel network to get it from the U.K. to you. Because, really, what use is an international network of slahsers if they can't occasionally come through with a dictionary?

[glorafin.livejournal.com]

Now that's a neat thing to possess. I had no idea that such a dictionary existed in English. I wish it was (were?) possible to browse some pages online, just to have an idea of how long I'll be able to resist its lure. :/

[treacle-tartlet.livejournal.com]

I just ticked the least helpful combination of boxes imaginable, hurrah! It will make you happy, but where would you put it? Perhaps you could keep it on the other side of your bed, and make Mr B sleep on the couch? The OED probably snores less...

[uminohikari.livejournal.com]

Clearly, the solution is to lure a friend from the UK to visit you and bring one.