Reference Websites

A Guide to Reference Material on the Internet

These are the best reference sites with broad resources we've found on the Web.

• The King's English, Second Edition H.W. Fowler, 1908, published online by the Bartleby Project, Columbia University, New York, N.Y. The classic text covering vocabulary, syntax, punctuation, grammar and all the rest!
• The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr., is the online version of the immensely popular reference book. It contains the elementary rules of usage and elementary principles of composition, with examples as links. You'll also find words and expressions commonly misused or misspelled.
• AskERIC: AskERIC is the Internet-based education information service of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) System. Web address: http://ericir.syr.edu
• Britannica Online: With a subscription, Britannica Online allows full search capabilities. Web address: http://www.eb.com
• CyberStacks(sm): A centralized, integrated, and unified collection of significant World Wide Web and other Internet resources categorized using the Library of Congress classification scheme. Web address: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~CYBERSTACKS/homepage.html
• DIALOG: DIALOG, a service of Knight-Ridder Information, Inc., provides a number of services for DIALOG users and potential users. Web address: http://www.dialog.com/dialog/index.html
• EBSCOhost: EBSCO offers an online system that allows users to search dozens of citations and full-text databases and order documents via the Internet. Web address: http://www.epnet.com/h-rely.html
• E-Conflict, World Encyclopedia and Simulation: Anthems, flags, maps, weather and the nations of the world. Web address: http://www.emulateme.com/
• Education Review: Publishes review articles of recently published books in education. Web address: http://www.ed.asu.edu/edrev/index.html
• Encyberpedia: A complete information site with links to the major encyclopedias, reference materials, museums, sports, and research centers throughout the Internet. Web address: http://www.encyberpedia.com/ency.htm
• The English Pages Contains original resources and material for users of the Longman English texts in the fields of composition, literature, developmental skills, and technical writing. Includes online exercises, guides, articles, and links.
• Finding Data on the Internet: Find the information you're looking for by finding the links at this site. Web address: http://nilesonline.com/data/
• Global Research: Resource center for magazines, libraries, newpapers and search engines. Web Address: http://members.tripod.com/~BioEnviroTech/global.html
• Hoover's Online: The ultimate source for company information, including corporate information and web addresses. Follow this link for other sources of company research. Web address: http://www.hoovers.com/
• Law Dictionary and Legal Encyclopedia: Explanations for thousands of law related words, terms and phrases, as well as topic areas of key legal issues. Web address: http://www.lectlaw.com/ref.html
• MEDWORD's Dictionary and Drug Info Links Page: Offers a comprehensive medical dictionary, glossary and drug information database. Web address: http://www.medword.com/diclinks.html
• Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) Reference Services: OCLC offers both FirstSearch and OCLC Electronic Journals Online. Find information about books, articles, films, and computer software. Web address: http://www.ref.oclc.org:2000/html/rs_homepage.htm. A listing of the databases available on FirstSearch can be found at: http://www.oclc.org/oclc/promo/9085fs/9085.htm
• ResearchBuzz: for those who want to keep up with the latest on new research sites and information. Web address: http://www.researchbuzz.com/
• A collection of on-line writers' resources
• Research-It!: One-stop reference desk conducts search inquiries for languages, library tools (biographies, religion, quotations), geography, finance and shipping. Web address: http://www.iTools.com/research-it/research-it.html
• SilverPlatter Databases over the Internet: SilverPlatter's Internet subscription option provides access to SilverPlatter databases on a subscription basis via the Internet.
  A listing of the databases available on SilverPlatter can be found at: http:www.silverplatter.com/catalog.htm
• Sociology: A Guide to Reference and Information Sources (1987), by Stephen H. Aby. Littleton, CO: Libraries Unlimited.
• High School Hub: A great collection of resources for high school students. Web address: http://highschoolhub.org/
• Homework Resources for Teenagers: Lots of great reference material and tools. Web address: http://www.bygpub.com/books/tg2rw/studyweb.htm
• The Info Service: A huge collection, with more than 14,000 links covering 230 subjects. Web address: http://info-s.com
• Martindale's The Reference Desk: Tons of links to all sorts of reference material. Web address: http://www-sci.lib.uci.edu/~martindale/Ref.html
• My Virtual Reference Desk: A great and well-organized collection of reference material links. Web address: http://www.refdesk.com/fastfact.html
• Reference Sources Resources
• Garbl's Writing Resources Online
• Language-Related Net
• Research Links for Writers. Web address: http://www.siu.edu/departments/cola/english/seraph9k/ research.html
• Web Reference
• Resources for Writers.
• Writers Free Reference: This is a list of free reference sites useful to writers. Web address: http://www.writers-free-reference.com/
• Page One Writer's Resources
• List of Literary and Rhetorical Terms, University of Victoria, Canada
• List compiled by Robin Nobles.
• Ross's English Sites.
• Online Resources for Writers An extensive annotated index to some of the best desk reference tools for writing, grammar, etc.
• Writing-Related Internet Sites
  "Write Your Way to a Higher GPA:  Indispensable Writing Resources" in four categories:
  • On-Line Writing Labs and Centers on the Web
  • General Writing/Grammar Resources on the Web
  • Subject-Specific Writing Resources on the Web
  • Miscellaneous Collection of Writing-Related Sites
• Writing-Related Resources, an excellent compendium by topic (including getting published!) produced by the Writing Lab at Purdue University.

The most popular sites may perhaps be:

• Vocabula Review
  a monthly newsletter with quality essays covering diverse topics in grammar and writing
• Yahoo WWW Index: Grammar Page
  a constantly updated index of grammar and writing sites
• The Elements of Style
  hypertext version of Strunk's great writing manual
• An On-Line English Grammar
  a detailed manual that addresses more basic issues and includes definitions of grammatical terms - alphabetical listing of topics and explanations by Anthony Hughes, St. John's Wood School of English, London England
• Garbl's Writing Resources Online
  an extensive annotated list (with links) of resources covering all aspects of writing
• Lynch's Grammar and Style Notes
  a thorough glossary of grammatical and stylistic rules and explanations
• Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)
  a collection of writing handouts
• Webster's Dictionary
• Thesaurus.com
• EditAvenue.com
  An editing intermediary service that connects writers with the professional editors of their choice. Through the EditAvenue portal you can select English professors, technical writers, lawyers, copy editors, scientists, or any of their other 200+ editing experts to correct and enhance your writing.

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