Judy Pearsall: The New Oxford Dictionary of English [1998]

This dictionary focuses on English as it is really used in the late 20th century, informed by available evidence and thinking. Its defining style makes it possible to give the most complete picture of English as it is used today, providing authoritative and comprehensive coverage of the language. Compiled after in-depth analysis of computerized databases of current English, this dictionary is the first to base its coverage on the evidence of real English. Accessibility is one of the dictionary's key aims; a rapid-reference page design separates out parts of speech, word histories, phrases, and derivatives to make information easy to find, and the most modern meaning of each word, as used by the majority of people, is placed first within each entry. Contemporary rules are given on question of usage, providing relevant advice on problems old and new. Word history notes not only explain the linguistic roots of words, but also tell the story of how a word's meaning and form have changed over time.
Oxford's worldwide network of language consultants have contributed to entries on world English, to provide an accurate and systematic record of how the language is used all around the English-speaking world. Also included are modern, realistic pronunciations which are an accurate representation of late 20th-century speech, using the internationally recognized pronunciation system, IPA.