Citation
Day, E. (2002), "AskOxford.com", Online Information Review, Vol. 26 No. 1, pp. 57-66. https://doi.org/10.1108/oir.2002.26.1.57.8
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
From language buff to confused grammar student, AskOxford.com has something to satisfy everyone. This site is a tremendous resource produced by Oxford University Press, publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary, the recognised authority on the English language. It contains information on grammar, spelling, usage and lexicography, and is entertaining and aesthetically pleasing as well.
The initial screen contains the search window and links to the nine major sections of the site, all located in the header of the page. The text on the main page is largely entertainment oriented, with a “word of the day”, “quote of the week”, and “Q&A” section making it a suitable start‐up page for the linguistically curious. By following the “more information … ” links associated with each of these, one can navigate quite deeply into the site. So, for those interested in the quirks of the language, without a particular topic in mind, AskOxford.com is satisfyingly browsable.
The main sections on the site are too vague to serve as a directory, but give a good overview of the contents. “Ask the experts” contains the “Jargon buster” which provides simple definitions and explanations of common grammar and literary terms, an extensive FAQ, and an option to e‐mail questions to the Oxford World Language Service. “World of words” contains articles on the history and evolution of the language. “Better writing” provides information on avoiding common grammar, spelling and word‐choice errors. A nice section on word games has online time killers like crosswords, quizzes and party games at a variety of levels, and a history of Scrabble. While the site focuses on British English, the section on global English discusses the development and differences in English as it is spoken around the world. There is a list of links for educators, an online store, press releases and contact information.
AskOxford.com has many strengths. The site downloads quickly; it is mostly text but does not sacrifice appeal and navigability. The articles on the site are brief and engaging, with only rare bouts of condescension. The site is an excellent learning tool for children and reliable resource for adults. The light‐hearted and entertaining feel of the site is very refreshing, but at times obscures its serious and thorough content. Other popular sites similar to this, such as World Wide Words or American Heritage Book of English Usage online, are more intimidating, less user‐friendly, and not as definitive. Almost everyone can find something they like or need on this site. Recommended for all libraries.
This review was first published in Reference Reviews Volume 16 Number 1 2002.