Modern English Usage Dictionary

Author: Fei Zhide
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: This dictionary was originally an internal reference book for the Luoyang Foreign Language College, primarily intended for use by learners in the basic stage of English study. The materials included in the dictionary are relatively less comprehensive in vocabulary but more detailed in grammar. This is because there are already many books available on the usage of common English words. This dictionary only supplements some common words and their new meanings, as well as some terms frequently used in political and social life. For convenience of reference, an index arranged in alphabetical order is provided at the end of the book. In the explanations of grammatical forms, attention is paid to both commonly used forms and new grammatical phenomena; it indicates which forms are outdated and no longer in use, and which, despite opposition, have actually become commonly accepted. Regarding the disagreements among linguists on certain grammatical structures, only the main points of these disagreements are highlighted. Sometimes, it briefly mentions which viewpoint is more widely held without listing specific references. To meet the needs of oral practice in learning, the dictionary notes which words are more commonly used in written language and which are frequently used in spoken language. Examples are provided in both phrases and sentences, covering both political and general topics. During the compilation of the dictionary, the primary reference was the "Dictionary of Usage of British and American English" by the Japanese scholar Ito Yoshimasa, supplemented by dozens of dictionaries of British and American idioms, as well as some materials from renowned domestic scholars.