Writing Resources

Dictionaries

• Dictionaries, thesauri, and some manuals on writing
   
• Links to several online dictionaries 
   
• Merriam-Webster dictionary 
   
• Wordsmyth dictionary 
  
  
  

Thesauri

• Merriam-Webster Thesaurus 
   
• Roget’s thesaurus 
   
• Roget’s II: The New Thesaurus Writing 
  

Manuals 

• Elements of Style.  By William Strunk.  A classic book on writing.
  
  
• Guidelines on writing a philosophy paper.  By James Pryor, at Princeton University.  Helpful advice on all aspects of writing a philosophy paper.
  
  
• "How to Read a Philosophy Paper.".  By Jeff MacLaughlin, at the University College of the Caribo (Canada).  This site also has links on writing a philosophy paper.
  
  
• MIT's list of guides to writing, punctuation, grammar, etc.
  
  
• Philosophical Writing Manual.  By Martin Young, a graduate student at the University of California, Irvine.  Informative and detailed.
  
  
• Tips on Writing a Philosophical Essay.  By Martin Davies.

Other Writing Resources

• Basics of diagramming English sentences.  Two nice web descriptions of diagramming: one from Capital Community College, the other by a private individual. For decades students learned how to diagram sentences beginning in elementary school.  Diagramming  was tedious, to be sure.  However, it is an effective way of understanding grammar and sentence construction.  It enhances the ability to read more complex sentences, and to write clearly
   
• Important site with information on critical reasoning.
   
• General guide to English grammar, from Capital Community College.  Helpful resource.

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