Poll: Do you prefer digital or paper dictionaries? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you prefer digital or paper dictionaries?".
This poll was originally submitted by Fabio Said
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, ... See more This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you prefer digital or paper dictionaries?".
This poll was originally submitted by Fabio Said
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629 ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Both in different ways | Aug 22, 2009 |
I voted that I liked both equally. I use both online and paper dictionaries and I like them for different reasons.
Online dictionaries usually offer a lot of possible translations for one term. They also contain more terms than my paper dictionary, including lots of technical terms. They are quick to use and it's easy to click between definitions of words. I also find the forums very useful.
Paper dictionaries may have fewer translations per term, but those they do h... See more I voted that I liked both equally. I use both online and paper dictionaries and I like them for different reasons.
Online dictionaries usually offer a lot of possible translations for one term. They also contain more terms than my paper dictionary, including lots of technical terms. They are quick to use and it's easy to click between definitions of words. I also find the forums very useful.
Paper dictionaries may have fewer translations per term, but those they do have are accurate and reliable. They generally contain more information about nuances of meanings. And call me old-fashioned, but I do prefer the feel of paper in my hands to reading everything on screen! ▲ Collapse
| | | | lillkakan
Local time: 00:28
English to Swedish
I use both types, for different things.
Paper dictionaries feel more reliable for technical terms, and other terms and translations that don't change much over time. I use specialized medical dictionaries and special supplements in biology and chemistry. Their drawback is of course that they are not updated as quickly, they cost a lot of money to buy etc. Even if you can deduct the cost in your business tax return form, the expense sometimes feels unjustified.
Online di... See more I use both types, for different things.
Paper dictionaries feel more reliable for technical terms, and other terms and translations that don't change much over time. I use specialized medical dictionaries and special supplements in biology and chemistry. Their drawback is of course that they are not updated as quickly, they cost a lot of money to buy etc. Even if you can deduct the cost in your business tax return form, the expense sometimes feels unjustified.
Online dictionaries (I hardly ever use "offline" digital dictionaries, they've never grown on me) are fast, accessible, and often more recently updated, includes more modern terminology and are all in all more dynamic. But they don't always feel as reliable (especially not free ones). There are however a good few really good term databases online and I use them more frequently than the hardcover dictionaries.
For me it depends alot on in what subject field I'm currently translating. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Ecuánime
United States
Local time: 18:28
Member (2009)
Spanish to English
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| Both online and paper dictionaries | Aug 22, 2009 |
I use online dictioniaries alot, but when my Internet is down or my wife is hogging the computer, my paper dictionaries definitely come in handy.
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Sebastian Witte 
Germany
Local time: 00:28
Member (2004)
English to German
+ ...
| I prefer offline digital dictionaries for two reasons: speed and option to do full-text searches... | Aug 22, 2009 |
... among all relevant hits. On the other hand, Firefox allows for quickly switching between online dictionaries and re-using the term entered for look-up without having to re-type it.
| | | | David Russi
United States
Local time: 16:28
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Both in different ways | Aug 22, 2009 |
While the convenience and easy access of online and local digital dictionaries is undeniable, and I use several of each, some specialized terminology only is available in book format, and I still consult many a physical dictionary.
Quite frankly, I need to get away from the monitor as much as I can, consulting a dictionary in book form, the act of going to it, pulling it off the shelf, or even turning to one of the ones that are always open on the stands behind me, is a great way to... See more While the convenience and easy access of online and local digital dictionaries is undeniable, and I use several of each, some specialized terminology only is available in book format, and I still consult many a physical dictionary.
Quite frankly, I need to get away from the monitor as much as I can, consulting a dictionary in book form, the act of going to it, pulling it off the shelf, or even turning to one of the ones that are always open on the stands behind me, is a great way to do it!
I also enjoy the feel of a book, browsing dictionaries is a pleasure, especially well written ones. I have several that I just "read" especially encyclopedic ones, something that I just don't do with the electronic format because it does not lend itself easily to "flipping pages".
And I cannot count the times that as I was going to the term I was searching for I stopped to read another on the way, or an odd word caught my eye... that almost never happens to me with electronic dictionaries, they are too direct, too efficient, almost, to allow for that type of serendipitous encounter.
[Edited at 2009-08-22 15:38 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I agree with you in every respect, David! | Aug 23, 2009 |
Nothing to add... You said it all )
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but one thing i prefer about digital is that they can be easier to read, as paper dictionaries have teeny print. But they're both good for different things.
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