Monday, January 12, 2009

Roget’s Thesaurus of Phrases by Barbara Ann Kipfer, PH.D.
As writers, we struggle with enough challenges like time management and writer’s block. We need all the tools we can find to alleviate the frustration and help us get the perfect words on the page. For instance, have you ever wanted to come up with alternative wording for such clichés as pass the buck, right-hand man, or the cat’s meow but did know where to look? The Roget’s Thesaurus of Phrases is the reference you need, but you may not be aware of its existence!
The Roget’s Thesaurus of Phrases is a list of ten thousand multiword entries with synonymous phrases, organized alphabetically in conventional thesaurus format. This reference is another tool I employ to avoid using worn-out or repetitive phrases and to add distinction to my writing. It is easy to use and can be a life saver for those times when I can’t seem to put a finger on the wording that I want to use.
This reference not only helps with my writing but also my research. I can retrieve more precise information when I enter alternative phrases on the “Google” search bar.
At the back of the book, the author includes a very handy phrase maker—a list of words that can be paired with specific synonyms—perfect for freshening up any hackneyed phrase.
Along with the Flip Dictionary, also by this author, I highly recommend Roget’s Thesaurus of Phrases for writers.

2 comments:

  1. I couldn't do without that one myself. I use it every day.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You've reminded me that I need to pull my copy off the shelf and make use of it.

    ReplyDelete

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