Re: pronounciations at www.m-w.com

Alan wrote: 
"name" <dohduhdah@xxxxxxxxx> wrote :

When I look up a word online it takes me little more effort than a few
mouseclicks. In a dictionary you need to search for words manually
whereas on the computer you instantly get the information you're
looking for.


Let's examine that proposition a little more closely by comparing the actions involved in looking up a word "manually" in paper dictionary vs. looking it up on-line, using the word "vehement" as an example:
ON-LINE LOOK-UP:
1. turn the computer switch "on" (bend down and press a button)
1a. wait anywhere from one to five minutes (depending on your computer) for it to "warm up"
2. establish internet connection (perhaps a mouseclick or two)
3. open browser (another mouse-click)
4. connect to on-line dictionary (perhaps a mouse-click or two, if you've already bookmarked the site, otherwise several keystrokes)
5. type "vehement" in the search bar (eight keystrokes), hit "Enter")
6. et voila, in *milliseconds* (after you've hit the Enter key, anyway) ---- there is your super-abridged definition: deficient in a complete guide to pronunciation, no etymologies given, no comments on usage, no alternative pronunciations, no complete list of alternative or specialized meanings, etc, etc.

At work and at home my computer is always on and connected to the Internet. At home, it's in the same room where the dictionary's located, so for me it's (1) enter room; (2) open browser; (3) click dictionary link on my personal home page; (4) type word and press Enter. And I subscribe online to the unabridged dictionary, and will likely dispose altogether of my hard-copy dictionaries the next time I clean things up because I'll be glad to free up the space.
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