The clarity of the typeface and page design of this, the 2002 edition, is beyond compare. It is by far the most enjoyable dictionary to view, in my experience at least, and a great improvement over the previous edition.
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Prior to purchase, I borrowed a friend's Compact Oxford English Dictionary with magnifying glass, thinking this might be preferable. While incredibly entertaining, with its extensive historical quotations, the format ultimately defeated me. In natural light, I could read the microtype with the nude eye, however this was a strain. This made it difficult to search within an entry for the particular sub-definition pertinent to my needs, and it discouraged incidental exploration of surrounding words (one of the great joys of a dictionary, for me) - the magnifier, with its limited field, does not rectify these problems - if anything it exacerbates them.
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In contrast, this edition of the Shorter Oxford makes it a pleasure to browse adjacent words - the main words, in startlingly clear bold type, leap off the page and tickle one's interest; and within an entry orientation is easy.
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This is a very comprehensive dictionary in its own right. Initially I was concerned that it comes billed as featuring only a third of the entries of the full (or Compact) OED. The concerns were unwarranted - the Shorter contains every word used by Shakespeare, the standard version of the Bible, and a host of arcane usages - with this on the bookshelf, one can read Cormac McCarthy and feel safe.
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All in all, if the aesthetics of using a dictionary matter to you, as they do for me, then this must come close to being the perfect edition.