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Top 10 Software Essentials for Readers

By , About.com Guide

These essential software programs enhance your reading experience, offering easy word look-ups, encyclopedic references, writing resources, and other learning tools. Have all the tools you need for understanding books and literature.

1) The Oxford World English Dictionary Shelf

Oxford University Press. From the publisher: "From the new generation of quick-reference CD-ROMs, featuring the cutting-edge iFinger Pop-up feature in Internet Explorer, and the easiest-ever access to electronic dictionaries in Windows, 'The Oxford World English Dictionary Shelf' offers truly instantaneous access to the four flagship English Dictionaries published by Oxford University Press."
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2) Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2005

Microsoft. The latest additions to the Encarta Reference Library make completing your assignments even easier. From the publisher: "Instead of homework avoidance and excuses, our new Premium Homework Center guides students from the first step through to successful completion of their assignments."
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3) Oxford Thesaurus of English

Oxford University Press. The "New Oxford Thesaurus of English" offers 600,000 alternative and opposite words, instant look-up, and iFinger integration. You'll have easy access to antonyms, synonyms, related terms, and noun lists, with advice for confusing words.
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4) American Heritage Talking Dictionary 5.0

Learning Company (Compton's NewMedia). This taking dictionary features 200,000 definitions, with more than 90,000 spoken words. See the picture and find the definition, as you learn how to pronounce difficult or confusing words. This program also integrates a thesaurus, multimedia, and biographical entries. It's great fun to learn new words!
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5) Oxford Dictionary of Quotations

Oxford University Press. The "Oxford Dictionary of Quotations" is an essential resource for any library. Now, the electronic version allows quick-and-easy access to 20,000 quotations from more than 3,000 authors. Find quotes from Shakespeare, the Bible, Mark Twain, and more.
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6) OneNote

Microsoft. From the publisher: "Capture, organize, and reuse your notes on laptop computers, desktop computers, or Tablet PCs. OneNote 2003 gives you one place to store all your notes and the freedom to work with them how you want. It helps you capture information in multiple ways and then organize and use it according to your needs."
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7) ISI ResearchSoft Endnote 7

Thomson ISI ResearchSoft. From the publisher: "Well known for introducing innovative features to search online bibliographic databases, organize references and create instant bibliographies, EndNote 7 delivers authors new types of bibliographies, flexible image handling, and connectivity to explore and mobilize reference collections."

8) Student Writing Center

Learning Company. The "Student Writing Center" features activities and resources, which should help you through the writing process. This product features a spelling checker, grammar tips, a nibliography maker, a journal, clip-art pictures, and much more.

9) Writing Tutor

Simon & Schuster. The Writing Tutor offers lots of useful features: Photo Storyboards, Idea Wheels, Timelines, Cluster Diagrams, Chain of Events, Story Map, Checkers, Grammar Handbook, Writing Handbook, and more.
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10) Procite Windows V5.0

Thomson ISI ResearchSoft. This program is the ultimate research tool. From the publisher: "Users can search PubMed or hundreds of Internet libraries from ProCite and create databases instantly. ProCite ships with immediate access to hundreds of Internet libraries, and users can easily add new sites."
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