It's not often that an avid computer geek can recommend a nontechnical program, one that has nothing to do with file security, machine performance, system tweaking, etc. Well, this is one of those times.
WordWeb is a dictionary/thesaurus that waits quietly in the system tray, ready to help at a moment's notice with the everyday tasks of typing and spelling. With its database of over 170,000 entries (provided by Princeton University), the program covers virtually every conceivable instance of needing to know a word's definition or spelling.
Ease of use is pure simplicity: either directly type a query, or highlight a word or phrase in existing text and ask WordWeb to define it. The results are accurate and instant, and the wealth of information is amazing: parts of speech, correct spelling, pronunciation, synonyms, nearest word, and illustrative examples. If the original query is misspelled, no problem: WordWeb will attempt to guess the correct word, with usually fantastic results. If for some reason the program cannot fathom your entry, it offers suggestions for near matches, and, if all else fails, provides a handy online link to research the word.
The program is very system friendly, using approximately 2MB of memory when opened, and about 1MB when idling in the tray.
I, and everyone I've shown this program to, use WordWeb extensively, every day. It's one of those great utilities that you never notice until you need it, but when you need it, it's always there. |
