
This may seem too obvious to have as a standard on my bookshelf, but as a Brit I just had to include it! This is the version of the Oxford English Dictionary that I find most useful, as it includes the depth that I need for daily life and also when writing professionally. It not only gives the spellings, the pronunciation, and various meanings of the words, but also their origins - it even gives the American alternatives for those who need them.
If you don't already have a decent English dictionary, you can click here to order your own copy of the Concise Oxford English Dictionary: Luxury Edition, 11th edition, revised 2009
Check out: CoachAmal's Bookshelf on Amazon