Research Guides: #ESOL English for Speakers of Other Languages: Writing & Grammar

Dictionaries, Thesauri and Encyclopedias

Visual Dictionary
The Visual Dictionary from Merriam-Webster matches a picture to a word or phrase. Images are labeled with accurate terminology in up to six languages.
Collins American Thesaurus
Check synonyms and nearby words with Collins American Thesaurus.
Power Thesaurus
An easy and fast way to expand your vocabulary for writing.
Simple English Wikipedia
Wikipedia "translated" into easier-to-understand language that avoids more technical terms.
Merriam Webster Learner's Dictionary
Online dictionary featuring pronunciations of over 100,000 English words.
In The Loop
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In the Loop is a reference guide to American English idioms published by the Office of English Language Programs, U.S. Department of State.

Rewordify
Paste in text or a web page URL to get a re-written version. More complicated words will be replaced by (simple descriptions).
OneLook Thesaurus
Search for a word or phrase to discover related terms. Can work as a 'reverse dictionary' -- searching by meaning to get a word.

Road to Grammar
Quizzes, games and exercises focused on English grammar and vocabulary.
BBC English Grammar Challenge
Contains fun interactive quizzes, grammar tables and an area for you to practice your written English.
UsingEnglish.com
Free tools for ESL students, including English language references, activities including tests and polls, and articles on English usage. There is also a forum for learners of English.

Activities for ESL Students
Test your grammar and vocabulary with online quizzes.
Purdue Owl:English as a Second Language
Online practice for English language learners. Focused areas include grammar, punctuation, spelling and sentence structure.
Language Guide
LanguageGuide.org is a sound-and-picture integrated resource that allows users to learn language interactively.