OT: Best dictionary for pocket and for desk

[Emirikol]

They're ALL good as long as they're not pocket versions. More importanly is getting a decent thesaurus so you don't always use the same words when you write.

 

[Herremann the Wise]

Yeah, you really can't go past the OED. I have the compact OED which is the whole OED but in a single volume. You may need a magnifying glass to read it though - which funnily enough is provided. It has 9 "pages" to a page and is readable if you have 20-20. It cost me $200 (Australian 10 years ago).
The Bloomsbury thesaurus is also excellent but maybe not for what you want - excellent for writing fiction.
As for a portable dictionary, I suppose the biggest you can comfortably fit in your bag.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

If you actually walk around with a dictionary in your pocket, I reserve the right to call you a geek and take your lunch money

 

[Hypersmurf]

If you actually walk around with a dictionary in your pocket, I reserve the right to call you a geek and take your lunch money

Well, mine's not an English dictionary... does that count?

-Hyp.