Reference books like dictionaries and encyclopedias can help support your writing. Encyclopedias can give you good supporting background on a topic, but be sure to rely on other resources such as books and articles when you're writing a college-level paper.
The reference resources below are all online resources, but you can visit the CSM Library to access dictionaries, encyclopedias, and more print reference sources.
The most authoritative source on the English language, with a focus on etymology and historical usage.
An online version of the Encyclopedia Britannica
