No matter how high-tech writing and publishing gets, I’ll never pitch my collection of dog-eared reference books.

Nestled between metal bookends on my desk are two dictionaries, a thesaurus, a book of synonyms and antonyms, The Associated Press Stylebook and Strunk & White’s The Elements of Style. I also keep a modest number of specialized resources such as Harper’s Dictionary of Music and a Dorling Kindersley Pocket Guide to World History.

I’ve been collecting these guides since college. They’ve stood guard over my work for 20 years. While the Internet is getting more of my attention these days, I still regard my books as the final word.

But sometimes my books fall short.  There are two places online I’ll check first before expanding my search. Both of these Web sites offer excellent information on spelling, grammar and word usage. Both will help you learn something new today.

Barbara Wallraff’s Word Court is a weekly syndicated column that answers readers’ questions and poses fun word challenges. She also has a blog on The Atlantic, where she has worked for 25 years.

Washington Post copy desk chief Bill Walsh keeps his eyes open and his ears tuned to style and usage violations in all manner of media. In addition to his longstanding Web site, The Slot, he’s also published two books on writing and word usage.

You don’t need to be a member of  the media elite  to appreciate his posts. In fact, for those outside the business, Walsh’s  Sharp Points may shed some light on a number of timeless subjects, such as the difference between “good ol’ boys” and “the old boy network”. Enjoy.