Consider the difference equation ∆x(n) +∑m i=1 pi(n)x(τi(n)) = 0, n ≥ 0 [ ∇x(n) − ∑m i=1 pi(n)x(σi(n)) = 0, n ≥ 1 ] , where (pi(n)), 1 6 i 6 m are sequences of nonnegative real numbers, τi(n) [σi(n)], 1 6 i 6 m are general retarded (advanced) arguments and ∆ [∇] denotes the forward (backward) difference operator ∆x(n) = x(n + 1) − x(n) [∇x(n) = x(n) − x(n − 1)]. New oscillation criteria are established when the well-known oscillation conditions lim sup n→∞ ∑m i=1 ∑n j=τ(n) pi(j) > 1 [ lim sup n→∞ ∑m i=1 σ∑ (n) j=n pi(j) > 1 ] and lim inf n→∞ ∑m i=1 n∑−1 j=τi(n) pi(j) > 1⁄e [ lim inf n→∞ ∑m i=1 σ∑i(n) j=n+1 pi(j) > 1⁄e ] are not satisfied. Here τ (n) = max 1≤i≤m τi(n) [σ(n) = min 1≤i≤m σi(n)]. The results obtained essentially improve known results in the literature. Examples illustrating the results are also given.