How to Use a Dictionary
Of the
approximately 1 million words in the English language, the average English
speaker knows 60,000 of those words, A
dictionary can be a very handy tool. Besides helping with spelling and word
meanings, being able to use a dictionary effectively and regularly is a perfect
way to improve your English language skills through the dictionary's range of
other helpful information on everyday language usage and grammar. This article
will explain how to make the most of using your dictionary.
Steps
1.
Purchase a quality dictionary. If
you don't already own a good dictionary, consider purchasing one during sale
time. It's also a good idea to upgrade your dictionary every now and then so
that you have access to the latest new words that are added to the dictionary
every year.
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o Consider
purchasing specialist dictionaries if they'd be useful in your study or career.
Some examples of specialist dictionaries include language dictionaries,
technical dictionaries, rhymes, crossword, subject dictionaries (for example,
for math, chemistry, biology, horticulture, etc.), illustrated dictionaries
(excellent for learning another language or for technical knowledge), slang and
idioms, etc.
o Note
that many countries have their own native dictionaries that might be more
helpful than sourcing a dictionary from just anywhere, such as the Macquarie
dictionary in Australia, Oxford dictionary in England, Webster's dictionary in
the United States, etc.
o Some
schools, universities and workplaces prefer the use of one particular
dictionary. This is for reasons of maintaining a consistent style and
understanding among everyone using them; make sure you use the right one for
your assignments, editing, and reports.
Familiarize
yourself with your dictionary.
Dictionaries vary in approach. The best way to learn how to use your particular
dictionary effectively is to read its introductory section where you'll find
out how the entries are arranged. The introductory section of your dictionary
will explain important information such as the abbreviations and pronunciation
symbols used throughout the entries. There may also be information on
pronunciation of words with similar spellings; this can be helpful if you have
only heard a word and you're not sure of its spelling. For example, if you hear
"not", it might also be "knot" but the "k" is
silent, and this list can help you with suggestions.
Know how to
look up a word. When you come across a word you
don't recognize or know the meaning of, keep a note of it. When you get around
to looking it up, here is the sequence to follow:
o Proceed
to the letter of the alphabet that your word begins with. For example,
"dog" begins with "d". Don't forget the possible spellings
for trickier words, such as "gnome" begins with a "g", or
"psychology" begins with a "p", or "knock" begins
with a "k", etc.
o Check
for the guide words. These are located in the upper corner of each page and
give you an indication of how close you are to locating your word, speeding up
the process of going through the pages.
o Once
close, use the second letter of your word to run down the page and locate your
word. For example, if you were looking for the word "futile",
"u" is the second letter. Perhaps you will see
"furrow/futtock" in the upper left corner of the left page and
"futtock plate/gaberlunzie" in the upper right corner of the right
page. Now you know that "futile" is going to be located on one of
these two pages.
o Scan
down the list of entry words moving past "Furry" and
"Fuse" and "Fuss". Since the example word begins with
"Fut", go past all the "Fur" and all the "Fus"
words alphabetically until you reach the "FUT" area of the page. In
this example, move right down through "Fut" and "Futhark"
and this is at last, where you will find "futile".
Know
how to make the most of your find. Once you've located the word,
there are several useful elements that you can discover about the word from the
dictionary entry. Read the information given about this entry, and depending on
your dictionary, you might find many things:
o A definition of the word.
o One
or more pronunciations. Look for a pronunciation
key near the beginning of the dictionary to help you interpret the written
pronunciation. Learn how to use the stress marks, as these will aid your
pronunciation. The stress mark ' is place just prior to the syllable
where the stress is placed.
o Capitalization,
where relevant.
o Prepositions,
such as "in", "on", etc. and their use with the word in
question.
o Irregular
endings for verbs.
o Synonyms
and antonyms. You can use these in your writing, or as further clues towards
the word's meaning.
o An
etymology, derivation, or history of the word. Even if you don't know Latin or Ancient Greek, you may find that
this information helps you to remember or understand the word.
o Examples
or citations of how the word is used. Use these to add context to the meaning
of the word.
o Derived
terms and inflections (I am, you are, etc).
o Phrases
or idioms associated with the word, and slang
usage. In addition, the dictionary may explain whether a word is formal or
informal.
o Plurals
of nouns.
o Near
neighbor words that might be related, such as "futility".
o Spellings in other English (US English, British
English, Australian English, etc.)
Think
about how the information you've found relates to the word as you encountered
it. If there are multiple definitions, decide which one matches your
source or context for the word and notice how the different definitions are
related to one another. In an English dictionary, the most common meaning is
usually placed first where there are multiple meanings.
o Try
using your new word in a sentence. If it's difficult to spell, write it a few
times to help yourself remember it.
Use your
dictionary for other purposes than looking up a word. Many dictionaries come with an array of other useful information.
Some of the information that you might find in your dictionary includes:
o Standard
letters for jobs, RSVPs, filing complaints,
official writing, etc.
o Maps
and geographical information.
o Statistics
on population.
o Weights,
volume and measurements.
o Lists
of countries, cities, capitals, etc.
o Flags
of countries, states, provinces, regions, etc.
o Lists
of famous or historical people.
o Lists
of facts.
Learn
how to use an online
dictionary. Online dictionaries are easy. Choose a suitable free online
dictionary, or a subscription one if your place of work or study subscribes,
and simply type in the word you're looking for. The search engine will return the word to you and the
definition section should contain most of the elements discussed above. Note
that free services may not be as comprehensive as a subscription or book
dictionary, so keep this in mind when you're not sure that you've found the
right answer.
o Make
use of the audio content provided with online dictionaries. This can help
considerably when you're unsure how to pronounce the word.
o To
use Google to find online definitions, type: "define: futile". The
search engine will only look for definitions.
Have
fun using a dictionary. The last step is the most fun –
simply browse a dictionary to enlighten yourself about new words now and then.
Just open the dictionary up to any page and scan the page for words that are
unfamiliar or seem interesting. Pinpoint them, read the definition and try to
add the new word to your thinking or talking during the next few days until it
becomes a remembered part of your natural vocabulary.
o Play
the dictionary game with friends. This consists of getting some friends
together and a dictionary. The first player looks up a challenging word and
uses it in a sentence. The other players have to guess if the use of the word
is accurate or an outright fabrication. If a player guesses correctly, it's
their turn next.
o Another
dictionary game: Each player chooses a word which should be familiar to the
other players, then reads out the dictionary definition. The other players
compete to guess the word as quickly as possible - perhaps even shouting out
while the definition is still being read.
Tips
·
If you can't seem to locate your word, make sure you're spelling
the word correctly. For example, you won't find "isotope" if you're
looking in the A section, which you might be tempted to do if, for example,
your chemistry teacher speaks with a bit of a southern accent!
·
If you're having trouble spelling a word, try the spell-checker in
a word processor and see what it suggests.
·
Old dictionaries make excellent door stops or hollow books.
·
Even though it's easy to check words using an online dictionary,
the free ones don't always provide enough information, so it pays to always
have a hard copy dictionary on your bookshelf to call upon whenever needed.
·
Don't be afraid to study the etymology of a word. Since much of our
language is derived from Greek or Latin, you'll often find yourself learning
root words from them, but after you have, you'll find that it can be easier to
understand words that are new to you simply by looking at the structure of the
word.
·
Language is defined to a large degree by usage. You can help keep
our language alive by using more of it. Try to occasionally use words that are
"getting dusty" either in written or verbal communication. English is
the closest thing to a universal language on Earth, and it deserves a chance to
thrive. Using words like "dude" a little bit less can help to keep
our language healthy.
Warnings
·
Printed dictionaries may go out of date as the language changes, so
check the copyright date of yours. Another way to gauge the currency of a
dictionary is to look for relatively new words, such as "chick flick"or
"metrosexual"
·
Dictionaries vary in content, and some are very specific. Look at
the title to find out what you have. If you have a dictionary of rhymes, slang,
idioms, synonyms, a foreign language, or a specific interest, such as
woodworking terms, seek a more general dictionary.
Things You'll Need
·
Dictionary
·
Internet access
Related wikiHows
Sources and Citations
1.
↑ English at
Home, How to use a dictionary. http://www.english-at-home.com/vocabulary/general-english-vocabulary/how-to-use-an-english-dictionary/
2.
↑ English at
Home, How to use a dictionary, http://www.english-at-home.com/vocabulary/general-english-vocabulary/how-to-use-an-english-dictionary/
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