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Grammar & Usage Usage Notes. How to Use the Dictionary. Take it from the people who know. Look it up! The first step to looking something up in the dictionary is, naturally, to type the word in the search bar. What if you don’t know how to spell the word you want to look up?
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Choose the right dictionary. 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.[1] X Research source Consider purchasing specialist dictionaries if they'd be useful in your study or career. Some examples of specialist dictionaries include language dictionaries, technical dictionaries ...Read the introduction. 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. Introductions to dictionaries explain things like ...Learn the abbreviations. Dictionaries often have abbreviations in the definitions for a word. This can be confusing if you don't know what the abbreviations stand for. Typically a dictionary will have a list of abbreviations near the front of the book; either in the introduction or after it.[2] X Research source For example "adj." stands for "adjective" and will tell you what kind of word the ...Learn the guide to pronunciation. If you immediately jump right into reading the dictionary without understanding the pronunciation guide, it can be difficult to figure it out. Having an idea about the symbols of pronunciation will make it a lot easier for you.[3] X Research source The pronunciation of a word will be placed between two reversed virgules (\ \) and will typically be printed in ...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. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 0If you're having trouble spelling a word, try the spell-checker in a word processor and see what it suggests. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 1Even 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. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0Dictionaries 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. Thanks Helpful 21 Not Helpful 6Printed 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"[9] X Research source or "metrosexual"[10] X Research source . Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0- 783.7K
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