Introduction

Reading the Dictionary

Experts believe that most English-speaking adults use between 25,000 and 50,000 words. That seems like a large number, yet the English language has over a million words. Effective readers use a dictionary to understand new or difficult words.

Most dictionaries provide the following information:

Guide words (the words at the top of each page)

Spelling (how the word and its different forms are spelled)

Pronunciation (how to say the word)

Part of speech (the function of the word)

Definition (the meaning of the word)

Synonyms (words that have similar meanings)

Etymology (the history of the word)

All dictionaries have guide words at the top of each page. However, dictionaries differ from each other in the way they give other information about words. Some dictionaries give more information about the origin of the word; other dictionaries give long lists of synonyms. Each dictionary will explain how to use its resources in the first few pages.

How to Read a Dictionary Entry

Spelling and Syllables

Textbook Aids for Learning Content Words