This lesson has 9 parts. Follow the book and let it guide you through the lesson. Welcome to fantastic news from our dictionaries!

How can I get in and out of a dictionary fast?

complex

approximate

pronunciation

definition

You probably have learned some very powerful word attack strategies to figure out meaning, but some words defy these strategies. When all else fails, it is time to consult the world's greatest expert on words: the dictionary! Using the dictionary is a complex task, so we need lots of practice to develop skills to make it easier for us.

We use the dictionary for both reading and writing. For reading, we must know three major skills: locating the target word, finding the proper definition and learning the pronunciation. For writing, determining correct spelling and usage is important.

We must remember that words are arranged in alphabetical order, from A to Z, by first letter and then by second letter, and, if necessary, by third letter, and so on.

Look up these z words:

zebra

zip

zoo

Which letters did you go to in order to find the words?

Now put these words in alphabetical order.

visor

volt

vise

vein

vassal

Dictionaries have guide words at the top of each page which help us to find the location of a word. The two guide words tell us which word is first on the page and which is last. It is up to us to know which words come between these two.

Using the guide words stun and subside, which of the following would appear on the page?

study, suburb, style, sturgeon, subtract, subject, stunt, student.

Not all letter entries in the dictionary have the same number of words. For example, "c" words take up far more pages than "x," "y," and "z" words put together. A dictionary can be divided in such a way that each group of letters covers approximately one-fourth of all the words: A - D, E - L, M - R, and S - Z. Find the group each of the following words belongs to: bell, potash, habit, expense, square, lancet, pearl, dome, ruff.

Some dictionaries have a thumb index. Does yours? A thumb index shows us where in the book each of the letters starts.

Searching for entry words can sometimes be confusing. If you are looking up rallies or exporter, you would have to look under rally and export. If you cannot find the word you are looking for, search for the word in its most simple form.

Here are more tips to help you navigate through the dictionary!

Initials are listed in alphabetical order as they appear: CIA is followed by cicada.

Abbreviations are listed in alphabetical order by letters used in the abbreviation, not by the words written out. The abbreviation km appears right before knack.

Numerals are written as words: seven instead of 7

Compounds, whether joined or appearing as separate words, appear according to the first word: headquarters, homerun.

In some dictionaries, Mc is treated as though it is written Mac and appears with the other macs. In others, Mc words are arranged in strictly alphabetical fashion by m then c.

Contractions are placed in strict alphabetical order: isn't appears before isobar.

In many dictionaries, prefixes (such as re-) and suffixes (such as -ness) are listed as main entries.

You will need a dictionary for this activity. Locate the following words in your dictionary:

Take a look at the following list of words. Define them in your own words, and then take a look at them in the dictionary and read the definitions. How are the definitions in the dictionary different than the definitions you came up with?

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