Dictionaries

  Dictionaries list the words used in a language. 

With a Dictionary, you can learn...

-How to spell a word

-What a word means

-How to say a word

-What part of speech a word is

-How many syllables are in a word

-Whether or not to capitalize a word

-How to abbreviate a word (USA)

-Meanings of prefixes and suffixes for a word

Important things to know when using a dictionary...

• The words are organized in alphabetical order.  
• Guide words are used to help you locate a word quickly.
•  There may be more than one definition. To choose the correct definition...

1.  Decide how the word is used.

2.  Read all meanings of the word given to you.

3.  Imagine a blank space in the sentence where the word appears.

4.  Substitute the meaning you feel is correct into that sentence.

5.  If the sentence makes sense, then you have the correct definition.