Page 12 - Basic English Grammar Student Textbook short

Study Section 2: Dictionary Skills

1.1 Connect

A dictionary, sometimes known as a wordbook, is a collection of words in one or more
specific languages, often arranged alphabetically which may include information on definitions,
usage, etymologies, pronunciations, translation, etc. It can also be a book of words in one language
with their equivalents in another, sometimes known as a lexicon. A lexicon is a very handy tool when
studying Hebrew or Greek.

1.2 Dictionary Skills

Why should I use a dictionary?

1. To look up the meaning of an English word
2. To check the spelling of a word
3. To determine how to pronounce a word
4. To determine where to break (divide) a word at the end of a line when writing

To be a good dictionary user, however, it is not enough to know the reasons to use the dictionary. You must
know your alphabet and how to alphabetize, so you can use the dictionary effectively and efficiently.

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