Opening subject page...
Loading your content
Learn how to use a dictionary to find words and make sure you spell them right!
Have you ever written a word and thought, "Hmm, does that look right?" That happens to everyone! Even grown-ups are not sure how to spell every word. That is why people made dictionaries. A dictionary is a special book that lists words in order and shows you how to spell them.
People have been writing lists of words for a very, very long time. Let's look at how dictionaries were made over the years!
So, when you are writing and you are not sure about a word, you can do what people have done for hundreds of years — look it up!
Before we open a dictionary, let's learn four big ideas that will help you use one like a pro!
To use a dictionary, you need to know your ABCs really well. Words that start with A come before words that start with B. Words that start with C come before words that start with D. Let's see how that works!
See how the alphabet helps us put words in order? In a dictionary, apple comes before bird because A comes before B. When two words start with the same letter, like "cab" and "cup", we look at the second letter to decide which comes first.
A dictionary has hundreds or even thousands of words inside it. To find a word quickly, you use two tools: the alphabet and guide words.
Here is how to find a word in a dictionary, step by step:
Let's say you want to spell the word "friend." You know it starts with the letter F. You open the dictionary to the F section. You look at the guide words at the top of each page until you find the right page. Then you look down the list until you see friend. Now you can check your spelling!
Look at the picture above. The guide words are "free" and "frog." The word "friend" comes between them in ABC order, so it is on this page. You found it!
When you find a word in the dictionary, you see more than just the spelling. A dictionary entry can tell you many things! Let's look at what you might see:
| Part | What It Tells You | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Word | The correct spelling of the word (in bold) | happy |
| Definition | What the word means | Feeling good; full of joy |
| Example Sentence | A sentence using the word | I am happy to see you! |
| Picture | A drawing that helps you understand (in kids' dictionaries) | 🙂 a smiling face |
A beginning dictionary (a dictionary made for kids) is extra helpful. It uses easy words to explain things. It has big print and fun pictures. Some even use colors to help you find letters faster!
See? The dictionary shows you exactly how to spell "because". If you wrote "becuz" in your story, you could look it up and fix it!
Imagine you are writing a story. You write: "The buterfly flew over the garden." You are not sure if "buterfly" is spelled right. Let's use a dictionary to check!
Using a dictionary can feel slow at first, but you will get faster! Here are some tips that will help you.
| Tip | Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| Know your ABCs well | You can find letters faster if you sing or say the alphabet in your head. |
| Look at the first TWO letters | Many words start with the same letter. The second letter helps you get to the right page faster. |
| Use guide words | They save you from reading every single word on every page. They are like shortcuts! |
| Try your best guess first | If you think "elephant" starts with "el," look up "el" — you will find it! |
| Ask for help with tricky sounds | Some words are tricky. "Knight" starts with a K you don't hear! Your teacher can help you figure out what letter to look under. |
A dictionary is not the only tool that can help you with spelling! As you grow up, you will learn about more tools. Here are some:
| Tool | What It Does | When to Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning Dictionary | Shows spelling and meaning with easy words and pictures | When you are writing and need to check a word |
| Word Wall | A list of words on your classroom wall | Quick check for common words you use a lot |
| Spelling List | A list of words your teacher gives you to practice | When studying for a spelling test |
| Online Dictionary | A dictionary on a computer or tablet | When you type a word and want to check it fast |
| Thesaurus | Helps you find words that mean the same thing | When you want a different word (you will learn this later!) |
Right now, the best tool for you is a beginning dictionary. It is made just for kids your age. As you get older, you will use bigger dictionaries and even computer spell checkers. But the skill you are learning now — looking up a word to check your spelling — will help you forever!
Now it's your turn! Try these problems. Click "Show Answer" when you are ready to check.
Today you learned that a dictionary is a book that lists words in ABC (alphabetical) order and shows you how to spell them. You can use guide words at the top of each page to find words quickly. When you are not sure how to spell a word, you think about its first letter, open the dictionary to that section, and look for the word. A beginning dictionary is made just for kids and has easy definitions and pictures to help you.
Remember: even the best writers check their spelling! Using a dictionary to check and correct your spelling makes your writing easier to read and shows that you care about doing your best work. Keep practicing, and you will become a spelling superstar! ⭐