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4.1.2: How to Read a Dictionary Entry

  • Page ID
    360614

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    Reading a dictionary entry can be broken down into about four steps.

    1. Find the right spelling of the word and type it in the search bar
    2. Click on the speaker icon or decipher the phonetic spelling to learn how to speak the word
      1. You should try to get comfortable with new words by using them over and over again, like new boots
      2. The apostrophe symbol within the phonetic spelling (e.g., fə-'ˈne-tik) is called an ictus: it is placed before the syllable that should be given the most verbal emphasis when pronounced aloud
    3. Read the different definitions and contextual examples of the word
    4. Scroll down to investigate the origins of the word (its etymology)

    This video will show you how to read a dictionary

    When we see new words in our readings, it can feel discouraging. We may hear our professors use words we don't know, and it feels like they're using words against us, not for us. These feelings have been shared by students in my courses, and this is what I felt in college when my professors would shut down an argument by bringing up a term no one could understand, or using a word like semantics. Like, what? The key to decrypting people's jargon is an excellent college English dictionary. And the one I suggest you use (because the Modern Languages Association does too) is Merriam-Webster.

    "Navigating a Dictionary" was uploaded and created just for this textbook.