DICTIONARIES

Dictionaries and How to Use Them

People look up dictionaries for meanings and spellings although there are also other uses of a dictionary. Dictionaries help us to understand the English Language better as well as to enable us to reproduce better English. We should make dictionaries our best friends to help ourselves grasp the English Language. Unfortunately, many of us cannot decide on the right kind of dictionary as dictionaries now come in a variety of sizes and with an array of special features which tend to confuse a potential buyer.

Choosing a Dictionary

The biggest dictionary is not necessarily the best dictionary. When selecting a dictionary, keep in mind the following: Is it to help you to understand and enjoy the classics penned from the brilliant minds of Shakespeare, Milton or John Steinbeck. If so, you would want to purchase a dictionary which gives the meaning of the individual word and also an example of its proper usage. However, if it should be used for games such as Boggle, Scrabble or crosswords, then you should purchase a dictionary with a wide variety of headwords but brief definitions.