People mostly use dictionaries to look up the meaning of a word. Besides that, here are a few reminders to help polish your reference skills.

Correct pronunciation

Dictionaries provide a word’s pronunciation. By separating a word into syllables and stressing the one that receives the most emphasis, it lets you know how a word ought to sound. It is done with the inclusion of an accent mark on the main syllable and vowel markers for long and short vowels.

Part of speech

Dictionaries explain a word’s part of speech. Using abbreviations like ‘n’ for ‘noun’ or ‘v’ for ‘verb’, a dictionary will help you learn the function of a particular word, or even if it has more than one usage like, depending on how it is used in a sentence.

Word history

Dictionaries outline a word’s etymology or derivation, or what we might call its history. Languages that are cited are abbreviated, with a table of explanations at the beginning of the dictionary. For example, ‘OE’ stands for ‘Old English’.

More than one meaning

Dictionaries list several meanings for a complex word, usually beginning with the most common and ending with the most obscure. Denotations, or literal meanings, as well as connotations, or suggestive meanings, are typically included.

Something more

Dictionaries sometimes include additional features for word entries. Antonyms, or contrasting words may be found along with participle forms or unusual usage. Some explain how certain words from popular culture have been added, like Homer Simpson’s ‘Doh!’

Numerals too

Dictionaries also can include numerals from other languages like Hebrew or Russian, proper titles for government or clergy officials, and seasonal or date usage, such as the proper use of ‘a.m.’ and ‘p.m.’. — essortment