Most people know how to use a dictionary to look up a word’s meaning. Here are some tips on how to do this as part of a vocabulary building programme.

Have your own dictionary: keep it where you usually do your reading at home. You are more likely to use it if you do not have to get it from another room. At work, there may be a good dictionary available for your use. At home, most people do not have a big, unabridged dictionary; however, one of the smaller collegiate dictionaries would be fine to start with.

Circle the words you look up or use a highlighter. After you have done this for a while, your eye will naturally move to the words you have circled whenever you flip through the dictionary. This will give you a quick form of review.

Read the entire entry for the word you look up. Remember, words can have more than one meaning, and the meaning you need for the word you are looking up may not be the first one given in your dictionary. Even if it is, the other meanings of the word will help you understand the different ways in which the word is used. Also the word’s “history”, usually given near the beginning of the entry, can often give a fascinating picture of the way in which the word has developed its current meaning. This will add to the pleasure of learning the word as well as help you remember it.

<B>Ashveen Kutowaroo

[email protected]</B>