Reading with the Dictionary... Its Necessity. Its Importance.

Earlier, I was relatively bad with dictionaries. I never thought that I would need them. I would stare at people reading up dictionaries, before examinations. I had never understood why people needed to memorise words. Until now...

But then again, nowadays, it is the time for electronic dictionaries!! And it is easier to look at a meaning on my smartphone (that’s right, I have one nowadays) and it produces not just the synonym, but also the pronunciation, (both UK and US) and even the etymology! So, I am hooked…

Electronic dictionaries are here to stay for sure. I was recently reading a book, which had weird words, but then I was surprised to actually find out that these words, though not in use that much nowadays, they were definitely in use quite a few years ago. Fascinating words too, they were.

The advantages of dictionaries are many. Our vocabulary will definitely increase. For example, if you look for the meaning of a particular word, chances are you usually find two to three more words to explain it, and you might be interested in looking up their meaning, as well.

You also have an advantage of looking up the correct spelling of any word. And it might serve you well, if you are writing something. Essay, story, or even a report!

Also, you have the opportunity of finding out a word’s exact pronunciation. With the help of a dictionary, you can check out a word’s correct utterance, especially if you have a smartphone. You can find it out without the smartphone, but I cannot get over it. :) You can even find out the American and the English way of pronouncing words.

You can also check on the word’s etymology. Etymology is the derivation of a particular word. It is the study of history of words, the origin of how and why it came about, and you can also understand how and why it is pronounced in a certain way. Etymologies are explanations of what our words meant and how they sounded 600 or 2,000 years ago. 

 

It could serve as a guide as to how a particular word can be used. It could be a verb, noun, adjective or a blend of these.

Basically, the advantages are many. There are times when I hate looking up meanings at a particular time, but one can always mark these words and check-up, whenever one has the time.

They are important tools in the modern society. English vocabulary is required in careers, educational classes or even simple day to day activities. And a dictionary can help you get there. There are so many other language dictionaries, as well. (French, Spanish, Hindi, etc). You could use these for translations and discovering new words. So, Read on with a Dictionary…