Step 2: Using the Dictionary
- Step 2: Using the Dictionary
- What if you don't know how to spell a word? How do you look
it up in the dictionary?
- Spacedog's tip: First, look up the way you think a word might be
spelled. Then if you don't see it, try a slightly different spelling.
- For instance:
- If we start with the word "astranot" we
discover it's not in the dictionary.
- So we try "astronot" (change the
second "a" to an "o").
- We find several words that relate to space (like
astronomy, astrometry and astrophysics).
- And there, on the same page is the word
"astronaut" – the very word we are looking for. But just to be sure it's really the right word,
we read the definition: "a person trained for space travel".
- Now we can be sure it's the right word!
- Dictionaries also give hints about how to pronounce words,
and sometimes tell where words came from.
- A cool way to learn a new word is to use it in a sentence
six times the day you first look it up!