Dictionary Skills: Guide Words and Entries

Use guide words to find entries quickly and read the parts of a dictionary entry.

A printed dictionary lists words in alphabetical order. At the top of each page are two guide words: the first and last words on that page. If your word comes alphabetically between them, it is on that page. For example, if the guide words are 'garden' and 'gentle', the word 'gear' would be there, because g-e-a comes after g-a-r and before g-e-n.

Each entry gives several kinds of information: how to divide the word into syllables, how to say it, its part of speech (such as noun or verb), and one or more definitions, often with an example sentence. Reading the whole entry, not just the first line, helps you use the word correctly.

• 1Guide words show the first and last word on a page.
• 2Entries show syllables, pronunciation, part of speech, and meanings.
• 3Read the whole entry, not just the first line.