Use guide words

Key Notes :

Definition of Guide Words:

Guide words are the words that appear at the top of a dictionary page. They help you locate words quickly by showing the first and last words on that page.

Purpose of Guide Words:

• They help you understand where a word is located within the dictionary.
• They make it easier to find a specific word by narrowing down the search area.

How to Use Guide Words:

• Look at the first and last guide words on the page to determine if the word you are looking for falls between them.
• If your word is alphabetically between the two guide words, it will be on that page.
• If your word is not between the guide words, continue to the next page.

Examples:

• If the guide words at the top of a page are “apple” and “banana,” you can find words that start with the letters “a” to “b” on that page.
• If you are looking for the word “ant,” you will find it on the same page because it falls between “apple” and “banana.”

Importance of Alphabetical Order:

• Remind students that dictionaries are organized in alphabetical order, which is crucial for using guide words effectively.

Other Uses of Guide Words:

• Guide words can also be found in encyclopedias, thesauruses, and other reference materials, serving a similar purpose in helping locate information.

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