The English Dictionary Is Essential For Accurate Communication

Until recent years, a printed version of the English dictionary was on the annual list of school supplies. For school subjects taught in the English language, the dictionary provides the answers to the student's questions about the appropriate use of words, spelling, punctuation, conjugation, and context.

The words in the dictionary are in the sorted order of the alphabet for easy reference. Even without the knowledge of the exact spelling of the word, the student can find any word by looking through the list of words in the printed version or typing an attempted spelling into an electronic search.

The online English dictionary contains the same information the print versions have contained with each printing. The English writer has the ability to browse all known words beginning with a certain letter and see all the possible tenses of a word.

Spelling, pronunciation, part of speech, and multiple definitions are included in the dictionary to teach the student at every level of education and development. Obscure words are accompanied by pictures in many versions of the dictionary to ensure accurate conveyance of the written meaning. For the advanced student, the dictionary includes synonyms and antonyms for many words to augment descriptive writing efforts and prevent redundancy of word use and enhance meaning to the reader.

Every year new words are added to the dictionary to reflect the verbal habits of English-speaking people across the globe. English teachers cringe at the slang terms that work their way into the dictionary that was once their plumb line for valid English words and phrases. Students used to consistently hear the admonition, "that is not a real word," when creative license was used to craft new words.

The English dictionary, regardless of format, is the key to a mastery level of communication for writing and speaking the English language clearly and accurately.