Buying a Dictionary

Many writers have difficulty with spelling. They tend to make the same mistakes repeatedly, or misuse words because they do not know what they actually mean. Poor spelling and grammar will give your reader the impression that you are uneducated or know nothing about the subject in question. So how can you improve your writing quickly?

Buy a dictionary. You will end up using it a lot when you write, and you will notice a difference in your writing. Make sure that you purchase the right kind of dictionary (Canadian dictionary if you write for the Canadian market, American dictionary for the U.S. market). Make sure that your dictionary is current, published by a reputable company, and comprehensive (at least 75,000 entries). The best choices for a Canadian dictionary would be The Canadian Oxford Dictionary, the Gage Canadian Dictionary, and the Nelson Canadian Dictionary of the English Language.

Dictionaries contain a wealth of useful information. When looking up any given word, a dictionary will provide:

· Spelling (there may be more than one accepted spelling)

· Syllables (hyphens indicate where you can split a word)

· Pronunciation

· Grammatical form (noun, verb, adjective, etc.)

· Various forms (plurals for nouns, verb tenses, etc.)

· Definition

· Origins of the word (when it was first used)

· Other useful information (homonyms, synonyms, antonyms)

Keep a dictionary on a shelf near your desk so that you can refer to it whenever needed. Once you start using a dictionary, you will wonder how you ever got along without one.

David Gargaro

Consulting Editor
contact@davidgargaro.com
www.davidgargaro.com
905-707-8447

Ensuring the accuracy, clarity and integrity of your message.