Dictionaries define words and phrases, with linguistic dictionaries being the most common. They vary in features, such as pronunciation guides and usage notes. Other language reference books include dialects, other languages, and specialized areas. Some combine dictionary and thesaurus properties, while others cover areas of specialization.
A dictionary is a reference book that focuses on defining words and phrases, including multiple meanings. The most commonly used type is a linguistic dictionary which includes the most frequently used words in a language. These books are made for different types of users: scholars, office workers, schools and second language learners.
English language dictionaries for adults typically include hyphenation information, pronunciation guides, parts of speech, alternate spellings, etymological information, example sentences, usage notes, and sometimes synonyms. Cross-references can be used for lesser-used forms, such as British variations alongside American English, and charts and illustrations can help amplify the definitions.
There are many competing dictionaries published by different companies. Not only do they come in different forms – print, hardcover and online editions – but they differ in other ways. For example, each company uses its own version of phonetic respelling based on research done by its own experts. One company might use the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), while others have proprietary pronunciation symbols, and still others use letters of the alphabet in a special way to indicate pronunciation.
Other differences manifest themselves in other features. Many dictionaries include expert guidance on the grammar, usage, and history of the English language. Definitions differ slightly, and example sentences may be the work of the editors or taken from real-world use, perhaps the earliest known written use, when possible.
There are other types of language reference books besides the standard English dictionary. There are those for different dialects of English, those for other languages, and bilingual dictionaries that help users translate from one language to another. There are those of living languages and others of languages that are preserved only in fragments of ancient manuscripts. Still others address specialized areas of language use, such as idioms or political jargon.
Variations on these kinds of books provide some ingenious new kinds of reference works. Multipurpose reference books can combine the properties of a dictionary and a thesaurus. Thematically organized books help the user when he doesn’t know exactly which word he wants. Misspelled dictionaries have entries for common misspellings of words so that the user can find words even when they don’t know how to spell them correctly.
Other reference books cover areas of specialization, such as those that focus on biography and geography. Lacking the comprehensive articles of an encyclopedia, they offer users a quick introduction to the subject.
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