No one knows how many words there are in the English language, but there are certainly thousands and thousands!

To become a fantastic writer, you will need to be able to spell and understand a wide range of words.

Why do we use a dictionary?

A dictionary will tell you what a word means and which class it belongs to, for example: verb or noun.

Dictionaries will tell us the spelling and definition of an unknown word.

A definition is a phrase or sentence that describes the meaning of a word.

A dictionary improves your research skills and will extend your thinking about the English language.

You can even use an online dictionary to improve your ICT skills at the same time!

All dictionaries are arranged alphabetically. 

Why do we use a thesaurus?

A thesaurus is a book of synonyms.

It contains words that have the same meaning but are spelt differently.

Again, the words are in alphabetical order.

A thesaurus is also a tool in Microsoft Word.

For example, if we start with this sentence:

'The cake certainly tasted nice.'

Is there a better word for nice?

Absolutely!

If we look 'nice' up in a thesaurus, we are given a whole list of synonyms to choose from: 'lovely', 'charming', 'delightful', 'inviting', 'superior' and many, many more! It's then up to you to choose the most suitable synonym for your sentence.

In this activity, use a dictionary and thesaurus to help you to answer the questions.

Remember, you will be able to find an online dictionary and thesaurus.