introduction to dictionary

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• Dictionaries: A Very Short Introduction

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Dictionaries: A Very Short Introduction demonstrates that dictionaries are not merely works which list the words and meanings of a language. They are human products, reflecting the dominant social and cultural assumptions of the time in which they were written. All are partial and all are selective. This VSI explores common beliefs about dictionaries, providing glimpses of dictionary makers at work, and confronting the problems of how a word is to be defined. Concluding with a look at the range of modern dictionaries, including online dictionaries, it reveals the controversial nature of the debates about communication and language.

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• English Vocabulary

How to Use a Dictionary

Last Updated: May 22, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 782,228 times.

Of the approximately 1 million words in the English language, the average English speaker knows 60,000 of those words. Besides helping with spelling and word meanings, being able to use a dictionary effectively and regularly is a perfect way to improve your English language skills through the dictionary's range of other helpful information on everyday language usage and grammar.

Dictionary Help

Understanding Your Dictionary

• Consider purchasing specialist dictionaries if they'd be useful in your study or career. Some examples of specialist dictionaries include language dictionaries, technical dictionaries, rhymes, crossword, subject dictionaries (for example, for math, chemistry, biology, horticulture, etc.), illustrated dictionaries (excellent for learning another language or for technical knowledge), slang and idioms, etc.
• Many universities have subscriptions to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) that provides in-depth information on the history and origins of the word.
• Note that many countries have their own native dictionaries that might be more helpful than sourcing a dictionary from just anywhere, such as the Macquarie dictionary in Australia, Oxford dictionary in England, Webster's dictionary in the United States, etc.
• Some schools, universities, and workplaces prefer the use of one particular dictionary. This is for reasons of maintaining a consistent style and understanding among everyone using them; make sure you use the right one for your assignments, editing, and reports. Check the syllabus or employee handbook to find out.

• Introductions to dictionaries explain things like how entries are arranged (they typically give the word, and the variations of the word; what part of speech the word is; pronunciation of the word; definition, etc.). Reading the introduction will give you a handle on how to find words and how to use the information that you do find.
• There may also be information on the pronunciation of words with similar spellings; this can be helpful if you have only heard a word and you're not sure of its spelling. For example, if you hear "not", it might also be "knot" but the "k" is silent, and this list can help you with suggestions.

• For example "adj." stands for "adjective" and will tell you what kind of word the word you're looking up is. "Adv." or "advb." can stand for "adverb; adverbially."
• Something like "n." can stand for at least three different things: the most obvious and common is "noun," but it can also stand for "neuter" or "north" depending on the context. So make sure that you check the context of the word when you're looking it up.

• The pronunciation of a word will be placed between two reversed virgules (\ \) and will typically be printed in italics.
• A single stress mark (') precedes the strongest syllable in a word. A double mark precedes the syllable with a medium (or secondary stress) ("), and the third level of stress has no marker. For example, penmanship would look like this \'pen-m&n-"ship\.
• The symbol \&\ indicates an unstressed vowel. This symbol often intrudes between a stressed vowel and a following \r\ or \l\, such as in sour \'sau(-&)r\.
• The symbol \ä\ symbolizes the type of "a" sound that appears in words like "caught," or "fought." Compare this to the symbol \a\ which designates the sound "a" in "mat, map, snap," and so on. The word doesn't necessarily have to have the letter "a" to have a type of "a" sound.

Looking Up a Word

• Don't forget the possible spellings for trickier words, such as "gnome" begins with a "g", or "psychology" begins with a "p", or "knock" begins with a "k", etc.
• If you're not entirely sure what the first letter is, start with the letter it sounds like. If you can't find the word under that section, then try other sections. For example, if you didn't know that "psychology" begins with a "p" you might start looking in the "s" section. When you couldn't find it there, you might try looking in the "p" section next because you can think along the lines of "psychic" and "psychosis."
• Also, keep in mind that certain words sound alike that are spelled very differently. For example, "throne" and "thrown" are spelled differently and mean very different things. So be careful that you end up with the correct word.

• For example if you're looking for the word "bramble" you would begin looking in the "B" section. You would look at the tops of the pages as you went through it until you came to the page with the guide words "braid bread." This tells you that all the words between braid and bread are on this page. Since "bramble" starts with "b-r-a" it will be in this section.
• As always, the dictionary goes in alphabetical order, so bramble (b-r-a) will come before bread (b-r-e).

• If you're looking up a word like “futilely” but can't find it, look at the root work to see if it mentions the work you're looking for.

• Quite a few people get daunted by the definitions themselves because they can involve words that you have to then look up. Don't feel discouraged. See if you can figure out the meaning from the example sentences provided and if not, look up the words you aren't sure of.
• Dictionaries can also sometimes give the synonyms (words that mean the same thing as your word) and the antonyms of a word (words that mean the opposite of your word). So, for example, if your word is futile some synonyms might be "fruitless" or "unsuccessful" and some antonyms might be "effective" or "helpful." You can also find near neighbor words such as "futility".
• You might also find an etymology, derivation, or history of the word. Even if you don't know Latin or Ancient Greek, you may find that this information helps you to remember or understand the word. Check the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) for in-depth looks at the origins of the word.
• Dictionaries also often provide spellings in other English derivations (US English, British English, Australian English, etc.).

• Make use of the audio content provided with online dictionaries. This can help considerably when you're unsure how to pronounce the word.
• To use Google to find online definitions, type: "define: futile". The search engine will only look for definitions.
• Note that free services may not be as comprehensive as a subscription or book dictionary, so keep this in mind when you're not sure that you've found the right answer. Always check at least 2 different online definitions for the word you're looking for.

Using Your Dictionary Further

• Hard copy dictionaries often have different weights and volumes, as well as conversion tables. This can come in handy if you need to convert pounds to kilograms or vice versa.
• You can also usually find statistics on population in various cities and countries, as well as lists of the flags of different countries, states, provinces, and regions around the world.
• Many dictionaries also have lists of famous or historical people, which you can peruse.

• Play the dictionary game with friends. This consists of getting some friends together and a dictionary. The first player looks up a challenging word and uses it in a sentence. The other players have to guess if the use of the word is accurate or an outright fabrication. If a player guesses correctly, it's their turn next.
• Another dictionary game: Each player chooses a word which should be familiar to the other players, then reads out the dictionary definition. The other players compete to guess the word as quickly as possible - perhaps even shouting out while the definition is still being read.
• Play Balderdash with a foreign language dictionary. Pick a random obscure word and then have people make up definitions along with having the real definition, having people guess which definition is the "real" one.

Community Q&A

• Don't be afraid to study the etymology of a word. Since much of our language is derived from Greek or Latin, you'll often find yourself learning root words from them, but after you have, you'll find that it can be easier to understand words that are new to you simply by looking at the structure of the word. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 0
• If you're having trouble spelling a word, try the spell-checker in a word processor and see what it suggests. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 1
• Even though it's easy to check words using an online dictionary, the free ones don't always provide enough information, so it pays to always have a hard copy dictionary on your bookshelf to call upon whenever needed. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

• Dictionaries vary in content, and some are very specific. Look at the title to find out what you have. If you have a dictionary of rhymes, slang, idioms, synonyms, a foreign language, or a specific interest, such as woodworking terms, seek a more general dictionary. Thanks Helpful 21 Not Helpful 6
• Printed dictionaries may go out of date as the language changes, so check the copyright date of yours. Another way to gauge the currency of a dictionary is to look for relatively new words, such as "chick flick" [9] X Research source or "metrosexual" [10] X Research source . Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://awelu.srv.lu.se/grammar-and-words/dictionaries/general-information-on-dictionary-use/
• ↑ http://public.oed.com/how-to-use-the-oed/abbreviations/
• ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/static/pdf/help/guide-to-pronunciation.pdf
• ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zbmv2sg/articles/zjyyb82
• ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/how-to-use-the-dictionary
• ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/
• ↑ http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chick_flick
• ↑ http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/metrosexual

About This Article

To use a dictionary, start by finding the right section of the dictionary using the first letter of the word you want to look up. For example, if you want to look up the word "dog," you would go to the "D" section of the dictionary. Dictionaries are in alphabetical order, so you would look for the section after "C" and before "E." Once you've found the right section, use the guide words at the top of the pages, which also go in alphabetical order, to find the right page. To learn the meanings of all the abbreviations used in a dictionary, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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• If you are writing in a new discipline, you should always make sure to ask about conventions and expectations for introductions, just as you would for any other aspect of the essay. For example, while it may be acceptable to write a two-paragraph (or longer) introduction for your papers in some courses, instructors in other disciplines, such as those in some Government courses, may expect a shorter introduction that includes a preview of the argument that will follow.  
• In some disciplines (Government, Economics, and others), it’s common to offer an overview in the introduction of what points you will make in your essay. In other disciplines, you will not be expected to provide this overview in your introduction.  
• Avoid writing a very general opening sentence. While it may be true that “Since the dawn of time, people have been telling love stories,” it won’t help you explain what’s interesting about your topic.  
• Avoid writing a “funnel” introduction in which you begin with a very broad statement about a topic and move to a narrow statement about that topic. Broad generalizations about a topic will not add to your readers’ understanding of your specific essay topic.  
• Avoid beginning with a dictionary definition of a term or concept you will be writing about. If the concept is complicated or unfamiliar to your readers, you will need to define it in detail later in your essay. If it’s not complicated, you can assume your readers already know the definition.  
• Avoid offering too much detail in your introduction that a reader could better understand later in the paper.
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Elementary Teaching Blog

Last updated by Linda Kamp on October 1, 2023 • Leave a Comment

How to Teach Dictionary Skills to Elementary Students 

This post contains affiliate links. Please review my full disclosure policy for additional information.

Developing a strong vocabulary in elementary school is essential, and one aspect of this is learning how to use a dictionary. However, teaching kids to use guide words can be pretty tricky at first. In this blog post, I‘ll share how to teach the use of guide words an other dictionary skills to elementary students and share a sneak peek into the dictionary skills activitie s I use .

What are Dictionary Skills?

Dictionary skills refer to the ability to use a dictionary to find definitions, parts of speech, spellings, pronunciations, syllables and other information about words. Dictionary skills include understanding how to use guide words and to be able to determine where a word falls alphabetically between them.

Why Teach Dictionary Skills?

Learning to use a dictionary exposes children to a wide range of words that help build broader vocabularies, and help students understand unknown words. It teaches kids the basic skills they need for using a thesaurus, a recipe book, and other reference materials and lays the foundation for future research skills.

Side note: I know that we live in a rapidly changing world where computers are quickly replacing dictionaries,  but many of the following skills are transferable whether your students are using a paper dictionary or the internet. And, even with the world wide web at the tip of our fingers, I still believe it is important for students to learn how to navigate a “real” dictionary.

When Should a Student Start Learning Dictionary Skills?

It’s never too early to introduce dictionary skills to students. As soon as children begin to read and encounter unfamiliar words, they can start learning how to use a dictionary. There are several age-appropriate dictionaries.

Children’s Dictionaries

American Heritage Children’s Dictionary

Merrian-Webster’s Intermediate Visual Dictionary

How do i teach dictionary skills .

• Step 1: Familiarize students with all parts of a dictionary (Guide Words, entry words, pronunciation, parts of speech, and definition). 

Dictionary Skills Teaching PowerPoint

• Step 2: Practice putting words in alphabetical order  
• Step 3: Practice matching entry words between two guide words 
• Step 4: Teach students about looking for context clues for words with multiple meanings

Get the Guide Words game here

10 Activities to Teach Dictionary Skills

• Introduction to Dictionary Labeling: Begin by explaining what a dictionary is and how it’s organized. Familiarize students with entry words, pronunciations, parts of speech, and definitions. Have students label the different parts of a Dictionary Skills worksheet. 
• Word Hunt: Provide students with a list of words from their reading material. Have them search for definitions and write sentences using the words.
• Alphabet Practice: Ask students to find words in the dictionary based on the initial letter. This helps them navigate the dictionary efficiently.
• Guide Words Game: Teach students how to use guide words to quickly locate a word’s page. Create a game where students race to find words using guide words.

Get Dictionary Skills Task Cards here

• Guide Word Matching: Have students cut and paste words to fit between different guide words 
• Context Clues: Discuss how context clues can help identify the meanings of words. Then, have students confirm their guesses using the dictionary.
• Pronunciation Practice: Practice pronunciation using the phonetic symbols in the dictionary. Help students decode and read unfamiliar words correctly.
• Parts of Speech Exploration: Teach students how to identify parts of speech in the dictionary. Then send them on a “parts of speech” scavenger hunt in the dictionary. 
• Word of the Day: Use this as a quick morning activity where students will find and define a different “word of the day” each morning. 

Get the guide words game

Dictionary Skills Worksheets

Dictionary skills practice worksheets

In addition to a done-for-you Teaching PowerPoint and posters, you’ll find 5 dictionary skills worksheets for students to practice… 

• Matching entry words to guide words 
• Locating words in a dictionary  
• Defining words from a reading passage 
• 2 Writing templates 
• End-of-unit assessment 

Guide Words poster

Each lesson in the mini unit is intended to be taught in 15 minutes or less each day. This means, no more excuses for not squeezing in grammar lessons 🙂 

The no-prep dictionary skills activities include:

• a full week of lesson plans
• interactive teaching slides
• practice worksheets & answer keys
• a reading passage
• end of the week assessment

Get a week of no-prep, Dictionary Skills Activities

Get all your grammar lessons planned for you with this yearlong 2nd grade grammar bundle! This time-saving resource includes mini units for every 2nd grade grammar and language standard.

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Introduction to Dictionary Skills Videos

There are several good videos on YouTube you could include in your essons or have your students watch on devices. These are my two favorites for introducing kids to using a dictionary, learning about alphabetical order and using guide words.

Introduction to Dictionary Skills

Dictionary Skills: Finding a Word

I hope this post was helpful in showing you how to teach dictionary skills to elementary students!

Dictionary Skills Unit

Click the following links if you would like more information about my Dictionary Skills Unit or my complete 2nd Grade Yearlong Grammar Curriculum Bundle . As always, I’m happy to answer any questions! 

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Introductions

What this handout is about.

This handout will explain the functions of introductions, offer strategies for creating effective introductions, and provide some examples of less effective introductions to avoid.

The role of introductions

Introductions and conclusions can be the most difficult parts of papers to write. Usually when you sit down to respond to an assignment, you have at least some sense of what you want to say in the body of your paper. You might have chosen a few examples you want to use or have an idea that will help you answer the main question of your assignment; these sections, therefore, may not be as hard to write. And it’s fine to write them first! But in your final draft, these middle parts of the paper can’t just come out of thin air; they need to be introduced and concluded in a way that makes sense to your reader.

Your introduction and conclusion act as bridges that transport your readers from their own lives into the “place” of your analysis. If your readers pick up your paper about education in the autobiography of Frederick Douglass, for example, they need a transition to help them leave behind the world of Chapel Hill, television, e-mail, and The Daily Tar Heel and to help them temporarily enter the world of nineteenth-century American slavery. By providing an introduction that helps your readers make a transition between their own world and the issues you will be writing about, you give your readers the tools they need to get into your topic and care about what you are saying. Similarly, once you’ve hooked your readers with the introduction and offered evidence to prove your thesis, your conclusion can provide a bridge to help your readers make the transition back to their daily lives. (See our handout on conclusions .)

Note that what constitutes a good introduction may vary widely based on the kind of paper you are writing and the academic discipline in which you are writing it. If you are uncertain what kind of introduction is expected, ask your instructor.

Why bother writing a good introduction?

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. The opening paragraph of your paper will provide your readers with their initial impressions of your argument, your writing style, and the overall quality of your work. A vague, disorganized, error-filled, off-the-wall, or boring introduction will probably create a negative impression. On the other hand, a concise, engaging, and well-written introduction will start your readers off thinking highly of you, your analytical skills, your writing, and your paper.

Your introduction is an important road map for the rest of your paper. Your introduction conveys a lot of information to your readers. You can let them know what your topic is, why it is important, and how you plan to proceed with your discussion. In many academic disciplines, your introduction should contain a thesis that will assert your main argument. Your introduction should also give the reader a sense of the kinds of information you will use to make that argument and the general organization of the paragraphs and pages that will follow. After reading your introduction, your readers should not have any major surprises in store when they read the main body of your paper.

Ideally, your introduction will make your readers want to read your paper. The introduction should capture your readers’ interest, making them want to read the rest of your paper. Opening with a compelling story, an interesting question, or a vivid example can get your readers to see why your topic matters and serve as an invitation for them to join you for an engaging intellectual conversation (remember, though, that these strategies may not be suitable for all papers and disciplines).

Strategies for writing an effective introduction

Start by thinking about the question (or questions) you are trying to answer. Your entire essay will be a response to this question, and your introduction is the first step toward that end. Your direct answer to the assigned question will be your thesis, and your thesis will likely be included in your introduction, so it is a good idea to use the question as a jumping off point. Imagine that you are assigned the following question:

Drawing on the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass , discuss the relationship between education and slavery in 19th-century America. Consider the following: How did white control of education reinforce slavery? How did Douglass and other enslaved African Americans view education while they endured slavery? And what role did education play in the acquisition of freedom? Most importantly, consider the degree to which education was or was not a major force for social change with regard to slavery.

You will probably refer back to your assignment extensively as you prepare your complete essay, and the prompt itself can also give you some clues about how to approach the introduction. Notice that it starts with a broad statement and then narrows to focus on specific questions from the book. One strategy might be to use a similar model in your own introduction—start off with a big picture sentence or two and then focus in on the details of your argument about Douglass. Of course, a different approach could also be very successful, but looking at the way the professor set up the question can sometimes give you some ideas for how you might answer it. (See our handout on understanding assignments for additional information on the hidden clues in assignments.)

Decide how general or broad your opening should be. Keep in mind that even a “big picture” opening needs to be clearly related to your topic; an opening sentence that said “Human beings, more than any other creatures on earth, are capable of learning” would be too broad for our sample assignment about slavery and education. If you have ever used Google Maps or similar programs, that experience can provide a helpful way of thinking about how broad your opening should be. Imagine that you’re researching Chapel Hill. If what you want to find out is whether Chapel Hill is at roughly the same latitude as Rome, it might make sense to hit that little “minus” sign on the online map until it has zoomed all the way out and you can see the whole globe. If you’re trying to figure out how to get from Chapel Hill to Wrightsville Beach, it might make more sense to zoom in to the level where you can see most of North Carolina (but not the rest of the world, or even the rest of the United States). And if you are looking for the intersection of Ridge Road and Manning Drive so that you can find the Writing Center’s main office, you may need to zoom all the way in. The question you are asking determines how “broad” your view should be. In the sample assignment above, the questions are probably at the “state” or “city” level of generality. When writing, you need to place your ideas in context—but that context doesn’t generally have to be as big as the whole galaxy!

Try writing your introduction last. You may think that you have to write your introduction first, but that isn’t necessarily true, and it isn’t always the most effective way to craft a good introduction. You may find that you don’t know precisely what you are going to argue at the beginning of the writing process. It is perfectly fine to start out thinking that you want to argue a particular point but wind up arguing something slightly or even dramatically different by the time you’ve written most of the paper. The writing process can be an important way to organize your ideas, think through complicated issues, refine your thoughts, and develop a sophisticated argument. However, an introduction written at the beginning of that discovery process will not necessarily reflect what you wind up with at the end. You will need to revise your paper to make sure that the introduction, all of the evidence, and the conclusion reflect the argument you intend. Sometimes it’s easiest to just write up all of your evidence first and then write the introduction last—that way you can be sure that the introduction will match the body of the paper.

Don’t be afraid to write a tentative introduction first and then change it later. Some people find that they need to write some kind of introduction in order to get the writing process started. That’s fine, but if you are one of those people, be sure to return to your initial introduction later and rewrite if necessary.

Open with something that will draw readers in. Consider these options (remembering that they may not be suitable for all kinds of papers):

• an intriguing example —for example, Douglass writes about a mistress who initially teaches him but then ceases her instruction as she learns more about slavery.
• a provocative quotation that is closely related to your argument —for example, Douglass writes that “education and slavery were incompatible with each other.” (Quotes from famous people, inspirational quotes, etc. may not work well for an academic paper; in this example, the quote is from the author himself.)
• a puzzling scenario —for example, Frederick Douglass says of slaves that “[N]othing has been left undone to cripple their intellects, darken their minds, debase their moral nature, obliterate all traces of their relationship to mankind; and yet how wonderfully they have sustained the mighty load of a most frightful bondage, under which they have been groaning for centuries!” Douglass clearly asserts that slave owners went to great lengths to destroy the mental capacities of slaves, yet his own life story proves that these efforts could be unsuccessful.
• a vivid and perhaps unexpected anecdote —for example, “Learning about slavery in the American history course at Frederick Douglass High School, students studied the work slaves did, the impact of slavery on their families, and the rules that governed their lives. We didn’t discuss education, however, until one student, Mary, raised her hand and asked, ‘But when did they go to school?’ That modern high school students could not conceive of an American childhood devoid of formal education speaks volumes about the centrality of education to American youth today and also suggests the significance of the deprivation of education in past generations.”
• a thought-provoking question —for example, given all of the freedoms that were denied enslaved individuals in the American South, why does Frederick Douglass focus his attentions so squarely on education and literacy?

Pay special attention to your first sentence. Start off on the right foot with your readers by making sure that the first sentence actually says something useful and that it does so in an interesting and polished way.

How to evaluate your introduction draft

Ask a friend to read your introduction and then tell you what they expect the paper will discuss, what kinds of evidence the paper will use, and what the tone of the paper will be. If your friend is able to predict the rest of your paper accurately, you probably have a good introduction.

Five kinds of less effective introductions

1. The placeholder introduction. When you don’t have much to say on a given topic, it is easy to create this kind of introduction. Essentially, this kind of weaker introduction contains several sentences that are vague and don’t really say much. They exist just to take up the “introduction space” in your paper. If you had something more effective to say, you would probably say it, but in the meantime this paragraph is just a place holder.

Example: Slavery was one of the greatest tragedies in American history. There were many different aspects of slavery. Each created different kinds of problems for enslaved people.

2. The restated question introduction. Restating the question can sometimes be an effective strategy, but it can be easy to stop at JUST restating the question instead of offering a more specific, interesting introduction to your paper. The professor or teaching assistant wrote your question and will be reading many essays in response to it—they do not need to read a whole paragraph that simply restates the question.

Example: The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass discusses the relationship between education and slavery in 19th century America, showing how white control of education reinforced slavery and how Douglass and other enslaved African Americans viewed education while they endured. Moreover, the book discusses the role that education played in the acquisition of freedom. Education was a major force for social change with regard to slavery.

3. The Webster’s Dictionary introduction. This introduction begins by giving the dictionary definition of one or more of the words in the assigned question. Anyone can look a word up in the dictionary and copy down what Webster says. If you want to open with a discussion of an important term, it may be far more interesting for you (and your reader) if you develop your own definition of the term in the specific context of your class and assignment. You may also be able to use a definition from one of the sources you’ve been reading for class. Also recognize that the dictionary is also not a particularly authoritative work—it doesn’t take into account the context of your course and doesn’t offer particularly detailed information. If you feel that you must seek out an authority, try to find one that is very relevant and specific. Perhaps a quotation from a source reading might prove better? Dictionary introductions are also ineffective simply because they are so overused. Instructors may see a great many papers that begin in this way, greatly decreasing the dramatic impact that any one of those papers will have.

Example: Webster’s dictionary defines slavery as “the state of being a slave,” as “the practice of owning slaves,” and as “a condition of hard work and subjection.”

4. The “dawn of man” introduction. This kind of introduction generally makes broad, sweeping statements about the relevance of this topic since the beginning of time, throughout the world, etc. It is usually very general (similar to the placeholder introduction) and fails to connect to the thesis. It may employ cliches—the phrases “the dawn of man” and “throughout human history” are examples, and it’s hard to imagine a time when starting with one of these would work. Instructors often find them extremely annoying.

Example: Since the dawn of man, slavery has been a problem in human history.

5. The book report introduction. This introduction is what you had to do for your elementary school book reports. It gives the name and author of the book you are writing about, tells what the book is about, and offers other basic facts about the book. You might resort to this sort of introduction when you are trying to fill space because it’s a familiar, comfortable format. It is ineffective because it offers details that your reader probably already knows and that are irrelevant to the thesis.

Example: Frederick Douglass wrote his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave , in the 1840s. It was published in 1986 by Penguin Books. In it, he tells the story of his life.

And now for the conclusion…

Writing an effective introduction can be tough. Try playing around with several different options and choose the one that ends up sounding best to you!

Just as your introduction helps readers make the transition to your topic, your conclusion needs to help them return to their daily lives–but with a lasting sense of how what they have just read is useful or meaningful. Check out our handout on  conclusions for tips on ending your paper as effectively as you began it!

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Douglass, Frederick. 1995. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself . New York: Dover.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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introduction

[ in-tr uh - duhk -sh uh n ]

• the act of introducing or the state of being introduced .
• a formal personal presentation of one person to another or others.
• a preliminary part, as of a book, musical composition, or the like, leading up to the main part.

an introduction to botany.

• an act or instance of inserting.
• something introduced.

/ ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃən /

• the act of introducing or fact of being introduced
• a presentation of one person to another or others
• a means of presenting a person to another person, group, etc, such as a letter of introduction or reference
• a preliminary part, as of a book, speech, etc
• an instrumental passage preceding the entry of a soloist, choir, etc
• an opening passage in a movement or composition that precedes the main material
• something that has been or is introduced, esp something that is not native to an area, country, etc
• a basic or elementary work of instruction, reference, etc

negation-introduction

conjunction-introduction

Discover More

Other words from.

• rein·tro·duction noun
• self-intro·duction noun
• subin·tro·duction noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of introduction 1

Synonym Study

Example sentences.

“With the introduction of Shops on Facebook and Instagram, the importance of Facebook as an online sales driver is likely to increase as brands need to ensure they are delivering fantastic customer experiences on social commerce platforms,” said Ma.

Skinner said that improper clearing could leave space for the introduction of tall non-native grasses that burn hotter, faster and higher – adding risk to catching trees alight.

We know that introduction of state lotteries and casinos into neighborhoods increases crime.

The only thing I can think of is maybe the introductions, and what each team is able to do, that you feel a little different.

Among the most talked-about introductions have been zero-cost benefits around pay.

Finding the shop is a trip in itself and an introduction to a slice of history.

On company questionnaires, many students still report the book as their introduction to RSD.

Granted, partly this is a problem of sources the author identifies in the introduction.

For a shorter introduction to Richardson, read Journey to Paradise: Short Stories and Autobiographical Sketches.

Existing food shortages in the country were immediately exacerbated by the introduction of Ebola, for a variety of reasons.

It would appear then that the year 1559 was about the period of the introduction of tobacco into Europe.

Its use by so distinguished a person as Raleigh was equivalent to its general introduction.

Labor, so it was argued, was perpetually being saved by the constant introduction of new uses of machinery.

“Reggie has spoken of you many times, monsieur,” said Fleurette, after the introduction had been effected.

Thanks to Massna's warm introduction and his own reputation, he found himself cordially received by the First Consul.

Related Words

• establishment
• inauguration
• installation
• presentation

More About Introduction

What is an introduction .

The introduction is the first section of an essay. It presents, or introduces, the essay topic and includes a thesis statement .

Students are usually taught to write an essay in three parts, with the first part being the introduction , followed by the body and ending with a conclusion .

The introduction is often considered to be the most important part of the essay because it summarizes the essay’s topic and introduces the thesis statement. The thesis statement presents the specific argument the essay will make or the main point the reader should take away.

Outside of essays, introductions are also used in articles, opinion pieces, blog posts, research papers, and other types of writing to entice someone into reading the whole piece.

Why is introduction important?

The first records of the word introduction come around 1350. It ultimately comes from the Latin intrōdūcere , meaning “to lead inside.” In terms of an essay, the introduction presents the reader with the essay topic, inviting them “inside” the essay to learn more.

Teachers often tell students that an introduction should be only as long as it needs to be to do its job, which you might find frustrating and vague. A good introduction begins with a sentence that will interest the reader and entice them to read the rest of the essay, often called a hook . The hook can be an unexpected question, a shocking sentence, an interesting statistic, a powerful quote, or many other possibilities.

After the hook, you’ll want to include sentences that talk about the main points of your essay or that provide a small amount of background information a reader might need. The introduction should not go into detail about any of the points you’ll make in the body of the essay.

You’ll also include a thesis statement in your introduction , often as the last sentence. For student essays, the thesis statement usually answers the question asked by the writing prompt or presents their position on a debate or situation.

Did you know … ?

The introduction can be the hardest part of an essay to write because you have to know what you will say in the essay. When a writer is struggling with their introduction , they sometimes find that writing it after they write the body of the essay is easier.

What are real-life examples of introduction ?

This slide gives a quick summary of some elements of a good introduction .

Slideshare.net

Many students struggle to write good introductions , and it’s often the first thing they write for an essay.

Watch Writing INTRODUCTION Part, Essay Writing, UPSC CSE MAINS 2019, Dr Khan, KSG India https://t.co/VZmZAsZMwT — Khan Study Group (@khanstudygroup) September 8, 2021

I find the hardest part of essay writing is getting started. Once the introduction is out of the way, things start getting a lot easier. — Majeed Ullah (@majeed_ullah_) January 9, 2021

What other words are related to introduction ?

• thesis statement

Quiz yourself!

True or False?

The introduction is the most important part of the essay because it contains the thesis statement.

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• Why is iterating over a dictionary slow in Python?
• Iterate over a dictionary in Python
• Python - How to Iterate over nested dictionary ?
• Python | Delete items from dictionary while iterating

A Python dictionary is a data structure that stores the value in key:value pairs.

As you can see from the example, data is stored in key:value pairs in dictionaries, which makes it easier to find values .

Python Dictionary Syntax

dict_var = {key1 : value1, key2 : value2, …..}

What is a Dictionary in Python?

Dictionaries in Python is a data structure, used to store values in key:value format. This makes it different from lists, tuples, and arrays as in a dictionary each key has an associated value.

Note: As of Python version 3.7, dictionaries are ordered and can not contain duplicate keys.

How to Create a Dictionary

In Python , a dictionary can be created by placing a sequence of elements within curly {} braces, separated by a ‘comma’.

The dictionary holds pairs of values, one being the Key and the other corresponding pair element being its Key:value .

Values in a dictionary can be of any data type and can be duplicated, whereas keys can’t be repeated and must be immutable . 

Note – Dictionary keys are case sensitive, the same name but different cases of Key will be treated distinctly. 

The code demonstrates creating dictionaries with different types of keys. The first dictionary uses integer keys, and the second dictionary uses a mix of string and integer keys with corresponding values. This showcases the flexibility of Python dictionaries in handling various data types as keys.

Dictionary Example

A dictionary can also be created by the built-in function dict(). An empty dictionary can be created by just placing curly braces{}. 

Different Ways to Create a Python Dictionary

The code demonstrates different ways to create dictionaries in Python. It first creates an empty dictionary, and then shows how to create dictionaries using the dict() constructor with key-value pairs specified within curly braces and as a list of tuples.

Complexities for Creating a Dictionary:

• Time complexity: O(len(dict))
• Space complexity: O(n)

Nested Dictionaries

Example : The code defines a nested dictionary named ‘Dict’ with multiple levels of key-value pairs. It includes a top-level dictionary with keys 1, 2, and 3. The value associated with key 3 is another dictionary with keys ‘A,’ ‘B,’ and ‘C.’ This showcases how Python dictionaries can be nested to create hierarchical data structures.

More on Python Nested Dictionary

Adding Elements to a Dictionary

The addition of elements can be done in multiple ways. One value at a time can be added to a Dictionary by defining value along with the key e.g. Dict[Key] = ‘Value’.

Updating an existing value in a Dictionary can be done by using the built-in update() method. Nested key values can also be added to an existing Dictionary. 

Note- While adding a value, if the key-value already exists, the value gets updated otherwise a new Key with the value is added to the Dictionary.

Example: Add Items to a Python Dictionary with Different DataTypes

The code starts with an empty dictionary and then adds key-value pairs to it. It demonstrates adding elements with various data types, updating a key’s value, and even nesting dictionaries within the main dictionary. The code shows how to manipulate dictionaries in Python.

Complexities for Adding Elements in a Dictionary:

• Time complexity: O(1)/O(n)
• Space complexity: O(1)

Accessing Elements of a Dictionary

To access the items of a dictionary refer to its key name. Key can be used inside square brackets. 

Access a Value in Python Dictionary

The code demonstrates how to access elements in a dictionary using keys. It accesses and prints the values associated with the keys ‘name’ and 1, showcasing that keys can be of different data types (string and integer).

There is also a method called get() that will also help in accessing the element from a dictionary. This method accepts key as argument and returns the value.

Complexities for Accessing elements in a Dictionary:

• Time complexity: O(1)

Example: Access a Value in Dictionary using get() in Python

The code demonstrates accessing a dictionary element using the get() method. It retrieves and prints the value associated with the key 3 in the dictionary ‘Dict’ . This method provides a safe way to access dictionary values, avoiding KeyError if the key doesn’t exist.

Accessing an Element of a Nested Dictionary

To access the value of any key in the nested dictionary, use indexing [] syntax.

Example : The code works with nested dictionaries. It first accesses and prints the entire nested dictionary associated with the key ‘Dict1’ . Then, it accesses and prints a specific value by navigating through the nested dictionaries. Finally, it retrieves and prints the value associated with the key ‘Name’ within the nested dictionary under ‘Dict2’ .

Deleting Elements using ‘del’ Keyword

The items of the dictionary can be deleted by using the del keyword as given below.

Example : The code defines a dictionary, prints its original content, and then uses the ‘del’ statement to delete the element associated with key 1. After deletion, it prints the updated dictionary, showing that the specified element has been removed.

Dictionary Methods

Here is a list of in-built dictionary functions with their description. You can use these functions to operate on a dictionary.

For Detailed Explanations: Python Dictionary Methods

Multiple Dictionary Operations in Python

The code begins with a dictionary ‘dict1’ and creates a copy ‘dict2’ . It then demonstrates several dictionary operations: clearing ‘dict1’ , accessing values, retrieving key-value pairs and keys, removing specific key-value pairs, updating a value, and retrieving values. These operations showcase how to work with dictionaries in Python.

We have covered all about dictionaries in Python, discussed its definition, and uses, and saw different dictionary methods with examples. The dictionary is an important data structure for storing data in Python. It is very different from tuples and lists.

Read More Data Structures in Python

• Difference between List and Dictionary in Python

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Meaning of introduction in English

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introduction noun ( PUT INTO USE )

• The introduction of identity cards has been opposed by the campaign for civil liberties .
• Company profits have doubled since the introduction of new technology .
• In the 1960s hemlines suddenly shot up with the introduction of the miniskirt .
• The introduction of new charges has angered customers .
• The minister has called for the introduction of harsher sentences for speeding offenses .
• a baptism of/by fire idiom
• commencement
• institution
• jumping-off point
• starting point
• starting time
• the thin end of the wedge idiom

introduction noun ( GIVING SB'S NAME )

• build (someone/something) up
• curtain-raiser
• introductory
• lead up to something
• open the door to something idiom
• preliminarily
• preliminary
• reintroduce

introduction noun ( BEGINNING )

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

introduction noun ( FIRST EXPERIENCE )

• at first blush idiom
• at first idiom
• first come, first served idiom
• from the word go idiom
• in the first/second place idiom
• prototypical
• to begin with idiom
• trailblazing

introduction noun ( BASIC KNOWLEDGE )

• exercise book
• novelistically
• young adult

introduction | Intermediate English

Introduction noun ( speech ), introduction noun ( formal meeting ), introduction noun ( first use ), introduction | business english, examples of introduction, collocations with introduction, introduction.

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Word of the Day

call centre

a large office in which a company's employees provide information to its customers, or sell or advertise its goods or services, by phone

Varied and diverse (Talking about differences, Part 1)

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• introduction (PUT INTO USE)
• introduction (GIVING SB'S NAME)
• introduction (BEGINNING)
• introduction (FIRST EXPERIENCE)
• introduction (BASIC KNOWLEDGE)
• introduction (SPEECH)
• introduction (FORMAL MEETING)
• introduction (FIRST USE)
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