English 101

Lecture Notes 14

Spring 2022

18 April

Lecture 14

1. Vocabulary Strategies (cont.)

A. Reference

1. The reference strategy means looking the word up in a

reference book, usually a dictionary.

2. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that sometimes

dictionary definitions can, themselves, be a little tricky

to fully understand. So be sure you fully understand the

dictionary definition, and that it helps you understand the

word in the context it’s being used in your reading.

3. Different dictionaries are written with different levels

of complexity as well. So if you find yourself having a hard

time understanding the definitions of one dictionary, try

another one written at a less complex level.

B. Conclusion: Context, word parts, and reference are the

three main vocabulary strategies. You will get the best

results by using them in combination with one another,

rather than relying solely on one strategy.