Year 5 English: Checking spelling and meaning in a dictionary and a thesaurus
Part of the Year 5 English the year 5-6 word list, silent letters and the thesaurus chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Checking spelling and meaning in a dictionary and a thesaurus
Key pattern
A dictionary gives the spelling and the meaning of a word, and often shows how to say it.
A thesaurus gives words with a similar meaning, called synonyms. It does not check spelling.
Choose a synonym by checking its meaning in a dictionary, because some synonyms are used in a different way.
Key ideas
- A dictionary checks spelling and meaning.
- A thesaurus gives synonyms, or words with a similar meaning.
- Check the meaning of a synonym before you use it in your writing.
- Use the word class (noun, verb, adjective) to choose a word of the right type.
Method. Use a dictionary and look up the first letters.
- Look up the word. The dictionary entry is under ex, then exa.exaggerate
- Check the double letter. The gg is written as two g letters in the middle.exaggerate
- Write the answer. exaggerate
Check. The correct spelling is exaggerate. ✓
Method. Use a thesaurus and check the meaning in a dictionary.
- Look up big in a thesaurus. Big has synonyms such as large, huge, enormous.large, huge, enormous
- Choose a word that fits. Enormous means very big.enormous
- Write the answer. enormous
Check. Enormous means very big. ✓
Method. A synonym has a similar meaning.
- Read the meaning of tiny. Tiny means very small.very small
- Compare the two words. Small means not big, which is the same idea. Huge means very big, which is the opposite.small
- Write the answer. small
Check. Small is the synonym of tiny. ✓
Exercise 3E Practice: dictionary and thesaurus
Method. Look for a word with a similar meaning.
- Read the meaning of quick. Quick means fast.fast
- Find the synonym. Rapid means fast, so it is the synonym.rapid
- Write the answer. rapid
Check. Rapid. ✓
Method. Look for a word with a similar meaning.
- Read the meaning of brave. Brave means not afraid.not afraid
- Find the synonym. Bold means not afraid, so it is the synonym.bold
- Write the answer. bold
Check. Bold. ✓
Method. Look for a word with a similar meaning.
- Read the meaning of shout. Shout means to say something very loudly.loudly
- Find the synonym. Yell means to shout loudly.yell
- Write the answer. yell
Check. Yell. ✓
Method. Look up the word in a dictionary and check the spelling.
- Look up the word. The dictionary entry is under d, then de, then de-fi-nite.definite
- Compare the spellings. The ending is -ite, not -ate.definite
- Write the answer. definite
Check. Definite. ✓
Method. Say the word in parts and check each part.
- Say it in parts. dis-as-trous.dis-as-trous
- Check the ending. The ending is -ous, not -erous.disastrous
- Write the answer. disastrous
Check. Disastrous. ✓
Method. Think about what each book is for.
- Look at the dictionary. A dictionary gives spelling and meaning.spelling and meaning
- Look at the thesaurus. A thesaurus gives words with a similar meaning.synonyms
- Write the answer. No, a dictionary checks spelling; a thesaurus gives words with a similar meaning
Check. Ali is not right, because each book has a different use. ✓
Method. Think about whether the word means the same in the sentence.
- Check the meaning. Enormous means very large, so it may fit the sentence.very large
- Check the spelling. Look up enormous in the dictionary to check the spelling.enormous
- Write the answer. that enormous means very big, so it fits the sentence; or that the word is spelled correctly in the dictionary
Check. Check the meaning and the spelling in the dictionary. ✓
Method. Think about what a dictionary gives you.
- Look at the dictionary entry. The entry gives the meaning of the word.meaning
- Check the sentence. The meaning should fit the sentence you are writing.fit
- Write the answer. it gives the meaning, so you can check the word fits the sentence
Check. A dictionary helps you check the meaning fits. ✓
Method. Choose a word with a similar meaning and read the sentence with it.
- Choose a synonym. Delighted means very happy.delighted
- Read the sentence. The class was delighted after the trip.The class was delighted after the trip.
- Write the answer. delighted; it fits because it means very happy
Check. Delighted fits the sentence. ✓