For day 4 of the A-Z Blog Challenge I was stuck between dictionary and dark chocolate seeing as how many writers I know use both frequently. But then I wondered, with the Internet and computers auto-correcting things, do many people use dictionaries for spelling purposes anymore? I definitely use them to look up definitions, but now how to spell words. I actually use a thesaurus more than a dictionary. I even have something call the “Descriptionary” for when you know what a thing is, but don’t know what to call it. It has all kinds of great info in there such as names for all kinds of horse riding gear and what to call different clothes worn during different periods in history.
I tried to get my daughter to use a dictionary the other day when she needed to spell a word, but the idea was completely foreign to her. How many times growing up did I ask my parents how to spell a word and they said, “Look in the dictionary.” I remember having to buy one for every English class I took in college. And of course each professor wanted us to get a different one. Who knew there were so many?
So, I wonder what the current attitude toward dictionaries is? It seems to have changed since I was a kid. What are your thoughts on this hard hitting issue? 
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I make my kids look up words in the dictionary when they have homework (5th & 6th). “What work? Just tell me the answer.” – laziness gets worse with every generation…
Happy D Day!
Looking words up never worked for me because I always had the beginning spelled wrong.
Wow, I was told a million times “Look it up” when I’d ask “What does that mean?” or “How do you spell it?” Nowadays Google and internet spellchecks do all the work for us. I still love the actual book of a dictionary or a thesaurus, but I have a feeling they’ll dwindle as the years go by. Interesting observation…look forward to reading more of your blog!
My 8 year old loves the dictionary. She begged me for one when she was 6 and of course, I had to get her one, lol. Personally, it is just easier for me to look it up on the computer, which is incredibly sad, I know.
Spell check has a lot to answer for. It isn’t always the solution for correct spelling!
What a great post. It’s funny, I can’t remember the last time I opened a proper dictionary. My ten year old found a dictionary on the bookshelf about a month ago and he reads it all the time now. He has since stopped the endless questions of “Mom, what does [insert word here] mean?” Now he looks it up himself.
When I am at a computer, I use the computer. When I am not, I go to the dictionary. Kids do need to know how to use a dictionary since they do not always have a computer handy in the classroom for assignments and tests. I think a parent should help them use the dictionary until they get the hang of it.
I use the online dictionary. I think my printed one serves as a great door stop. :0 Did I just say that?
I alway made my kids (now 27 and 29) look up words in the dictionary. I have this honking HUGE one – unabridged, of course) that is leather bound. It came as a set with a Family Bible I bought when I was young and didn’t know any better, but we have gotten a lot of use out of it over the years.
I use all kinds of dictionaries. In Bible Study, I have a dictionary of commonly used Greek and Hebrew words. I also have several word study tools that get into the exhaustive list of words used in the Bible, plus grammar.
Since I am also a linguist I can’t get by without my French, German, Spanish and Russian Dictionaries.
Come to think of it I probably have more dictionaries then most normal people have, but then I’m not normal.
I have several copies of Roget’s Thesaurus and some pocket dictionaries too.
Oh, my!
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