finding words in dictionary that you don't know how to spell

[Pam B]

Is there a way that you can look up a word in the dictionary without knowing the correct spelling? Or shall I say a METHOD? DH and I have different opinions on this. I think there is. I thought I read on here that you can, but can't find it.

[crstarlette]

If you go to an online dictionary, just type in how you think it might be spelled and it will give you options if what you typed in is not a word.

I have often used a dictionary (not online) to figure out how to spell words, or to check my spelling. Start by looking it up with your first guess as to how it's spelled, and if that's not right, try something else. So, if you know a word sounds like fep, try looking up fep, and if that's not a word, try looking up phep.

[ondreeuh]

Knowing the basic phonics rules is pretty important, like knowing when a word will start with k and not c. I suppose you could also look up a synonym and see if the work you're looking for is written in the definition.

[Pam B]

Hmm. I guess is what I'm trying to say, is is there a way to teach your kids.

Hubby and I both know how to look them up, whether we know for sure the correct spelling or not (usually I use Google), but I was thinking that there was an actual skill of how to do this with your kids. No?

It's ok. I might be going crazy. It's that time of year.

[razorbackmama]

That's something that always drove me nuts, when I would ask how to spell something and the answer was, "Look it up in the dictionary."

If I knew how to find it in the dictionary, then I'd already know how to spell it!

[Pam B]

Originally Posted by razorbackmama

That's something that always drove me nuts, when I would ask how to spell something and the answer was, "Look it up in the dictionary."

If I knew how to find it in the dictionary, then I'd already know how to spell it!

EXACTLY! See, people alweays to MEthat to- but, dah, right?!

[wy_kid_wrangler04]

Im trying to work with my dc on this now I just tell my 6th grader to write down how she thinks the word is spelled, and any other ways the words could be spelled and start looking them up based on how she writes the word.

[Pam B]

Okay, so there IS no "method!"

[lionfamily1999]

Originally Posted by razorbackmama

That's something that always drove me nuts, when I would ask how to spell something and the answer was, "Look it up in the dictionary."

If I knew how to find it in the dictionary, then I'd already know how to spell it!

I understand this completely, and yet... I say the same thing to ds.

We just start with the first letter and narrow it down letter by letter... iow, well it must start with "f" that much is obvious (flip to the fs). Now what makes and aeiou sound? Hmm... okay, well what come after that sound? Oh, an r, so then we check the vowels. It's not a very good method, still a lot of searching, but it's better than nothing...

[Kleine Hexe]

This is why I purchased Allographs Dictionaryfor my kids.