Why does an ereader need a dictionary?

[Jellby]

It would be pretty arrogant and unrealistic to believe that one knows the complete, accurate meaning of every possible word (in every possible sense) every possible writer might use in a book, even restricting the field to correctly used words in the one's native language and period.

A dictionary might not be essential, but it can be very useful if it's available and easy to use. When reading a paper book I rarely use a dictionary because it's not convenient, but in an ebook it's completely different.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by DMB

I tried using the Kindle dictionary look-up recently -- and it was totally useless! I was reading a novel written in the 1930s where a large chunk was a narrative by an elderly Scottish character, using a great deal of Scots vocabulary. I'm not Scottish, and although I've come across quite a few Scots words before, there were a few I didn't know at all. The dictionary didn't seem to have any of the Scots words at all. So I seriously doubt its efficacy for unfamiliar forms of English.

This is a good point. The solution is better (bigger) dictionaries!

But it's also why, when I did my editions of "Kidnapped" and "Kim" I added loads of hyperlinks to definitions of Scots (Kidnapped) and Indian (Kim) words. IMO good editions of ebooks should always do that for words that might not be in a default dictionary.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

That's exactly where I first learned what the word meant!

I completely agree on the recommendation.

Visit country houses is how I learned what a ha-ha was. Luckily not by falling in one!

[taosaur]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

If one reads mostly contemporary (mainstream) fiction), then it's not really much of a feature. However, I read a lot of non-fiction where Oxbridge/Ivy League authors do throw in highflutin' terms every so often.

Terms like hifalutin? This correction is delivered not in a tone of superiority, but of (hopefully) shared ironic hilarity.

Originally Posted by Penforhire

I have a far above-average English vocabulary (so says my Mensa card)

Again, no disparagement intended, but membership in Mensa is not predicated upon vocabulary, and citing Mensa membership in conversation rarely improves one's credibility. Membership in Mensa proves, above all, that one has sought membership in Mensa.

[OtterBooks]

I note that in various discussions people refer to looking up words when reading. Me, I just read. I find in practice that I sometimes need a dictionary or thesaurus when writing, in order to find the mot juste.

If you use a dictionary when reading, you may not need it as much when writing. Incidentally, imo no writer should even own a thesaurus. Words taken from one will invariably stand out as such, since it's through reading and usage that you learn to use words naturally. If you use a thesaurus to find a word, you aren't ready to use it.

[DMB]

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

If you use a dictionary when reading, you may not need it as much when writing. Incidentally, imo no writer should even own a thesaurus. Words taken from one will invariably stand out as such, since it's through reading and usage that you learn to use words naturally. If you use a thesaurus to find a word, you aren't ready to use it.

When you get to my age you may find that your memory sometimes fails and you just know that the right word exists but you can't think of it!

I don't use a thesaurus to find unfamiliar words but to remind me of words I know but can't call to mind. It's also useful sometimes in order to avoid tedious repetition, particularly where the same word might otherwise be used twice in the same paragraph but with different senses.

I use a dictionary for writing (when I do) for a variety of purposes. Sometimes it is to check spelling, sometimes derivation. Occasionally it's to check a word that I think I might be using wrongly.

[OtterBooks]

Originally Posted by DMB

When you get to my age you may find that your memory sometimes fails and you just know that the right word exists but you can't think of it!

I don't use a thesaurus to find unfamiliar words but to remind me of words I know but can't call to mind. It's also useful sometimes in order to avoid tedious repetition, particularly where the same word might otherwise be used twice in the same paragraph but with different senses.

I use a dictionary for writing (when I do) for a variety of purposes. Sometimes it is to check spelling, sometimes derivation. Occasionally it's to check a word that I think I might be using wrongly.

Fair enough. I was just being snooty for fun.

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by taosaur

Terms like hifalutin? This correction is delivered not in a tone of superiority, but of (hopefully) shared ironic hilarity.

If you were correcting my spelling, the mistake was a feature of my inability to type.

I don't come near passing the Mensa test ... but I did score in the top 1% on the GRE verbal section.

P. S. I don't actually own an English-language dictionary, but use dictionary.com instead.

[Giggleton]

I'm waiting for the OED to come preloaded onto my Kindle4.

[taosaur]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

If you were correcting my spelling, the mistake was a feature of my inability to type.

The substitution of two unrelated words complete with apostrophe was a typo? C'mon guy, we all have gaps in our vocab, and often fill in etymologies that seem about right but are very, very wrong. I once described myself as "scatological" in conversation, thinking it meant something along the lines of "jumping from topic to topic."

Go ahead, google that shit if you don't know it off the top of your head

[elcreative]

Look up the word first... it can be spelled as either highfalutin or hifalutin, both single words so it's perfectly possible to miss out the 'a' when typing and and add an apostrophe to make up for the missing 'g' at the end... OK there's no apostrophe but quite understandable...

Originally Posted by taosaur

The substitution of two unrelated words complete with apostrophe was a typo? C'mon guy, we all have gaps in our vocab, and often fill in etymologies that seem about right but are very, very wrong. I once described myself as "scatological" in conversation, thinking it meant something along the lines of "jumping from topic to topic."

Go ahead, google that shit if you don't know it off the top of your head

[taosaur]

Originally Posted by elcreative

Look up the word first... it can be spelled as either highfalutin or hifalutin, both single words so it's perfectly possible to miss out the 'a' when typing and and add an apostrophe to make up for the missing 'g' at the end... OK there's no apostrophe but quite understandable...

Benefit of the doubt extended, I suppose. It still looks like a mondegreen to me.

[elcreative]

Pardon?

Originally Posted by taosaur

Benefit of the doubt extended, I suppose. It still looks like a mondegreen to me.

[SeaBookGuy]

Frankly, I'm now confused about what I've been picked on for exactly?

My intent in using the term "highflutin' " (sic) was as a sort of joke, but now I think I'm just being flamed for the disgrace of mistyping it without the "a".

Sorry if I upset people with my error.

[elcreative]

Dangerous... you know, joking around here usually attracts the giggles...

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

Frankly, I'm now confused about what I've been picked on for exactly?

My intent in using "highflutin' " (sic) was as a sort of joke, but now I think I'm just being flamed.

Sorry if I upset people with my error.