How can you look up a word in the dictionary if you don't know how to spell it?
Well, here are some of the answers you sent us! 

Subj: Looking- up words!!!!!
Date: 2/16/03 1:23:36 PM Eastern Standard Time

What I usually do is spell word the way it sounds, and go to spellcheck. They usually correct the word for me and I take it from there in the dictionary. If more than one way to spell word is listed, I look-up every one until I come across the one that best describes what I am looking for.

M. Theroux

Subj: your question
Date: Sunday, March 24, 2002 8:16:18 PM

‘How do you look up a word in the dictionary if you don’t know how to spell it?’

---Well, my answer is: include an index at the back of the dictionary that contains common words listed alphabetically by their phonetic pronunciation. Begin with words that start with the sound a, then the sound b, and so on. That way, the child can look up the word by its sound and find the correct spelling to utilize. If the dictionary also contains a section that lists/defines prefixes and suffixes, the two sections can be used together to help the child spell, pronounce, and interpret words with more complex structures in the future. Granted, it would be a lengthy work to organize a dictionary index based on sound rather than the written word, but it might be worth it to one child interested in psychology or physics.

---Laura Lucas

Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be. -Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and philosopher. (1803-1882)

I believe in God, only I spell it Nature. -Frank Lloyd Wright, architect. (1867- 1959)

Subj: Looking up words you can’t spell
Date: Thursday, March 21, 2002 4:5 5:04 PM

“Educated guessing” is how I do it, I am a medical transcriptionist, and not only have to look up medical terms, but new drug names as well. I use my phonics knowledge (there are only SO many “f” sounds!) The worst is the soft “c” sound, which can be c, s, z, x, or even psy. Mostly, just tell children, sound it out. Try again. Keep trying. Usually by your third guess you’ve found it!
Sandie McDonald
Legal Secretary
Medical Transcriptionist
Mother of 3
4H leader

Subj: Wordpower- finding the spelling
Date: 3/19/02 2:10:14 PM Eastern Standard Time

“How can you look up a word in the dictionary if you don’t know how to spell it?" The following isn't an ideal answer, but it is a method that will sometimes work. IF I can think of a synonym, and if I have a thesaurus available, I find the synonym, and then search through that synonym's entry, for all it's synonyms until I find the original word -- and its spelling.
I'm sure there is a better solution out there, but until I hear what it is, this stumbling method is the best I can do.

Subj: the look-up paradox
Date: 3/18/02 5:36:10 AM Eastern Standard Time

Like you, I am in love with words and dictionaries. However, I seldom use dictionaries to look up the "spelling" of a word; I use them to help clarify a word's “meanings.” This process is never frustrating; the former is. The result: only pleasant expectations and usually the time to briefly stop and smell the sweet spelling of nearby words including those that keep hiding from us.
You can count on my support for your project.

Subj: How can you look up a word in the dictionary if you don’t know how to spell it?Date: 3/18/02 2:51:29AM Eastern Standard Time

How can you look up a word in the dictionary if you don’t know how to spell it? The answer is by trial and error. Sound it out and look for it under letters you *think* you should use to spell it. And if that doesn’t work, try another combination, and another if that doesn’t work, and so on, until you find it!

muddy

Subj: looking up word without spelling
Date: 3/9/O2 3:41:13 PM Eastern Standard Time

If all else fails and you can pronounce it fairly well, call your local librarian for spelling and/or meaning.
Subj: How do you find a word if you don’t know how to spell it?Date: 4/5/02 11:39:02 AM Eastern Standard Time

I think if I was trying to offer a service to poor spellers, I would provide a service similar to what is found in Spell Check Systems. i.e. a database of common mis-spellings, followed by the "correct" word.

(I have admit that I have been known to use this method when typing, but the system sometimes shrugs its little bytey shoulders and says, “NO one has ever put that combination of letters together. I don’t have a clue what you mean.”
In my mind, there is no market for this type of product in paper form, only electronic, but I have been wrong on a lot of other ideas, so may be there is.

chris hope
Executive Director
Reading Reaches Kids’ Minds and Kids’ Hearts
ReadingReaches. org

Date: 4/12/02 12:10:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time

It's a prospect of trial and error. This is exactly the question that flew through my mind when my 6th grade teacher suggested I “use the dictionary" when I asked her if I’d spelled a word correctly.
I've since learned to appreciate how to use dictionaries for that benefit. When I pursue a supposed spelling and hit a dead end, I know to make another guess. Enhances the creative process, and teaches even more appreciation for the wonderful and varied English language.

Glad you asked!

Elaine Rhodes

Subj: Dictionary for people unable to spell
Date: 3/18/02 11:O1:26 AM Eastern Standard Time

Hi, when I was teaching English some years ago, I had on hand a dictionary that showed words how they sounded and then the correct spelling. I've seen them since and can find the title if you would like.
Subj: how to look up a word
Date: 3/18/02 11:06:42 AM Eastern Standard Time

I had a good friend in college who was very smart but a poor speller. Her strategy for looking up words she couldn't spell was to look up a related word that she could spell and hope to eventually get to the word she wanted: captain leads to major leads to colonel. I've used this method myself on occasion.

Regards,
Kris O'Connor

Subj: Answer to terminal question
Date: 4/19/02 9:15:23 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Dear Mary,

The answer to your question is very simple. You can look up any word you want to, even if you don’t know how to spell "it". As for looking up "it", even if you don’t know how to spell "it" all you have to know is how to spell “Isus", which immediately precedes “it” in the dictionary. Remember that fact, look “Isus” up, and then find the succeeding word.
I like your website, and will refer my Rotary colleagues to it.

Subj: Solving a problem
Date: 3/19/02 1:54:30 AM Eastern Standard Time
How can you look up a word in the dictionary if you don’t know how to spell it?
It is one of the mysteries of all time. We are looking for the answer to this question, if you have the answer, please send it to us.

Several answers: if you have access to a dictionary on computer, the good ones have a "soundex", an index based on "sounds like". If you don’t, and you have any sense at all of what the word means from context, by looking up similar words that you DO know how to spell. You just might find it as a synonym! This will be even easier if you have a thesaurus as well as a dictionary.
Hope this helps...
KCR

Subj: Looking up a word without spelling
Date. 3/9/02 3:37:54 PM Eastern Standard Time

If you know anything close to the meaning, look in a thesaurus. Otherwise, guesstimate it in a computer search engine.