As dictionaries are important in my English studies, how can I use them more effectively?
词典在我的英语学习中很重要，那么我怎样才能更有效地加以利用?
People tend to think that dictionaries just explain meanings and are rarely aware of the ‘range of services’ they provide. It’s desirable to own more than one good monolingual dictionary if at all possible, since together, different dictionaries give you a more rounded picture. However, the most important thing to do with a dictionary is really to use it, above all when you are reading. Use it till you truly know your way round it and enjoy what it offers you. Modern monolingual dictionaries provide some or all of the following services:
—British and American English variations
—spelling
—pronunciation
—structural information (for example, whether a verb is transitive or intransitive, whether it is followed by to or -ing; whether a noun is countable or uncountable, etc.)
—meaning (beginning with the most widely-used meaning)
—level of formality
—citations that a) bring out the meaning of the word b) are drawn from real use
—cross-references to other relevant entries
—usage notes
—compounds
To get the most out of a dictionary, you need to extend your awareness of what it can do. There are also a number of extremely interesting variations on the standard dictionary, such as The Longman Language Activator which help you to choose the right word or phrase to express your ideas.
人们一般都倾向认为词典仅仅是解释词汇的意思，却很少意识到它能给我们提供一系列的用途。如果条件允许的话，最好拥有一本以上的单语词典，因为不同的词典会提供更加全面的信息。然而，最重要的是在英语学习过程中，尤其是在阅读过程中，做到真正地使用它。力求做到熟练应用，并从中受益。现代单语词典有下列全部或部分用途：
——英国英语和美国英语的变体
——拼写
——音标
——结构上的信息 (例如：一个动词是及物动词还是不及物动词，它后面是接不定式to的形式，还是现在分词词-ing形式；一个名词是可数名词还是不可数名词，等等)
——词意(最通用的意思放在前面)
——语言的正式程度
——用来表明词意并从实践中汲取的例句
——互相参照条目
——使用方法
——复合词
当然，要想充分利用词典，你必须明白它能做些什么。标准的词典中有很多有趣的英语变体，比如The Longman Language Activator就是这样的词典，它可以帮助你选择有助于表达自己的思想的正确的词或短语。
怎样才能更有效地加以利用词典
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