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The Word Detective Who Writes Dictionaries

5th grade nonfiction passage about dictionary writers: 195 words, seven questions, an answer key and vocabulary.

5th grade nonfiction dictionary writers 195 words

The Word Detective Who Writes Dictionaries

Many people think a dictionary is a list of rules that someone made up. In fact, a dictionary writer, called a lexicographer, works more like a detective. The job is to find out how people really use words and then explain it clearly.

A lexicographer begins by collecting examples. These come from books, newspapers, websites, and everyday speech. Each example shows a word in a sentence, so the writer can see what the word means in that moment. Some words turn up with several different meanings, and the writer must sort the examples into groups.

Next comes the hard part: writing the definition. A good definition is short and uses plain words. It should be easy to understand, and it should not use the word it is explaining. The writer may add a sample sentence to show how the word works.

Language never stands still. New words appear, and old words slowly pick up new meanings. When many people begin using a new word over a long time, lexicographers may add it to the dictionary. That is why dictionaries get updated. They do not decide what words should mean. They record what words mean today.

Questions

  1. What is a dictionary writer called? in the text

  2. Where do lexicographers collect examples of words? in the text

  3. What must the writer do when a word has several meanings? in the text

  4. What makes a good definition? in the text

  5. When might a new word be added to a dictionary? in the text

  6. Why does the passage compare a lexicographer to a detective? think about it

  7. Why do dictionaries need to be updated? think about it

Words to know

lexicographer
a person who writes or edits a dictionary
definition
a statement that tells what a word means
example
one case that shows what something is like
detective
a person who finds out the truth by looking at clues
record
to write something down so it is kept
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One passage, three levels

The same topic and facts written three ways, so a mixed class can read and talk about one text. Each group’s sheet shows only a shape; the key says which is which.

● Easier · 179 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.7

Some people think a dictionary is a list of rules. Someone just made them up. But that is not true. A dictionary writer is called a lexicographer. The writer acts like a detective. The job is to find out how people use words. Then the writer explains it clearly.

A lexicographer starts by collecting examples. They come from books, newspapers, websites, and talking. Each example shows a word in a sentence. This helps the writer see what the word means. Some words have more than one meaning. The writer sorts the examples into groups.

Then comes the hard part. The writer must write the definition. A good definition is short. It uses plain words. It does not use the word it explains. The writer may add a sample sentence.

Language keeps changing. New words show up. Old words get new meanings. If many people use a new word for a long time, it may go into the dictionary. That is why dictionaries get updated. They do not say what words should mean. They write down what words mean now.

▲ This passage · 195 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 6.5

Many people think a dictionary is a list of rules that someone made up. In fact, a dictionary writer, called a lexicographer, works more like a detective. The job is to find out how people really use words and then explain it clearly.

A lexicographer begins by collecting examples. These come from books, newspapers, websites, and everyday speech. Each example shows a word in a sentence, so the writer can see what the word means in that moment. Some words turn up with several different meanings, and the writer must sort the examples into groups.

Next comes the hard part: writing the definition. A good definition is short and uses plain words. It should be easy to understand, and it should not use the word it is explaining. The writer may add a sample sentence to show how the word works.

Language never stands still. New words appear, and old words slowly pick up new meanings. When many people begin using a new word over a long time, lexicographers may add it to the dictionary. That is why dictionaries get updated. They do not decide what words should mean. They record what words mean today.

■ Harder · 204 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 9.9

Many people assume that a dictionary is a rulebook invented by someone in authority. In reality, a dictionary writer, known as a lexicographer, behaves more like a detective. The task is to discover how people genuinely use words and then to explain those uses with clarity.

A lexicographer begins by gathering examples from books, newspapers, websites, and ordinary conversation. Each example displays a word inside a sentence, which allows the writer to observe what the word means in that particular moment. Certain words appear with several distinct meanings, so the writer has to organize the examples into separate groups.

The most demanding stage is composing the definition. A strong definition is brief and relies on plain language. It should be easy for anyone to grasp, and it must avoid using the very word it is explaining. The writer might also include a sample sentence to demonstrate how the word works.

Language never stands still. New words emerge, and familiar words gradually acquire fresh meanings. When many people adopt a new word over a long period, lexicographers may add it to the dictionary, which is the reason dictionaries are revised. They do not decide what words ought to mean. They record what words mean today.

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How to use it

  1. Press Read it big (or B) to put the text on the projector, or Full screen (F) to fill the whole screen.
  2. Ask the questions one at a time and use Show answer when the class has decided. A shows or hides every answer.
  3. Print student copy for the class, or Print with answers for yourself.

Ideas for class

  • Before reading, put lexicographer, definition, example, detective and record on the board with their meanings from the Words to know section and have students predict what the text will be about.
  • Read it aloud once while students follow along, then have them reread it alone or with a partner. At a calm 100 words a minute it takes about 2 minutes to read aloud.
  • Use the Read it big button (or B) to put the text on the projector, and Show answer on one question at a time so the class commits to an answer first.
  • Question 6 asks the reader to infer. Ask students to point to the words in the passage that led them to their answer.
  • Ask students to write one question the passage did not answer, then look for the answer in a book or on a classroom screen.
  • Print the student copy for independent work and keep the answer-key copy for yourself.

Related

Questions

What reading level is "The Word Detective Who Writes Dictionaries"?

It was written for 5th grade. It has 195 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 6.5. That is a formula's estimate from sentence length and syllables, and it is not a Lexile or a guided reading level, so check it against your students.

What do the questions ask?

There are seven. 5 ask for something the text says directly and 2 ask the reader to work something out from clues. Each has an answer in the key, and the answers are written as a teacher would accept them, not as the only possible wording.

How long does it take to read?

About 2 minutes read aloud at 100 words a minute. For a one-minute fluency check, paste it into the fluency timer and use the word count.

Can I print it?

Yes. Print student copy gives the passage, the questions with lines to write on, and the word meanings. Print with answers gives the same page with the answers filled in. Both are made in your browser.

Is this passage from a published book?

No. It was written for Peabody Teach, so there is no book to buy and no login to read it.

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