If a word is spelled wrong in the dictionary, how would you know????

Answer 1

It would depend upon the word, and the amount of irony in the misspelling. The dictionary that included "Proofreid" or "accuratte" would be the target of standup comedians, talk-show hosts, bloggers, and wisecrackers everywhere people spoke English and used dictionaries.

Most folks, though, prolly wouldn't bust a gut over, "huamachil" ("a common thorny tropical American tree having terminal racemes of yellow flowers followed by sickle-shaped or circinate edible pods and yielding good timber and a yellow dye and mucilaginous gum." Now you know.), spelled as, "huamachel". With all due respect to the botanically-minded, I can't imagine many snickers over a mistake inside that m-word to the left of "gum" either.

You would know if: 1). You picked up on the mistake. 2). You heard about it on TV or the radio, or read about it in the paper. 3) The publisher issued a recall. 4) Someone else caught your innocent misspelling, brought it to your attention, and you rushed home to check the dictionary and found it wasn't the sharpest book in the bookcase.

Otherwise, you'd likely remain blissfully unaware.

Answer 2

I would advice you to have two different dictionaries, from two different editors. Just double check the word in case you have the doubt.

So, you would know if the dictionary is mistaken when you find the same word spelled in diffent ways (check the meaning to make sure you are looking at the same word in both dictionaries). Then, find a third dictionary, or use the internet to find out which dictionary is the wrong one.

I hope this helps.

Answer 3

If you were in doubt over the spelling of a word in a particular dictionary you could easily check it in a large number of other online dictionaries. Other advantages of this method are in comparing the various definitions, origins and uses of words in different dictionaries.

Answer 4

Not unless you have another dictionary. Or else see it in MS Word (right click the mouse on the word and see the synonyms or anonyms under the 'language' in the tool bar). I do the same thin if a Dictionary is not readily available.

Answer 5

all depends on what kind of book, you have certain words are spelled differently, depending on what country your from,and i am sure that the people who have worked on the dictionary know what they are doing,they have proof-readers

Answer 6

The better question is, if you don't know how to spell a word, how are you supposed to find it??

Answer 7

Then the spelling would change. HA!

Answer 8

Spellcheck on the PC.

Answer 9

some else who knows how to spell it will tell you.

Answer 10

If it was wrong I wouldn't know ,Thats why I have the darn book..