How Do I Quote A Dictionary Definition In My Essay?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

To cite a definition within the text, you would

place the defined word

and the date of publication in parentheses after the relevant phrase and before the punctuation mark. If the definition is quoted, you must also add the page number.

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How do you quote a dictionary definition?

  1. headword of the entry cited (in quotes)
  2. title of the source (in italics)
  3. date the dictionary or thesaurus was published, posted, or revised (Use the copyright date noted at the bottom of this and every page of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.)

How do you cite a dictionary definition in a paragraph?

If you are creating an in-text citation for a dictionary entry, you would

follow APA’s standard in-

text citation guidelines of including the first part of the reference and the year. For example, your in-text citations might look like this: (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 1999) or (Onomatopoeia, n.d.).

How do I quote a dictionary definition in my essay MLA?

Encyclopedia or Dictionary From Library Database – Known Author. Author’s Last Name, First Name. “

Title of Entry

.” Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary, edited by Editor’s First Name Last Name, Edition if given and not first edition, vol. Volume Number, Publisher Name, Date of Publication, pp.

How do you reference a definition in an essay?


Cite the dictionary or textbook from which you

took the definition at the end of the sentence if you are using in-text citations. The first time you refer to this source, use the full title followed by the abbreviation. After that first reference, you can simply use the abbreviation.

Do you have to cite a dictionary definition?


You do not always need to cite and reference a dictionary definition

. … As subject dictionaries and encyclopedias are usually written by a specific author/s or organisation, and contextual definitions are provided, you will need to cite and reference them in the usual way.

Do you have to cite a definition APA?


Yes

. Anything you did not already know for which you consulted a source should be cited. Here is an example from OWL: Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary (10

th

ed.).

How do you start a definition essay example?

Introduction: Like most essays, the introduction paragraph in definition essays should start with an

introduction sentence or “grabber

,” followed by a transition sentence, and end with a strong thesis statement (which is often a clear statement of the definition).

Where do you put definitions in a research paper?

Definitions of key concepts are important to the understanding of your paper. Hence, it is preferable to have them as a separate section under the title “Definition of terms.” This section should be be

placed towards the beginning of the paper

, before you start with the major content.

How do you cite a dictionary in-text?

If a dictionary or encyclopedia entry has no author, the in-text citation should

include the first word or words in the title of the entry

. The title of the entry should be in quotation marks, with each word starting with a capital letter.

Do you italicize definitions in MLA?

The Works Cited entry for a dictionary definition follows similar guidelines to that of a piece in an anthology. The entry begins with the word in quotation marks with a period. …

The name of the dictionary appears next, italicized and followed by a period

.

Do you have to cite dictionary definitions in MLA?


Yes

. Cite an entry in a print dictionary like a section of a larger work. Include the page number in the “Location” element of the MLA style template: … (4).” Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed., Merriam-Webster, 2003, p.

How do you cite a dictionary definition in MLA?

Encyclopedia or Dictionary Entry In Print


Author’s Last Name, First Name

. “Title of Entry.” Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary, edited by Editor’s First Name Last Name, Edition if given and not first edition, vol. Volume Number, Publisher Name, Year of Publication, pp. First Page – Last Page.

How do you cite a dictionary Oxford dictionary?

A reference for a dictionary would be:

Organization Name

. (date). Title of dictionary [in italics], Retrieved date, from [URL] [for online dictionaries] or place of publishing followed by a period and URL if retrieved from a URL.

How do you Harvard reference a definition?

  1. Author or authors. The surname is followed by first initials.
  2. Year.
  3. Title of encyclopedia or dictionary entry.
  4. Title of encyclopedia or dictionary (in italics).
  5. Publisher.
  6. Place of publication.

How do you cite Oxford dictionary in text?

If there is no author then the title (e.g. Oxford English dictionary) should be used

both within the text

and in the reference list. Title. (Year) Volume (if applicable). Edition.

How do you cite a definition in APA?

To cite a dictionary definition in APA Style,

start with the author of the dictionary (usually an organization)

, followed by the publication year, the word you’re citing, the dictionary name, the publisher (if not already listed as author), and the URL.

How do you write a definition essay about yourself?

  1. Choose the term you want to define. This may be given to you, or you’ll need to choose it for yourself. …
  2. Do your research. …
  3. Write an outline, like the one above. …
  4. Sit down and write. …
  5. Proofread and edit your essay once it’s done.

How do you cite an online dictionary in APA in-text?

Your in-text citation for an online dictionary entry should

include the dictionary name and the year the web page was updated

. Your in-text citation might look like this: Coffee can be made either as a “decoction or an infusion” (Dictionary.com, 2015).

How do you cite a dictionary in APA 7th edition?

Author A. A. (Date). Title of entry. In

E. E. Editor

(Ed.), Name of dictionary/encyclopedia. URL.

What are the steps to write a definition essay?

When you start writing a definition essay, follow 3 main steps. Step

1: Tell readers what term is being defined

. Step 2: Present clear and basic information. Step 3: Use facts, examples, or anecdotes that readers will understand.

How do you start a paragraph definition?

The starting point for a definition paragraph is

a simple definition* which becomes the topic sentence of the paragraph

. Topic sentence gives a simple definition. Support sentences give more information through the use of examples, description or explanation.

How do you quote a definition in a sentence?


Add an in-text citation to the end of the sentence

that referenced the term. Use parentheses to make an in-text citation. Simply write the term you’ve defined in quotation marks, and place parentheses around it. Note that you should capitalize the first letter of the term.

Where can I find definitions?


Dictionary.com

is the world’s leading online source for definitions, word origins, and a whole lot more.

Where do you put definitions in a document?

Place a definition where

it is most easily found by the reader

. Generally, define a term that is used throughout a part or chapter at the beginning of that part or chapter. If you have a term that is used only once or in a few closely related sections, place the definition in the section where the term is used first.

How do you cite an encyclopedia in-text?

If a dictionary or encyclopedia entry has no author, the in-text citation should include

the title of the entry

. The title of the entry should be in quotation marks, with each word starting with a capital letter. The title of the entry will be followed by a comma and the year of publication.

How do you cite a dictionary Purdue OWL MLA?

For entries in encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other reference works,

cite the entry name as you would any other work in a collection

but do not include the publisher information. Also, if the reference book is organized alphabetically, as most are, do not list the volume or the page number of the article or item.

How do you cite the Oxford English Dictionary in MLA?

Follow the MLA format template and

begin with the headword

(as it appears) as the title of the source. Note that this may include parts of speech. “Heavy, Adj. (1) and N.” Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, 2015, www.oed.com/view/Entry/85246?

Do you italicize definitions?

What are some general rules for formatting? It is important to

offset the term that is being defined or discussed

, usually by italicizing it (underline it if you can’t). … The definition should be enclosed in quotation marks.

How do you cite Encyclopedia Britannica?

Last Name, First Name. Encyclopedia/Dictionary name, Edition ed., s.v. “Article Title.” Publication City: Publisher Name, Year Published. Smith, John. Encyclopaedia Britannica, 8th ed., s.v. “Internet.” Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2009.

How do you cite Oxford Dictionary in text MLA?

Format “Word, Part of speech. (Definition number).” Dictionary Name, Year, URL. In-text citation (“Lock,” def. 2.a)

How do you quote the Constitution in MLA?

Format Page Title. Website Name, Publisher, Day Month Year, URL. or URL. In-text citation (“Constitution of the United States,” art. 1, sec. 4)

How do you cite Merriam Webster in text MLA?

In the Works Cited section of your text, include

the author of the entry (if provided)

, entry name in quotation marks, source title in italics, edition, publication year and medium. It should look like this: “Blue.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

How do you cite a Dictionary in Chicago style?

Title of Dictionary, ed. First name, Surname (if known), number edition. (Location: Publisher, Year of publication), s.v. “Title of Entry,” URL if entry came from online source.

How do you cite Cambridge Dictionary?

In A.A. Editor (Ed.), Title of resource (edition). Retrieved date from URL. (

Cambridge

University Press, n.d.) Author, A.A. (date).

Who wrote Oxford dictionary?


William Chester Minor
Born June 22, 1834 Ceylon Died March 26, 1920 (aged 85) Hartford, Connecticut, United States Alma mater Yale University Known for Contributions to the Oxford English Dictionary
Jasmine Sibley
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Jasmine Sibley
Jasmine is a DIY enthusiast with a passion for crafting and design. She has written several blog posts on crafting and has been featured in various DIY websites. Jasmine's expertise in sewing, knitting, and woodworking will help you create beautiful and unique projects.