Using academic word lists to help with assignments plus WordSift or Wordle

“I find the online websites that have subject specific word lists are helpful when looking for words that need to be used for academic writing”  Lettie

There is the WordSift site at Stanford University that works like Wordle showing a section of text with the words you use most being shown in large sized fonts.  The WordSift site also has the Visual Thesaurus to help when making choices of words.

Here is a YouTube video tutorial using WordSift

iPhone dictionary so easy to use.

“I like the iPhone’s dictionary – if you don’t know the meaning of a word on a website you just have to tap on it to get its meaning. So simple and easy.” Anibul

The dictionary was added for iOS 5 and it is important to just tap and hold on a single word to see the ‘Define‘ menu appear beside ‘Copy, Select All  and Speak’.  It does not work in all applications.  In messages the complete message is highlighted on tap and hold but you can use Copy and use Speak.

iPhone dictionary
iPhone dictionary interface

Open Library – The record interpreter for definitions and roots

open library and manuscript“I have to work with ancient manuscripts and find that the online Open Library record interpreter is really helpful when it comes to Latin roots. I use two screens and scan the manuscript into Word and then add notes in comment boxes.”

The Open  Library offers books and papers that can be read online and in several other formats including PDF, Plain text, DAISY, ePub, DjVu, MOBI as well as sending a copy to a Kindle

Becky  – Medieval Renaissance Culture.

Using a Franklin Dictionary for foreign languages

Franklin translator“I use an Electronic Dictionary for foreign languages such as Russian.  It is a Franklin handheld dictionary and it is easier to use than a paper based dictionary also less scary than my Latin dictionary!”

latin dictionary

Becky – Medieval Renaissance Culture.