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.
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Do you have to cite a definition in 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 (10th ed.).
How do you cite a definition in an essay?
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. A basic parenthetical citation would be: (“Onomatopoeia”).
Do you cite definitions in MLA?
To cite a dictionary in MLA style, you need to have basic information including the entry’s headword (as it appears), part of speech, the title of the dictionary, and when applicable, the URL. If the definition lists multiple possible definitions, you also need to include the definition number.
How do you cite a dictionary definition?
The basics of a Reference List entry for an encyclopedia or dictionary entry:
- Author or authors. The surname is followed by first initials.
- Year.
- Title of encyclopedia or dictionary entry.
- Title of encyclopedia or dictionary (in italics).
- Publisher.
- Place of publication.
Do I need to cite 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.
How do you cite a definition from a website?
Help
- headword of the entry cited (in quotes)
- title of the source (in italics)
- 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.)
- full URL of the site (up to and including the file name)
Do you put definitions in quotes?
Explicit definitions of words or terms are put in quotation marks. Such definitions may or may not be direct quotations from a dictionary or similar source. Definitions that follow such expressions as means, defines, or is defined as are normally put in quotation marks.
How do you write a definition?
There are a few basic guidelines to follow when writing a definition:
- Wiktionary is a dictionary, not an encyclopedia. A definition does not need to contain every piece of information known about a subject.
- Keep it simple.
- Avoid complicated terms.
- Avoid specialized terms.
- Avoid circularity.
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 definition in text MLA?
In-Text Citation – No Author
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.
How do you cite a dictionary definition in MLA?
Format. 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.
Who wrote the Merriam Webster dictionary?
Noah Webster
Noah Webster (1758–1843), the author of the readers and spelling books which dominated the American market at the time, spent decades of research in compiling his dictionaries. His first dictionary, A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language, appeared in 1806.
How do you cite Oxford dictionary?
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. Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed.
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 Merriam Webster in Chicago?
Citing an Online Dictionary
should look like this: Merriam-Webster, s.v. “blood,” accessed February 5, 2015, http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/blood.
How do you cite?
If you are directly quoting from a work, you will need to include the author, year of publication, and page number for the reference (preceded by “p.”). Introduce the quotation with a signal phrase that includes the author’s last name followed by the date of publication in parentheses.
Where do you put definition terms in thesis?
2: Define the term in your own words in your thesis.
- Keep the definition in your thesis brief and basic. You will elaborate on it more in the body of your paper.
- Avoid using passive phrases involving the word “is” when defining your term.
- Do not repeat part of the defined term in your definition.
What dictionary does Google use?
Google displayed definitions from Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary for English until August 2010 when it switched to the Oxford American College Dictionary.
Can you start an essay with a definition?
1 Defining Unfamiliar Terms
Do not use this if a definition will not add useful information. Starting an essay with a dictionary definition of a common word, for example, is a cliched and shallow practice that you should avoid. Instead, give a definition while hinting at the angle, focus or thesis of your paper.
How do you cite a word in a sentence?
Click at the end of the sentence or phrase that you want to cite, and then on the References tab, in the Citations & Bibliography group, click Insert Citations. From the list of citations under Insert Citation, select the citation you want to use.