Computer Tips From A Computer Guy

Posted: 16 Jan 2010 03:30 AM PST

If you are the type of person who can recall and recite any word in the English language, congratulations, the following piece of free software is not for you. The fact of the matter is that everyone from students to parents to industrial engineers at some point in time, need a dictionary for one reason or another.

Perhaps it is the student cramming in a late night of studying, or someone challenging another’s play during a Scrabble game; but it is good to have a dictionary handy in many situations.

However, society is more computer aligned than ever. Many utilize Internet based search engines like Google or Yahoo for simple word lookups; or websites like Dictionary.com. Of course if you are not immediately connected to the Internet, plenty of programs offer built-in dictionaries, of varying degrees, and spell checking capability. So why would there be a need for a program that is created to serve as a dictionary?

Wordweb (found here) is billed as a replacement for your paper dictionary and thesaurus. Whether you prefer to have an electronic version of these works or like the ability to quickly look up definitions on your computer, Wordweb was created with this in mind. For those of us who spend a good deal of time in front of the computer, this application probably has a place in your program list.

Before you even complete the installation for Wordweb, it lets you know about one of its key functions. The last window of the setup routine informs the user that using the Ctrl+Alt+W key combination, or Ctrl and right-click, on a word in any program launches Wordweb. Why stop at a simple spell-check, when you can hop over to view a word’s definition and usage?

When using Wordweb to lookup a word, it behaves somewhat like a search engine, even though its initial state is using its own material, and not drawing from the Internet. Typing a word in the Lookup field will cause a possible list of word matches to appear underneath. If you are uncertain as to a particular spelling, this action may be of assistance.

Now that your target word has been selected, or typed in, click on Search. Wordweb’s program results will show up in the area below the Lookup field. You can now view the definition, the type of word, pronunciation, and a sample use of the word.

Notice that the tab to the immediate right of Wordweb’s tab says Web References. Perhaps you need additional information of the word in question. Without the need to open a web browser, simply click on Web References, click on Ok when the prompt appears, and Wordweb expands your lookup to the Internet.

When you connect Wordweb to the Internet in this manner, new tabs take the place of the Web References selection. One can now choose from Wikipedia, Wiktionary, or Wordweb Online to further their search. In this instance, clicking on Wordweb Online turned up multiple dictionaries and definitions for the word “predicament”.

In case you prefer something other than several search results, you can click on the Wiktionary tab for an online dictionary. Here you will encounter origins of the your word, as well as further definitions and pronunciations. Additionally, the Wiktionary has hyperlinks for words that bear similarities to your term.

Though its built-in dictionary and online connections are very useful, Wordweb throws in an additional tool. You may be wondering what the small speaker icon in the upper right-hand section of Wordweb does. Once you do a search on your word from the Lookup field, you can click on the speaker icon to hear a spoken version of the word.

Whether you need a reference for work or school, or are just curious about a word’s correct use, Wordweb can prove useful many times over. It is easy to works with, and useful whether you are online or not.