Guide words is a very important idea when using a dictionary, an encyclopedia, a law book, or anything else that is in a special set order. Guide words are those words that are found in the upper left-hand corner and upper right-hand corner of a dictionary. If you look at page 138 of your Oxford Wordpower Dictionary you will see two words at the top of the page. In the upper left-hand corner is the word "concerted" while in the upper right-hand corner is the word "condescend." These two words are the guide words for this page. Only words that are between these two words alphabetically are found on this page.

Look at the top word in the left-hand column. It is "concerted." Look at the bottom word in the right-hand column. It is "condescend." By the top word and the bottom word, I mean the words in very dark letters.

The top left-hand column actually has part of the material that started on page 137. But it does not have the dark word which sticks out slightly to the left. We do not need to worry about that carry over material. At the bottom right-hand column, the definition is finished and does not go over to page 139. Some pages do have carry over material. We do not need to worry about that carry over material. With Guide Words we are only worried about the dark lettered words that stick out slightly left of the other regular colored words.