Understanding Dictionary Order

To arrange words in dictionary order, we compare them letter by letter from left to right. The word that comes first in the alphabet at the first point of difference is placed earlier in the sequence.

Arranging the Given Words

We are given five words to arrange in dictionary order:

1. Mother
2. Master
3. Mango
4. Malta
5. Moise

Let's compare the words step-by-step:

Step 1: Compare the first letter.

All words begin with the letter 'M'. Since they are the same, we move to the next letter.

Step 2: Compare the second letter.

• Mother: Mother
• Master: Master
• Mango: Mango
• Malta: Malta
• Moise: Moise

The second letters are 'a' and 'o'. According to the alphabet, 'a' comes before 'o'. So, the words starting with 'Ma' will come before the words starting with 'Mo'. The 'Ma' words are Master (2), Mango (3), and Malta (4). The 'Mo' words are Mother (1) and Moise (5).

Step 3: Arrange the 'Ma' words.

We need to arrange Malta (4), Mango (3), and Master (2).

• Malta: Malta
• Mango: Mango
• Master: Master

Comparing the third letters: 'l', 'n', and 's'. In alphabetical order, 'l' comes before 'n', and 'n' comes before 's'. So, the order for these three words is Malta, Mango, Master.

• 4. Malta
• 3. Mango
• 2. Master

The sequence so far is 4, 3, 2...

Step 4: Arrange the 'Mo' words.

We need to arrange Mother (1) and Moise (5).

• Mother: Mother
• Moise: Moise

Comparing the third letters: 't' and 'i'. In alphabetical order, 'i' comes before 't'. So, the order for these two words is Moise, Mother.

• 5. Moise
• 1. Mother

The sequence for the 'Mo' words is 5, 1.

Step 5: Combine the sequences.

The 'Ma' words (4, 3, 2) come before the 'Mo' words (5, 1). Combining the lists gives the final dictionary order sequence:

4, 3, 2, 5, 1

This corresponds to the order: Malta, Mango, Master, Moise, Mother.

Revision Table: Dictionary Order Steps

Comparing letters column by column confirms the order: Malta, Mango, Master, Moise, Mother.

Additional Information: Mastering Alphabetical Order

Arranging words in dictionary order, also known as alphabetical order, is a fundamental skill. It helps in locating words quickly in dictionaries, indexes, and lists.

• Always start comparing from the first letter of each word.
• If the first letters are the same, move to the second letter, and compare them alphabetically.
• Continue this process until you find the first letter where the words differ. The word with the letter that comes earlier in the alphabet is placed first.
• If one word runs out of letters while others still have letters, the shorter word comes first (e.g., "cat" comes before "catalogue").
• If words are identical, their relative order might depend on capitalization or other specific rules, but for simple word lists, identical words would be grouped together.