Understanding Dictionary Order and Word Arrangement

Arranging words in dictionary order, also known as alphabetical order, involves comparing words letter by letter from left to right. This is a fundamental skill for using an English dictionary and is often tested in verbal ability sections of competitive exams.

Step-by-Step Word Arrangement

Let's arrange the given words according to the rules of an English dictionary. The words are:

1. Reduce
2. Refer
3. Redress
4. Reedy
5. Redeem

We compare the words letter by letter:

• All words begin with 'Re'.
• Comparing the third letter: Four words have 'd' (Reduce, Redress, Reedy, Redeem) and one has 'f' (Refer). Since 'd' comes before 'f' in the alphabet, 'Refer' will come after the words starting with 'Red' or 'Ree'.
• Now compare the words starting with 'Re' followed by 'd' or 'e'.
  • Redeem (Rede...)
  • Redress (Redr...)
  • Reduce (Redu...)
  • Reedy (Reed...)
• Comparing the third letters again: 'd' (Redeem, Redress, Reduce) comes before 'e' (Reedy). So, Reedy will come after Redeem, Redress, and Reduce.

Let's focus on the words starting with 'Red': Redeem, Redress, Reduce.

• Redeem (R-e-d-e-e-m)
• Redress (R-e-d-r-e-s-s)
• Reduce (R-e-d-u-c-e)

Comparing the fourth letter:

• Redeem: 'e'
• Redress: 'r'
• Reduce: 'u'

In alphabetical order, 'e' comes before 'r', and 'r' comes before 'u'. So the order for these three words is Redeem, Redress, Reduce.

Now let's place 'Reedy' and 'Refer' in the sequence:

• The order so far: Redeem, Redress, Reduce.
• 'Reedy' starts with 'Ree', while the others started with 'Red'. The third letter 'd' comes before 'e', so 'Reedy' comes after Redeem, Redress, and Reduce when comparing up to the third letter. However, we need to compare letter by letter until a difference is found.
• Comparing 'Redeem' (Rede...) and 'Reedy' (Ree...): Both start with 'Re'. The third letter is 'd' for Redeem and 'e' for Reedy. 'd' comes before 'e'. So 'Redeem' comes before 'Reedy'.
• Comparing 'Redress' (Redr...) and 'Reedy' (Ree...): The third letter 'd' comes before 'e'. So 'Redress' comes before 'Reedy'.
• Comparing 'Reduce' (Redu...) and 'Reedy' (Ree...): The third letter 'd' comes before 'e'. So 'Reduce' comes before 'Reedy'.
• This confirms that Redeem, Redress, and Reduce come before Reedy. The order is currently Redeem, Redress, Reduce, Reedy.
• Finally, 'Refer' starts with 'Ref', while the others start with 'Red' or 'Ree'. The third letter 'f' comes after 'd' and 'e'. So 'Refer' comes last.

The correct dictionary order is:

1. Redeem (Number 5)
2. Redress (Number 3)
3. Reduce (Number 1)
4. Reedy (Number 4)
5. Refer (Number 2)

The arrangement of the given numbers based on this order is 5, 3, 1, 4, 2.

Comparison Table

Final Word Arrangement

Based on the letter-by-letter comparison, the correct arrangement of the words in English dictionary order is:

1. Redeem (5)
2. Redress (3)
3. Reduce (1)
4. Reedy (4)
5. Refer (2)

This corresponds to the numerical sequence: 5, 3, 1, 4, 2.

Revision Table: Key Concepts in Dictionary Order

Additional Information: Improving Vocabulary and Dictionary Skills

Understanding dictionary order is crucial for efficiently finding words in a dictionary. This skill is also beneficial for organizing lists alphabetically in various contexts. To improve your vocabulary and dictionary skills, consider the following:

• Practice arranging lists of words alphabetically.
• Regularly use a physical or online dictionary to look up words and their meanings, pronunciation, and usage.
• Pay attention to root words, prefixes, and suffixes to understand word formation.
• Learn about homophones, homographs, and antonyms to enrich your understanding of word relationships.

Mastering dictionary usage not only helps with word arrangement questions but also significantly enhances reading comprehension and writing abilities.