What is guide words?

Guide words are the words found at the top of each page of a dictionary or an encyclopedia that provide the first and last words that appear on that page. These words help users quickly locate the word they are looking for without having to scan through the entire book. The first guide word serves as a reference for all of the words listed on that page, while the second guide word indicates the start of the next page. Guide words are typically printed in bold or a larger font to make them easy to spot. The use of guide words streamlines the process of finding a specific word in a book, making it a valuable tool for researchers, students, and anyone who frequently consults reference books.