Table of Contents What is a Glossary?

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What is the Purpose of a Glossary?
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such, the author will provide a list of these important words, amongst many others, so students
can easily obtain them. On the other hand, terms that are not speci c to algebra, such as add
and subtract, will not be included in an algebra glossary. A glossary is then used by the reader to
gain a better understanding of the subject matter.
The glossary of a book is an alphabetically organized list of terms located at the end of a book.
Glossaries contain important information. Thus, authors usually place them at the end of a book
for easy access. If a student studying psychology is asked to compare and contrast Sigmund
Freud's, Id, Ego, and Superego vs. Erik Erikson's, Identity Crisis," the student could refer to the
glossary of a book and nd important vocabulary words. These words, such as id, ego, superego, and
identity crisis would be simply de ned in the glossary, allowing the student to become familiar with
the material without having to re-read the entire psychology book.
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Where is the Glossary in a book?
Glossary Examples
Books and textbooks containing glossaries provide essential tools for readers. Skimming the
glossary of a book before reading can help boost reader understanding and familiarity with key
terminology. Once completing a book, the reader should look at the glossary to ensure that the
content was fully understood. This image represents a glossary example for an ethics book:
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This is an example of a glossary in an ethics book. All of these terms are speci c to the subject of
ethics, and they are listed in alphabetical order.
The study of ethics has to do with morals and di erentiating right and wrong. Notice how the
terms provided in the image focus on words speci c to this subject.
One glossary of terms example is heraldry. Heraldry dates back to medieval times and includes
detailed symbols found on ags, shields and armor. During medieval times, most people were
illiterate, so heraldry was used to set people apart from one another, denote status, and identify
members of speci c groups. Heraldry was visual communication. During war, this was a very
important feature because it helped soldiers easily identify their enemies. Heraldry has a long
line of history and many of the original symbols and patterns are widely used today. For
example, an eagle symbolized honor, nobility, strength, and protection.. Arrows were used to
denote readiness for vengeance; and stars were used to show achievements. All of these
symbols now adorn The Great Seal of The United States. In a glossary of heraldry, words alone
cannot bear to describe the richness and history behind the images; therefore, a glossary of