What is referred to as a list of words and their meanings, glossary is a list of difficult to understand, technical terms commonly not used on day-to-day basis that refer to a specific field of knowledge. According to various sources the word glossary has derived from classic Latin “glossarium” or “glassa” or Middle English “glosarie”. Glossary is alphabetically arranged reference work that provides crucial for academic papers brief definitions of “unknown” terms used in the context and referring to a specific topic. What is also called “controlled vocabulary”, a glossary is placed at the end of the paper. A custom Glossary assignment is very helpful as you learn how to create a dictionary in miniature. But this dictionary only refers to a certain book, mentioned article or academic work applicable to the academic essay only.

How to Write a Glossary in Academic Paper?

1. The used term in the essay should be typed in defined manner, i.e. the bold text. When the reader searches to find the correct word through the entries, he should easily find it. The selected glossary term should never be capitalized unless it happens to be a name or a word in the beginning of sentence.

2. Give a clear definition for chosen term.To be effective, you have to express the meaning of the term in just one single sentence. If it is possible, use words only familiar to a reader to simplify the understanding.

3. If definition requires the use of another term. In that case, you are strongly advised to use second unfamiliar term to describe the first one, but make sure to include the meaning of the secondary term too.

4. When necessary, be sure to direct to other glossary entries.If you find that your primary term requires directing a reader to other similar by meaning term, do that. This can be executed if the two terms are more like synonyms to each other by putting “See [other term]” as the entry for the second.

5. More than 5 or 7 technical terms. When the paper or report has more than five technical terms, unfamiliar to your reading audience, you can place them right in the introduction of your paper. Their working definitions should be different from glossary definitions. Also, use footnotes to refer to glossary for additional help by putting “(See the glossary at the end of this report)”.

6. Read the final version of your paper to find technical term / word. If you find the one that your reader may be unfamiliar with, go back to glossary and define it.

7. Underlining and Italicising. Whenever unknown words appear in the text for the first time, make sure to underline or italicise them. The footnotes will help a reader to get the meaning. Also, the footnote will point out the word’s location in the glossary.

8. Highlight the words during drafting phase. It is highly advisable to list down words you wish to put in glossary when you writing your first and second paper drafts.

9. Alphabetise the glossary. List of terms should be found in alphabetical order only.