 When we want to know more about a subject than our dictionary tells us or find something that isn't in the dictionary, we use our encyclopedias. Encyclopedias contain general information and are arranged in alphabetical order. They are divided into many volumes. Each volume is marked with letters and a number. When we want to find information about a person like Abraham Lincoln, we look up the last name, Lincoln. But if the person is royalty, like King Henry VIII, we would look under Henry. Look up the first word of proper nouns like Niagara Falls. Cross references use the words See also. If you wanted to find out about ponies, your encyclopedia might tell you to look under horses instead: "See also horses." This is called a cross-reference. Using an encyclopedia's index can help you find information quickly. The index is usually the first or last book in a set of encyclopedias. Like other indexes, information in an encyclopedia's index is arranged alphabetically. An encyclopedia's index tell you in what volume and on what pages to find the information on the main topic. It also lists related articles. Related articles can give you more information about the main topic. By using the index, you can quickly see every volume and page number in the entire set of encyclopedias that contains information about your topic.
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