Dictionaries help users look up words they don't know the meaning of or find translations between languages. There are different types of dictionaries including bilingual, encyclopedic, monolingual learner's, phonetic, and visual dictionaries. It is important to consider the context of unfamiliar words to best understand their meaning. Encyclopedias provide information on various topics across many fields, while dictionaries focus more narrowly on defining words and their usages. The author also maintains a blog providing advice for improving English language skills.