If you use a Mac, you might use the Dictionary feature. By this, I don’t mean the Dictionary application, but rather the integrated feature where (available in many programs, but not all) when you hover the cursor over a word and hit the designated keyboard shortcut (preset to Control-Command-D), a little box will appear with the Dictionary entry in it.

This can be very handy in looking up definitions, but I find it most useful as an OS-wide thesaurus. Whenever I write a blog or prepare some other writing, I use it constantly.

The problem: normally, the word’s definition shows up when you hit the keyboard shortcut, and to get the thesaurus listing, you have to move in with the mouse and click the little menu at the bottom of the pop-up box. It takes time, and when you need synonyms as often as I do, it can be a real pain.

Fortunately, there’s a fix in which you can make the thesaurus come up by default instead of the definition. Here’s how to do it: Open the Dictionary app, then go to Preferences. You’ll see the Dictionary and Thesaurus listed (you can turn either or both on and off, by the way). The dictionary will probably be on top. Just click-and-drag the thesaurus to the top, then close Preferences. From then on, the thesaurus listings will always appear first.

Just a little tip. But I find the feature so useful I thought I’d mention it. And if you’re not using the integrated dictionary feature, then start using it: it’s very handy indeed.