Improving Your Vocabulary
Nothing can be more impressive than a well-rounded vocabulary with an apt word for every situation. To be able to express yourself completely and put your ideas across in words is indeed an enviable trait. Whether it is by reading books, watching movies or interacting with different people, there are ample ways in which you can expand your mental lexicon. However, just picking up new words is not enough; using the right words at the right time is what really counts. “You know that right. Like you know…” That does not make the point clear unless you know a person too well that you do not need words to communicate. Apart from being a boon to your word list, a good vocabulary exudes more confidence. Enhancing your vocabulary is not something you can do overnight, as there are thousands of words to master and the choice is often a difficult one. Work smart instead of hard and ponder over these pointers to skyrocket your word list.
How To Expand Your Vocabulary
Make It A Priority
If you really want to learn new words, then make it your priority task. A strong commitment to hear and read well and learn new words everyday will take you a long way. Keep your ears open for any new and impressive words that come your way.
Read Well
Read all kinds of material. Indulge into the newspaper every morning, pick on the science magazines or dig onto the fashion ones. Whether it is poems, plays or short stories, if you come across something interesting go ahead and read it. Every piece surely has something new to offer. Be open to all kinds of texts and imbibe the most from all of them.
Interacting With People
Speaking to people from different cultures and backgrounds is a good way to expose yourself to a wide range of words you have never heard before. Different influences means discovering the lingo and commonly used words of certain cults, which seem different and interesting. When we hear people talking, we tend to pick up words more easily, that is exactly how we picked up our first words when we were little, by hearing others! So always, keep your ears open.
Work Towards A Practical Vocabulary
If you want to do it the smart way, then do not open the dictionary and learn words that cannot be implemented in your day-to-day life. Go for words that help to express yourself easily. If you are an entrepreneur, then learn words from your area of expertise. That way, you will not just expand your vocabulary, but will also find-yourself less tongue-tied when seeking an expression. Go for words that talk about your hobbies and interests—if you are a connoisseur of fine wines, then expand your vocabulary in this sphere instead of working intensively on learning names of Greek cuisines!
Use A Thesaurus Religiously
While writing, make sure you have a thesaurus in hand. Wouldn’t you want to express a similar thought using different words? To make your expressions look more innovative and add an interesting twist to your communications, synonyms are the best bet. And every time you use a new word for another word, you are expanding your vocabulary.
Explore The Meaning
Not only a thesaurus, but make the dictionary your bible too. If you really want to expand your vocabulary, then you should avidly find out the meaning of any new word you come across. If you are unable to remember the meaning, then figure out an apt sentence that brings out the meaning and use it often until you totally feel the new word! Technology has gone a long way, so you do not need to carry a dictionary along with you! Just Google it, or get the perfect dictionary app on your smart phone! Figuring out how a word is spelt and the various ways in which it can be used can help the person retain it in memory.
Fun Learning Games
Word games like Scrabble, Word Search, Hangman, and Balderdash are excellent games that focus on vocabulary. What better than a fun way to concentrate on improving your language? Scrabble is such an innovative way to learn new words while word search and hangman introduces you to unexpected words. Educational games like these are not only fun but also good for reinforcing your vocabulary.
Work On The Roots
Learning the etymology of words, which usually has Greek or Latin roots can prove to be beneficial. Once you know the root of the words, it is always easier to figure out the meaning of the new words. For example, “graph” has a Greek root, which means, “to write” and you can pave your way to figuring out what “graphic” or “photography” means.
Word Of The Day
Wouldn’t you want a new word in your email every morning? Dictionary.Com has a free tool to subscribe to the word of the day. From the meaning, etymology, to the ways of using the word you can receive a common word, which might be not so common to others and words, which are often forgotten to be a part of the language. And imagine the joy when a word you know well is “Word of the Day”. Try learning these words and make them a part of your conversation the very same day you receive it so that it stays in memory.
Use Flash Cards
Many examinations require you to work on your vocabulary intensively. Like SATs or GREs need you to have elaborate words on your fingertips. In such situations, flash cards come handy. Go through these flashcards regularly. Learning words with a picture of the flash in your mind makes the whole affair of learning words so panoramic.
From getting better grades at school to exuding more confidence and cracking those interviews, a rich vocabulary is sure to take you places. So work on being the dictionary yourself and have a superior vocabulary than the rest.
