Read. There is no way around it. Reading is the number one way to expand your current vocabulary. It sounds easy, right? Yes, but there are strategies for increasing your vocabulary through reading. So keep reading this article to learn more.
- Purchase a comprehensive dictionary and a thesaurus. A dictionary, or lexicon, provides you with the meanings of words and phrases. A thesaurus gives you a list of synonyms (words that have the same meaning) and antonyms (words that mean the opposite) for a given word. Both are quite useful in expanding your vocabulary.
- Buy a book. Get a book that is one level above the type of books you normally read. If you typically go for popular detective stories, this time grab a copy of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. If you are a romantic at heart, try novels by Jane Austen such as Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. Choosing literary classics is a good way to reacquaint yourself with important literary works while increasing your vocabulary.
- Read your book. Find a quiet spot where you can curl up and concentrate. When you come across a word you don't understand, try to deduce its meaning from how it is used in the sentence. Look for context clues. Compare your idea of the word's meaning with the definition in your dictionary.
- Write the words and their definitions. A more effective way to remember the meaning of an unfamiliar word or phrase is to write the word on a sheet of paper or, better yet, in a notebook. Next, look up the meaning and write it down next to the word or phrase. This may seem like a waste of time, but it is actually a good vocabulary-building exercise. By writing down the words and definitions, you can review the list later.
- Make reading a daily habit. Set aside a few minutes for reading. Be sure to bring your book with you if you know you will have to wait between appointments. You can read your book while waiting outside your doctor's office or during your lunch break if you work full-time. Make sure to note the words you don't understand and look them up in your dictionary when you have a chance. If your phone can access the Internet, you can always look up a word's meaning online.
- Do word games. Crossword puzzles and other word games are great vocabulary-building exercises. If the daily crossword in the newspaper is too difficult, you can buy crossword magazines that have easy, medium, and hard puzzles. You can also find word games online.
- Subscribe to websites that provide a 'word of the day.' You can find many websites that will send you the word of the day along with its pronunciation, meaning, etymology, and more. Once you sign up, an email will be sent to you daily. Some websites also have word games and other vocabulary exercises. Try these sites:
- Dictionary.com
- Merriam-Webster.com
- Oxford English Dictionary.com
Expanding your vocabulary takes commitment, time, a good book, and a good dictionary. On your first attempt at increasing your vocabulary, make sure to choose a book whose subject matter interests you. This will make it easier for you to invest time and effort in reading the book. Keep your dictionary close by so you can easily look up new words and phrases. Happy reading!
Expand Your Vocabulary
Expand Your Vocabulary : Multi-thousand tips to make your life easier.
Read. There is no way around it. Reading is the number one way to expand your current vocabulary. It sounds easy, right? Yes, but there are strategies for increasing your vocabulary through reading. So keep reading this article to learn more.
- Purchase a comprehensive dictionary and a thesaurus. A dictionary, or lexicon, provides you with the meanings of words and phrases. A thesaurus gives you a list of synonyms (words that have the same meaning) and antonyms (words that mean the opposite) for a given word. Both are quite useful in expanding your vocabulary.
- Buy a book. Get a book that is one level above the type of books you normally read. If you typically go for popular detective stories, this time grab a copy of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. If you are a romantic at heart, try novels by Jane Austen such as Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. Choosing literary classics is a good way to reacquaint yourself with important literary works while increasing your vocabulary.
- Read your book. Find a quiet spot where you can curl up and concentrate. When you come across a word you don't understand, try to deduce its meaning from how it is used in the sentence. Look for context clues. Compare your idea of the word's meaning with the definition in your dictionary.
- Write the words and their definitions. A more effective way to remember the meaning of an unfamiliar word or phrase is to write the word on a sheet of paper or, better yet, in a notebook. Next, look up the meaning and write it down next to the word or phrase. This may seem like a waste of time, but it is actually a good vocabulary-building exercise. By writing down the words and definitions, you can review the list later.
- Make reading a daily habit. Set aside a few minutes for reading. Be sure to bring your book with you if you know you will have to wait between appointments. You can read your book while waiting outside your doctor's office or during your lunch break if you work full-time. Make sure to note the words you don't understand and look them up in your dictionary when you have a chance. If your phone can access the Internet, you can always look up a word's meaning online.
- Do word games. Crossword puzzles and other word games are great vocabulary-building exercises. If the daily crossword in the newspaper is too difficult, you can buy crossword magazines that have easy, medium, and hard puzzles. You can also find word games online.
- Subscribe to websites that provide a 'word of the day.' You can find many websites that will send you the word of the day along with its pronunciation, meaning, etymology, and more. Once you sign up, an email will be sent to you daily. Some websites also have word games and other vocabulary exercises. Try these sites:
- Dictionary.com
- Merriam-Webster.com
- Oxford English Dictionary.com
Expanding your vocabulary takes commitment, time, a good book, and a good dictionary. On your first attempt at increasing your vocabulary, make sure to choose a book whose subject matter interests you. This will make it easier for you to invest time and effort in reading the book. Keep your dictionary close by so you can easily look up new words and phrases. Happy reading!