How to Improve Your Vocabulary

The funny truth is the more words you know, the fewer you'll need - and everyone knows the most valuable talent is never to use two words when one will do.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dictionaries
• Thesauri
• Magazine Subscriptions
• Newspaper Subscriptions
• Index Cards
• Pads Of Paper
• Word-processing Software
• Deluxe Scrabble

1. Read books, magazines, poems, plays, stories and more. The more language you're exposed to, the more new words you'll learn.

2. Make it a habit to find a new word every day. Look in the dictionary, sign up for "A Word a Day" (see dictionary.com) or make swapping new words a game with a workmate or fellow student.

3. Speak to people. You'll be exposed to an amazing range of cultural influences and occupations, all of which will introduce you to new words.

4. Write down words you don't know. Keep a pad in your briefcase or purse just for that purpose.

5. Look up the words in a dictionary so you'll understand what they mean, how they're spelled and their various usages. This will also help you remember the words.

6. Make flashcards of the words and go through them regularly.

7. Create or play word games. Scrabble and Mad Libs, for example, are great ways to reinforce new vocabulary words.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice your vocabulary on others, though it might be an adjustment to blurt out those three-dollar words.
• Begin each morning with a brand new word - you can buy a calendar for this purpose, or you can keep a dictionary right next to your bed. Work the word into conversation during the day. Say the word, spell it and say it again to aid memory retention.
• It's best to understand what the word means and how to use it before you do, but some like to live dangerously.
• A "malapropism" is a misuse of words, especially when the confusion stems from two words sounding alike (for example, "reversible psychology" instead of "reverse psychology").

[Freddieb]

on 12/31/2007 I agree with Anne Fish's comments on improving vocabulary while watching TV. I first learned about this in a free vocabulary course called Verbal Success: http://www.verbalsuccess.com/course.php I also learned how to turn each day into an opportunity to improve my vocabulary. Similar to recommendations above, but with more direction and specific examples.

[spiritd123]

on 9/22/2007 needed the tips, thank you!

[aiomah]

on 2/16/2007 good article

[q16937]

on 1/18/2007 Use of mnemonics and pictures about words is of great help in improving vocabulary. I recently found a blog which gives very good mnemonics and helpful pictures to peg meaning of tough words in to memory.
Visit the blog at http://visualvocabulary.blogspot.com. You can join the companion Google group also to get word in your mail box - http://groups-beta.google.com/group/visualvocabulary
It is free. This blog is not trying sell anything

[chris1111]

on 10/30/2006 I just purchased a great program for improving your vocabulary. It's called Ultimate Vocabulary. I have been using it for a few days now and I am really noticing an improvement - I am learning heaps of great new words. I got the program from their website. They also have a free vocabulary mini-course which is good too. The site is:
http://www.ultimatevocabulary.com