Things You'll Need:
- Small notebook
- Handheld digital dictionary/thesaurus
- Dictionary/thesaurus
- Online word games
- Vocabulary quizzes
- Books
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Step 1
Buy a small notebook to carry in your pocket or purse, or plan on using a digital handheld device.
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Step 2
Write down every word you hear or read that is not part of your everyday vocabulary. (How about the ones in the introduction to this article?) Leave space for the pronunciation, the definition and a sentence using the word. Eventually, your little notebook will be full of words that have become part of your regular usage.
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Step 3
Find the new word in your dictionary right away if possible, or plan a time later to do so.
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Step 4
Begin using the word. Even if it feels awkward, commit to using the word five times that day, in speech or writing. "You have a plethora of projects to work on, Mrs. Jones." "There are a plethora of fish in your bucket, Mr. Fisherman." "I can list a plethora of reasons to improve my vocabulary."
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Step 5
Find word games and word quizzes online and in magazines. Take a quiz at least once a week and make a note of any words you miss, repeating Steps 2 through 4.
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Step 6
Learn the Greek and Latin roots of words, then make a list of all the words you know containing that root. For example, "bene" is the Latin root for "well" or "good." From that, we get beneficial, benevolent, beneficent and others. Other roots to learn: "phil" for love: philosophy, philanthropy, philatelist. "Vita" is for life, and is used in vitamin, vitality and others. Go online and find lists of root words. Soon, you'll be an etymologist--one who studies the roots and history of words--as opposed to an entomologist, who studies insects.
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Step 7
Become a voracious reader. Whatever your taste in literature may be, you will no doubt come upon words that are not familiar. Write them in your notebook, and make them yours as you repeat the steps above.






















Comments
blabbergirl said
on 12/25/2008 Yes, I too abhor anaphylaxis, which I looked up, wrote down, used 5 times in sentences,and then, as ashamed as I am to admit it, forgot.
Rosalene said
on 12/7/2008 Inordinately prodigious piece of advice. Encouraging to those whose diffidence might tend to prohibit expanding their etymological boundries. How fortuitous that I stumbled across this well-constructed article. Unlike the plethora of superfluous how-to pieces pertaining to the repair and maintainance of sporty thingamajiggits, this exemplary work did not create a sense of anaphylaxis from which I'd need to retreat! Congratulations, Ms. Johnson. (This was fun!)