How to Improve Vocabulary by Reading

Reading can improve your vocabulary.

Building your vocabulary takes time and focus. Most people work to build their vocabulary for academic and professional reasons. It is important to have a firm grasp on a word before you use it. In addition to other methods of vocabulary building, such as flash cards and memorization, reading can help you build your vocabulary relatively quickly.

Things You'll Need

• Reading material
• Pencil
• Paper
• Dictionary
• Note cards
• Notebook

Instructions

1. Choose books or newspaper articles that you find challenging to read. To expand your vocabulary, you need to be exposed to new words. But if the work you have chosen is too difficult for you to read, it can be discouraging to keep reading.

2. Underline any words that you are unsure of when you read. This brings your attention to the words and allows you to keep reading without stopping.

3. Write the words on a piece of paper when you have finished the chapter, section or article you are reading.

4. Guess the definition according to context clues in your reading. Write that next to each word.

5. Look up the word in a dictionary and check to see if your definition matches. Be sure to check all of the available definitions, as the meaning in the text may not be the first one listed in the dictionary.

6. Create a vocabulary card or book and add the word to your collection. The card option makes it easier to sort through and remember the words you have looked up. A book is easier to carry around and flip through when you have extra time on your hands.

Tips & Warnings

• It often takes several exposures to a word before most people feel comfortable enough to use it.

• Your reading material will depend on the type of vocabulary words you want to learn. For example, if you are interested in improving the overall scope of your vocabulary, reading the classics as well as a variety of newspaper items or magazines will help. However, if you want to increase your financial or business vocabulary, taking time to read trade magazines would be more helpful.

References

• Improving Vocabulary: Top Ten Ways to Improve Vocabulary
• Execution for System: How to Improve Your Vocabulary