You might try reading one new book a week, or reading the newspaper every morning. Pick a frequency and pace that works for you, and develop a reading routine that fits into your schedule. Try to read at least one book and several magazines every week. Be consistent. As well as improving your vocabulary, you’ll also keep updated and backdated, your general knowledge will increase, and you’ll be an intelligent, well-rounded person.
Try reading nonfiction and technical books: these will rapidly teach you not only new ways to speak, but also new ways to think. Read about a variety of subjects, like philosophy, religion, and science. If you usually read the local paper, consider trying the long, difficult stories in national, international and business newspapers and magazines, like The New Yorker or The Economist. There are many classics available for your perusal at Project Gutenberg and LibriVox.
Consider keeping a small notebook with you and quickly jot down unknown words as you come across them for checking later. If you hear or see a word you don’t know, be sure to look it up.
Reading and having conversations with others is the most significant way to improve your vocabulary. [3] X Research source You can enhance your vocabulary by reading a dictionary or using an online thesaurus. [4] X Research source [v161927_b01]. 1 September 2021. Or take a linguistics class and learn about how languages have formed.
If you’re easily learning three words a week, start upping the ante. Try to learn ten words next week. Looking up 20 new words a day in the dictionary will make it difficult to use any of them accurately. Be realistic and build practical vocabulary that you’ll be able to use.
Even if you’re watching TV or doing other activities, keep some flashcards with you and study your new words. Always be building.
Write letters to old friends and use lots of specific details. If your correspondence is typically short and informal, switch it up and write a longer letter or email than you’re used to writing. Take time in crafting letters as you would an essay for school. Make considered choices. Consider taking on more writing responsibilities at work. If you typically avoid composing memos or writing group emails or participating in group discussions, change your habits and write more. You might as well get paid to build your vocabulary.
For instance, the phrase “dolphins and whales” can be replaced with the word “cetaceans,” making “cetaceans” a useful word. A word is also useful if it is more descriptive than the word or phrase it replaces. For example, many people’s voices could be described as “pleasant”. But someone with a very pleasant voice could be said to have a “mellifluous” voice.
You could say that “Iron Mike” is Mike Tyson’s “sobriquet,” but “nickname” might be the more accurate and useful word in the sentence. Therefore, “sobriquet” may be less useful in your vocabulary.
Visit word building sites such as freerice. com and construct an expansive vocabulary while nourishing the hungry or doing something else useful. There are many online sites devoted to compiling alphabetical lists of unusual, weird, old-fashioned, and difficult words. Avail yourself of the search engine to find these sites and to learn from them. This is a great way to while away time waiting for a bus or in the bank queue.
