An extensive vocabulary is one of the most important weapons in a writer’s arsenal, just as important as grammar, punctuation, creativity, and imagination. Knowing and being able to use a lot of words helps writers express themselves with greater precision and clarity and write pieces that are more compelling and powerful.
Individuals with a wide-ranging vocabulary are not only considered good communicators but also generally perceived to be more intelligent and erudite. Apart from the obvious benefits of having more words at one’s disposal, learning new words is a fun activity that helps writers (and non-writers) choose the best words in every situation.
Here are 5 ways to build vocabulary and effortlessly learn new words:
1. Be a Voracious Reader
One of the best and most pleasurable vocabulary building strategies is to read as widely and as much as possible. Since readers constantly encounter new words, a great technique is to figure out the meanings based on context clues (the tone of the writing, the plot, etc.). After making an educated guess, the next step is to look up the definition in a dictionary. Many readers prefer to highlight new words or jot them down in a notebook for later.
Encountering unfamiliar words in a specific context in a magazine or a work of fiction, for example, can be far more helpful than using flash cards or skimming through lists of unrelated vocabulary words. It allows readers to not only gain exposure to new or obscure words but also see how they are used in a sentence or in conversation. To draw an analogy, words are like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle; it is almost impossible to remember or make sense of them when they’re scattered around the table. But once even a couple of pieces are combined, a meaningful pattern begins to emerge, which makes understanding and recognizing the individual pieces much easier.
Research shows that most of the words we know are learned from context. Therefore, the importance of reading, and thereby learning in context, cannot be emphasized enough. Reading regularly and from a variety of sources is one of the most effective ways to expand vocabulary because it influences all three facets of vocabulary building – learning, recall, and retention.
2. Go to the Root of the Matter
Over half of English vocabulary is derived from a common set of roots, prefixes, and suffixes that trace their origins to ancient Greek and Latin. Mastering the Greek and Latin elements in English is a powerful tool to learn new words and form connections between words that share a common root. Learning one root word can help in learning many more words that derive from it. Learning new words is also more fun when you understand where they come from, identify the language they originated from, and trace their path to the English language.
People looking to improve their vocabulary often embark upon a formal study of Greek and Latin roots by memorizing a list of common roots and affixes.
Students appearing for the SAT will find that learning root words is a great way to prepare for the reading comprehension and vocabulary part of the test, which in turn is critical for getting into a good school.
Latin and Greek Roots of Some Common English Words
| Root | Definition | Example | |
| Latin | ambi | both | ambidextrous, ambiguous |
| ject | throw | reject, project | |
| multi | many | multiple, multitudinous | |
| pater | father | paternal, patronym | |
| cent | one hundred | percent, century | |
| Greek | auto | self | automobile, autonomous |
| graph | writing | graphic, photograph | |
| contra | against | contradictory, contraband | |
| bio | life | biology, biography | |
| chron | time | chronic, chronological |
3. Use a Thesaurus and a Dictionary
Readers sometimes gloss over unfamiliar words due to laziness, lack of time, or simply because they don’t have a dictionary handy. However, using a good dictionary and thesaurus (print, software, or online) is a great way to expand vocabulary. Readers who run into a new word can look up its meaning(s) and pronunciation in a dictionary. A thesaurus will provide synonyms and antonyms and help develop an understanding of the nuances of the words. Dictionaries and thesauruses are invaluable resources for times when a writer finds himself/herself using a word too often or is uncertain whether a specific word conveys the intended meaning. They help writers express themselves better and learn new words in the process.
4. Play Word Games and Puzzles
One of the most entertaining vocabulary building strategies is to play word games that help players discover new words and meanings. There are plenty of games and puzzles that enhance vocabulary and language skills without being dull or monotonous. These include crossword puzzles in newspapers, word anagrams and jumbles, and board games like Scrabble, Boggle, Quiddler, etc. Most people play these games in their childhood; now’s the time to bring them out again and use them as vocabulary building tools. Word puzzles aren’t just an amusing way of killing time, they’re also great for expanding working vocabulary. Crosswords challenge players’ brain and memory and help them recall words that they know but don’t use.
Some people favor spoken word games over board games. Popular spoken word games include old game night favorites like Word Chain (players come up with a word beginning with the last letter of the preceding word), Word Association (players quickly say a word that is associated with the preceding word), and Metaphors (players come up with metaphors for things they see around them.)
5. Use Mnemonics and Word Association
Mnemonics are ideas, patterns, or associations that help language learners remember new words. There are two types of mnemonics:
- Images – These are wacky, funny, or strange mental pictures that learners connect to the word(s) they’re trying to learn. For example, take the word monocle (an eyeglass for one eye). Does the second syllable sound a bit like uncle? Now picture your long-deceased Uncle Fred wearing a monocle and peering shortsightedly at you. This is the image that will spring to mind and trigger your memory when you try to recall the word.
- Word associations – These are funny or memorable words, phrases, or sentences that learners connect to the word(s) they’re trying to learn. For example, take the word hirsute (hairy or covered with hair). Does that sound like a hair suit? Or take the word diffidence (timidity or shyness). It is easier to remember when it is linked to its antonym confidence, a more commonly used word. Word associations may also take a variety of other forms, like rhymes and historical contexts. For example, the word diehard (to resist death or struggle in dying) is a grim expression used in the 1700s to describe condemned men who struggled the longest while being hanged to death. Knowing the origins of this word can help learners remember it.
Below is a three-step process for using mnemonics as a vocabulary-building strategy:
– Write down an unfamiliar word.
– Find its definition.
– Create a mnemonic to remember its meaning.
Following these tips will certainly help learners grow their vocabulary and achieve clarity in their speech and writing.
