25 Ways to Improve Your Writing Vocabulary
A man with scant vocabulary
is certainly a weak thinker and so cannot write any competitive exam worth its
name. So do improve your vocabulary. The following ways will be of some significant use:
Have an abiding love for vocabulary:
A great vocabulary is just one essential tool in a writer’s
toolbox, along with punctuation, grammar, and many others. Vocabulary can make
your writing more powerful and more effective and help you say exactly what you
mean. This indispensable tool will help you choose the best word for every job
and avoid vague words that do not give your readers a good sense of your
meaning.
Building your vocabulary is one of the easiest ways to improve
the power of your writing and make any writing task that much easier, as you
will have several synonyms in your repertoire to pull from every time. Developing
your vocabulary need not be difficult or painful. Here are 25 ways you can
improve your writing vocabulary every day.
Use New Words
Use a word immediately after you learn it. Try to make a game
out of using a new word as soon as you learn it. Every day, try to slip in a
new word into the conversation, a journal entry, an assignment or an email to a
friend. Do this as often as possible, and repeat the word to yourself.
Read Every Day
Once you’re out of school, word drills and assigned reading become
things of the past. While these were tools for building your vocabulary
repertoire while you were young, it doesn’t mean you should abandon reading.
Try to read a well-written and edited essay, magazine article, book or news
article every day. Nonfiction and technical books will quickly teach you new
ways to think and speak with words you may be unfamiliar with, but any type of
reading will help you along.
Learn Roots
Learn the roots of words. Most words in the English language are
built from a common root, prefix, and suffix, usually with an origin in the
Greek or Latin language. Once you learn a root, you’ll begin to understand more
words that use the same root. For example, -duc- (Latin root word) means to
lead or to make, such as in the words produce or deduce.
Use a Thesaurus
Keep a thesaurus handy. As you write, keep a thesaurus handy and
use it when you find yourself using a word too often, or using a word that you
know doesn’t quite convey the right meaning. This will help you better express
yourself, and you’ll also learn a new word in the process.
Develop Practical
Vocabulary
This means you should start by learning words that express
what’s important to you for the task at hand. A good example of this is
learning trade language or words you use often in a hobby or vocation. Rather
than immediately turning to cliches or jargon that’s tossed around, look for
clearer words to express to peers what you’re writing about.
Learn New Words Every Day
To improve your vocabulary quickly, make an effort to learn at
least one new word every single day. There are plenty of ways to do this, such
as a Word of the Day calendar or email list, or simply picking a word from a
thesaurus or dictionary.
Look up Words You Don’t
Know
How often do you come across words that are unfamiliar as you
read? Don’t just gloss over them; take the time to look them up, and if you
don’t have the time right then, write them down and look them up later.
Keep a Journal
Journaling won’t just help you develop your writing style, it
will also help you improve your vocabulary. Try to use new or interesting words
you’ve learned recently into a journal entry for the day or the week.
Identify Empty Words
You’re probably familiar with empty words in your speech (such
as “uh” or “um”), but your writing probably has empty words as well. Look for
these empty words in your writing that do not offer any substance to your
reader and replace them with something more appropriate. The same principle
applies to phrases and sentences, so make sure that you haven’t used six or
seven phrases to say something that could be better communicated in one
sentence filled with carefully-chosen words.
Diversify Your Reading
List
If you tend to read the same sort of things day in and day out,
you may not be exposing yourself to a wide enough range of vocabulary.
Diversify the topics you read to include natural science, Shakespeare,
contemporary literature, politics, history, philosophy or any other topics you
think you may enjoy.
Do Word Puzzles
Word puzzles in the newspaper or a magazine aren’t just a fun
way to fill time, they’re also perfect for boosting your working vocabulary.
Crossword puzzles are a challenge that get your brain working hard to search
your memory for words you do know but don’t use, and this can help you move
words from your memory banks into your working set of vocabulary
which will come across in your writing.
Try Word Board Games
There are plenty of word
games on the market designed to improve vocabulary and language
skills without being a bore. Some of these games you may have played as a
child, so it’s time to break them out again and get to “work.” If you have a
friend who could also use some help — or someone with a great vocabulary you
think will challenge you — invite them over for a game night.
Practice New Words in
Divergent Ways
It takes between 10 and 20 repetitions to make a new word a part
of your vocabulary. To help the word settle into your mind and memory, write it
down (both the definition and a sentence you make up using the word), use it in
conversation, include it in an email or any other way you can think of.
Make up Associations
Start by saying the new word aloud, then relate it to a word you
already know. A good example of this is gargantuan, which means “very large” or
“gigantic.” Say a sequence aloud: small, medium, large, very large, gargantuan.
Then list things you think are gargantuan.
Use Mnemonics
Mnemonic techniques are memory tricks you can use to remember
new words. You may remember a word by sounding it out and thinking of a funny
sentence that matches the meaning, such as turning egregious (extremely bad)
into “Don’t let that smelly rotten egg reach us!”
Visualize New Words
Research shows that visualization is a great way to remember new
words and their meanings. A good example of this is the word stratovolcano,
which is a high, pointed mountain with a violent explosion. One way to remember
this meaning is the fact that the prefix “strato” sounds like “straight-oh,”
which may make you think of a straight ruler or a “straight-o-volcano,” which
describes the word’s definition.
Make Your Own Vocabulary
Tests
Keep a list of the new words you learn each week and incorporate
into writing and conversation. At the end of each week, make yourself a quiz
using the words to cement them in your memory.
Make Synonym Word Lists
Do you find yourself turning to the same word again and again in
your writing? Grab a piece of paper and write it at the top. Next, brainstorm
or use a thesaurus to generate a list of ten to twenty new words you can use
instead. You can keep these lists in a vocabulary notebook and add to them
whenever you learn a new synonym.
Take a Writing Course
There are plenty of online courses as well as in-person classes
you can attend to boost your writing vocabulary and learn how to use new words
correctly. Try to find a self-paced course that uses assignments and quizzes to
hep you increase fluency and brush up on your writing skills. Some classes are
aimed at essay writing or creative writing, so you can find a class that will
help you improve the style you need the most help with.
Edit Your Own Writing
After you finish writing, be your own editor and go though the
piece with a fine-toothed comb to identify overused and nondescript words with
something more precise or colorful. Editing is an important process for
spotting writing errors, but it’s also great for improving the tone, style, and
clarity of your writing. It might help to read the sentences aloud, then note
any lack of precision. Search through your memory for more descriptive words,
or consult a thesaurus if you need to.
As you replace words, remember that using a large number of
complex words won’t necessarily clarify the meaning, and it may just make your
writing more pompous. Ask yourself, “Do I know a better word to use instead?”
You may replace “use” with “acquire” or “obtain,” or “do” with “perform.”
Move Words from
Comprehensive to Expressive Vocabulary
You actually have two types of vocabulary: one is a much larger
set of words you understand, even if only vaguely, and the other is a smaller
set of words you actually use to express yourself. Moving words from your
comprehensive, but passive vocabulary, to your active, expressive vocabulary is
easier than you think. To do this, you’ll need to know how to define, pronounce
and spell the words. Say them out loud and use them at every opportunity to
move them into your active set.
Ask for Feedback
Do you think your writing could use some help? If you’re
struggling with your written vocabulary, try asking someone else for help. A
second set of eyes can offer a great deal of insight and spot problems you may
not notice yourself, including poor word choice. Don’t be afraid to ask a
friend, teacher, co-worker or someone online to review your writing for
feedback on your vocabulary.
Carry a Dictionary and
Thesaurus with You
How often do you find yourself with free time and nothing to do?
Carry a pocket thesaurus or dictionary with you and you’ll find time to beef up
your vocabulary while you’re waiting for an appointment, commuting to work or
waiting for a bus. Whenever you have a few minutes to spare, read a page or two
and learn a new word to add to your writing. It’s also a great idea to look up
obscure words you don’t quite grasp that come to you on the fly as you go about
your day. You can also use the dictionary or thesaurus to look up unfamiliar
words you come across in your daily life.
Use College Preparation
Tests
College prep tests that use SAT and ACT-type words are a great
way to take your writing to the next level. This form of advanced study will
challenge your mind and give you a new set of words to use that are practical
and offer your writing the clarity it needs. You’ll also get the chance to
brush up on the most important Latin and Greek roots and get a new set of words
with activities to help move them into your active vocabulary set.
Play Games
There are tons of non-board games that will help you improve
your writing vocabulary while you have fun. Try downloading fun word games onto
your phone or computer so you can get some practice while you unwind after a
busy day. Some games are designed to build vocabulary skills, but there are plenty
of others that will help you practice spelling, phonics, and even typing
skills. There are even some designed for college students to prepare for
testing and vocabulary-rich exams.
Hopefully, this list has given you an excellent place to start
to build your vocabulary a bit at a time. If you think about it, there are
opportunities all around you to develop this important skill, so spend time
every day reading and listening to take in new words and then develop a system
to incorporate these new words in your writing and speech. Before long, you’ll
find your vocabulary has grown to a new level and your writing has gained the
clarity you need with an ease you didn’t think possible.