How to develop a good vocabulary and use it while writing

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If you want to be able to use language appropriately and get "that" right word bang on while writing, read on...

Things You'll Need

  1. A dedicated diary
  2. A pen
  3. A dictionary

Steps

1

Every time you sit down to read something, whether an editorial piece or a literary plot, keep your pen, dictionary and the dedicated diary handy. While reading, when you come across a new word or usage, pen it down in the diary. Look up the dictionary. Beside the word or usage that you have put down, state whether it's a noun, verb, adjective or whichever part of speech. Then write the meaning as it appears in the dictionary. Finally, write the sentence in which you came across this word/usage.

2

When you want to indulge in a piece of creative writing or wish to write any piece in an interesting way, just run through your dedicated diary once before you start. Do not write only with the urge to put to use the newly learned words, write as it flows in your mind. While revising your piece think about whether you could have used any new or different words/phrases or made your piece read better. As a starter, go back to your dedicated diary and read the example sentences what you have put against every new word.

3

In your attempt to learn new words and meanings more and fast, ensure that you do not remove your focus from understanding or enjoying the text which you are reading. Also, remember that some of the words that are used in text written several decades or even centuries back may not be in current usage. Be updated with contemporary writing styles.

And that will always be changing!

Tips

  1. Do not use words to show off your word stock. Learn to write better
  2. If simple words convey the meaning, do not use complex, difficult words that are not easily understandable.
  3. Remember, you write for other readers and not for yourself. So, be careful in choosing the vocabulary for your target audience.
  4. Do not assume the meaning of any word because you understand the context. Use the dictionary effectively.

Comments

How to Remember Words

Hi Lakshmi,
Thanks for the advice. I am in the middle of preparation for a vocabulary exam. I need to grasp and remember a lot of words and have only a few months to prepare. I have hard time remembering all the words. As i read new word list, i forget the old one. Is there any easy way to do this?

Try to memorize by writing

Try to memorize by writing the spellings. Revisist your list after every one week and check if you remember. Also, for every word, try to understand and remember the context in which the word is used.

1. Get some movies in

1. Get some movies in English.
2. Before watching, find the subtitles on the internet, write down the words you don't know.
3. It's a shameless plug, but I suggest my software (available at http://wordoholic.com ) to memorize the words.
4. Watch the movie with subtitles OFF and catch the words you've learned.

hi

Thanks for the tip. I know a lot of words but when speaking i find it difficult to actively use some of these words. What could i do to improve this?

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