The way you learn vocabulary words depends on your learning style and your preference. Some people find reading a dictionary to find vocabulary words very boring, while others may find it fascinating. Either way, it’s debatable whether you should learn all of your vocabulary words from the dictionary.
Not all dictionaries are alike, so you may find one version better than another for discovering new vocabulary words. Some dictionaries will give more than just the definition of a vocabulary word. The dictionary will show you an example of the vocabulary word used in a sentence or alternate spellings as well as the plural forms of nouns and the past tense of verbs. Some dictionaries will also tell you the historical derivation of the word. This can help you learn new vocabulary in the future because many words with the same roots have similar meanings.
New vocabulary words are constantly evolving from technology, scientific discoveries, other languages, slang and pop culture, so it’s valuable to know how they are derived. Learning new vocabulary is easy if you use your brain and actively involve yourself in the learning process.
When you find a new vocabulary word, look it up in the dictionary and write out a definition of it in your own words. Also write one or more sentences using the new word in context. If you are committed to expanding your vocabulary, adding just three new words a day to your vocabulary would add up to almost 11,000 words in ten years.
Don’t use an impressive vocabulary merely as a means of showing off. The kind of vocabulary you use should always be appropriate to the context in which you are writing or speaking. But if your new vocabulary really has become a part of you and has a useful place in your writing and conversation, by all means, go ahead and use it!
Representatives are
ready to assist you.
Type your questions
and get a response in
real time.
