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Home > Articles > How to Improve Vocabulary: Pragmatic Ways and Approaches for Memorization and Retention
How to Improve Vocabulary: Pragmatic Ways and Approaches for Memorization and Retention
Suman Saurav
Updated on 13th June, 2024 , 5 min read
How to Improve Vocabulary: Ways and Approaches
How to Improve Vocabulary is one of the most common questions asked and meditated upon, especially by those who want to learn advanced English or even normal English. Vocabulary is one of the most significant aspects of English Language. Be it mastering writing or speaking, the role of a good vocabulary always comes into play. Having a good command on vocabulary not only helps you articulate yourself but also helps you in making somebody understand you better. Improving vocabulary takes rigorous practice, time and patience. Mastering vocabulary is a multifaceted approach and depends on a lot of factors. Additionally, if you want to improve your vocabulary, you need to answer: Why I want to improve my vocabulary? Unless you understand the purpose behind improving your vocabulary, you won't be able to command and master it. Read the article below for practical tips and easy ways to improve your vocabulary.
Check more: Who is considered as the Father of English Language?
How to Improve Vocabulary: Read, Read, Read
Needless to say, reading is the cornerstone of building not only vocabulary but also increasing knowledge and memory. Once Shashi Tharoor, Indian novelist, politician and a literary genius was addressing a large group of students. A boy stood up and asked him:
Sir, can you teach us a “new word” today so that we can also improve our vocabulary?
Shashi Tharoor replied: I will give a very old word today. The word is Read, Read, and Read.
Shashi Tharoor's answer teaches a valuable lesson. His answer is simple yet sophisticated for those who want to improve their vocabulary. Keep in mind that you read things related to your niche, domain and area of interest. For example if you are in a medical niche, you need to focus more on reading medical content because that's your area of work. If you are in a law niche, you need to focus more on reading judicial content because that's your area of work. Building vocabulary is a long-term process. Maintaining regularity and consistency is crucial if you want to progress at a decent pace. Bulleted below are benefits of reading if you are wondering “how to improve my vocabulary”
- Reading allows exposure to new words: Reading helps you come across new words that you may not come across in everyday conversation or other media.
- Contextual Learning: When you encounter new words while reading, you see them in context. The same word can be used in several contexts and situations. Reading helps you understand words and their multiple meaning with the context in which it is used.
- Comprehensive Vocabulary: Different types of reading materials—such as fiction, non-fiction, academic articles, and newspapers—introduce you to diverse vocabulary.
- Enthusiastic Engagement: When you engage better, you retain better. Read articles, blogs and genres of your interst and domain to master words from your niche.
- Inspiration and Enjoyment: A reader lives a thousand lives. You must have heard this statement before. Reading is a motivation in itself. For some it may be a form of escapism, but for some it is pure enjoyment.
Read more: Rhyming Words in English.
How to Improve Vocabulary: Listening
Attentive listening is another way of improving vocabulary that cannot be ignored. Attentive listening helps you fathom how people phrase things. By listening attentively, you understand the tone, body language, connotations and surrounding words. Additionally, attentive listening helps you learn pronunciation and intonation as well. This becomes very helpful and useful for non-native speakers who may struggle with phonetic complexities.
By listening carefully, you recall and retain better. It is a cognitive process and active listening facilitates the process of building a great vocabulary in a short span of time. Careful listening also fosters feedback mechanism. Attentive listening often paves the way for productive interaction. Clearing doubts and asking for clarifications or involving in discussions reinforces the correct understanding and usage of new words.
Also Read: One Word Substitution in English Language
How to Improve Vocabulary: Writing
A writing habit benefits and helps everyone in various ways. Consequently, writers are exposed to a variety of writing tasks from an early age.
Maintaining a diary
You must have heard about Anne Frank's work The Diary of a Young Girl. If you have not read it, give it a read. The book opens a new perspective of maintain a diary. Writing about your everyday activities, thoughts, and ideas in a diary every day will help you enhance your vocabulary. You become accustomed with the writing style and employ different words. Because you have a habit of reading, you can employ the newly learned words to expand your vocabulary.
Keep a record of new words.
If you read every day, you can take notes on all of the new words and their meanings. These terms can be used in various sentences to help people comprehend them better.
Read more: Duolingo English Test
How to Improve Vocabulary: Technical Tips
Now, read some technical aspects of improving your vocabulary at a fast pace:
Using Dictionary and Thesaurus
Keeping a small dictionary handy is a good way to keep in touch with words. It helps you search the meanings of words you don't know. Additionally, you should use a thesaurus to find synonyms and improve your understanding of words with similar meanings. You can download dictionaries and thesaurus on your mobile for convenience as well.
Using Vocabulary Journal
Journaling is the one of the best ways to help yourself improve your vocabulary. You can write new words in your journal and go back to those words regularly until the words become normal for your in daily usages.
A Word a day helps you play
Cultivate a habit of learning a word on a daily basis. This will compound and you will have a tiring list of words in your vocabulary. You can use apps and website to do this task conveniently.
Use Flashcards
Use apps to create digital flashcards. For Physical Flashcards, you can write words on one side of a card and their meanings on the other.
Word Games
Word games are not only playful but also interactive. Word games will expose you to a new set of vocabulary. You can use apps and website to do this task conveniently.
Use Mnemonics
For Memory Aids, Create mnemonics to help remember new words and their meanings.
Watch and Listen
Listen to podcasts, movies and audiobooks is a helpful way to expand your word stock.
Carefully scrutinize Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes
Etymology is very powerful in helping you understand things rather than memorize, Understand the roots of words to help decipher the meanings of unfamiliar words. By understanding the root of words, you can learn a number of related words simultaneously.
Memorize synonyms and antonyms together
Memorizing words together is a great way to progress faster. Learn all synonyms, anonyms and related words together. But use them wisely because a word and its meaning can differ depending upon contexts and situations.
Join a Book Club or Writing Group
Participating in discussions about books or writing exposes you to new vocabulary. Also, receive feedback from others to improve your use of language.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Last but not the least, practice makes a man perfect. While improving your vocabulary, don't forget to use all those words you have accumulated and memorize. If you don't use it, you lose it.
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