How to improve your vocabulary

[akula]

Following are a few methods for expanding your vocabulary with words you will feel comfortable using. Try one or more of these at your convenience. The ones that seem most appealing will probably work best for you.
1. Make a list of subjects that fascinate you most. The more you enjoy a topic, the easier to learn about it. Now go to your local library and search for a dictionary of words specific to one of these topics. If you like Baseball you may find a dictionary of baseball words for example. Not every topic will have its own dictionary of relevant words but you? I be surprised how many do. Once you have found a dictionary for one of your favorite topics, thumb through it looking for words that you have never heard or words you have heard that you don? know the meanings of. The sheer joy of having found the words and their meanings will help them sink into your memory. Since they relate to a favorite topic, you will likely practice and use them regularly with all the commitment needed to make them a part of regular conversation.


2.In different parts of the country people favor different words. Try picking up or subscribing to a newspaper from another part of the country. Or enlist a friend or relative from another area to join in on vocabulary improvement and offer to send them a copy of your heaviest big city newspaper in exchange for yours. Or go online and read such a newspaper on line for free.


3. To make learning easier and more productive, use flash cards in a new and more effective way to master several words at once. Instead of putting separate words on separate cards with separate meanings. Pick four words that all have the same or similar meanings and write them on one side with their meanings clearly identified on the other. Since you will be learning the same or very closely related word meanings for four words, you will be learning four words and one definition with slightly subtle changes. This brings it all together as one task in which you learn 4 times as much in about the same time.


4. Object words are easier because your are learning the definition of a word which is also a tangible item that you can picture in your mind. Go to a unique curio shop, specialty store or science or other obscure type of museum you have never been too before. Keep any brochures or other documentation that describes what you are seeing. Let the mental pictures drive the names of these items and their descriptions deep into your mind for recall later.


5. You learn much more by being humble than by being proud. Just as when driving you should be willing to stop and ask for directions, you shouldn't? be afraid to do some digging when there? a word you don? understand. Look it up or even have the courage to ask. Go on a word hunt. Write down what you didn't? understand and quickly. Hound that word and its meaning with your own research until you find it. The satisfaction of victory over your ignorance of that one word will bolster your confidence that you can learn many other words if you want to badly enough.


Written by David Geer

[amritarulz]

THANKS IT A NICE THREAD
THERES THIS BOOK --IMPROVE YOUR WORD POWER ---BY NORMAN LEWIS
COULD BE OF HELP
I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THE USE OF MNEMONICS(PS IF YOU DONT KNOW THE MEANING LOOK IT UP IN THE DICTIONARY ATLEAST ULL GET TO KNOW ANOTHER WORD S**T I KNOW ITS A BAD JOKE)

[gthm159]

I know that book...almost half the guys in our hostel had it. Its a red book isn't it?

And hey Amrita...I think you should edit your post before any of the Mods see it. Why don't you use s*it instead.

cheers,
Googz

[rdkp]

Hi Akul

That was a great post. While Dictionaries and 'Word Power Made Easy' s are good, the best way to improve one's vocabulary is going on reading plenty of books, both fiction and non fiction, newspapers, journals, magazines and what not. First couple of months juts read and deduce meanings of words you have not come across. Therefater start referring dictionaries to find meanings.

Ideally one should start Reading for the purpose of improving vocabulary immediately after joining college for undergraduation. 2-3 years of continuous and sustained reading will enrich not only our vocabulary but also our thoughts and ideas.

Karthik

[Cat_apult]

Hi guys...

Nice to see the thread on improving vocab....

here is the link to online dic :http://dictionary.cambridge.org

Cheers,

[prachi]

let me suggest few books that vl make vocabulary fun

1:how 2 build better vocabulary( rosenblum)
2:joy of vocabulary (i forgot the author)
3: All abt wrds (rosenblum)

happy preparing


Prachi

[rajeshnsitian]

Originally Posted by prachi

let me suggest few books that vl make vocabulary fun

1:how 2 build better vocabulary( rosenblum)
2:joy of vocabulary (i forgot the author)
3: All abt wrds (rosenblum)

happy preparing


Prachi

add to that 30 days to a better vocab by normal lewis and wilfred funk
and six weeks to words of power by wilfred funk

cheers
rajesh

[amritarulz]

I READ SOMEWHERE THAT IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR VOCABULARY DONT GO ON CRAMMING WORDS INSTEAD LOOK UP THE MEANING AND MAKE JUST ONE SENTENCE
ULL GET A BETTER IDEA OF USAGE
POINT NOTED GTHM 159

[catikon]

guys ... juss read read and read ... dont refer to the dictionary immediately after u land up a tough word .. make it underlined n only when u hav read a wholesome no. of pages juss get back to the words n start ur PHD ... i think this method improves reading speed, comprehension and vocab all at a time ...


and yes the most important thing ... u need to enjoy learning new words ... dont take pain if u cant remember ... the moment u c the word again smwhere else it will throw a light on you .. so it is that God-damn word's problem not urs

wat say pals !!!

keep Rocking

[prachi]

Originally Posted by amritarulz

I READ SOMEWHERE THAT IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR VOCABULARY DONT GO ON CRAMMING WORDS INSTEAD LOOK UP THE MEANING AND MAKE JUST ONE SENTENCE
ULL GET A BETTER IDEA OF USAGE
POINT NOTED GTHM 159

i agree, making sentences is the best way to improve ur vocabulary!!! and make sentences related to urself u vl recall them easily that way!!!


ps: psst "amrita thou shall not post in CAPS its bad manners"-pagalgauy


happy preparing

prachi