#13 Increase Your Vocabulary: Practical Steps

Note: If you are serious about increasing your vocabulary, then we highly recommend you try the popular program, Ultimate Vocabulary. Click Ultimate Vocabulary to learn more.*

The need to improve your vocabulary might seem intimidating at first. It might appear to be a want rather than an achievable goal. There are, however, a number of simple and practical steps you can do to increase your vocabulary.

Increasing one’s vocabulary can increase your ability to learn (Manzo and others, 2006). Bromley (2007) states that the following can improve your vocabulary:

  • Learn new words that have been recently added to the dictionary.
  • Create words that you believe will be added to the dictionary. Find them in a text document (such as newspaper or spoken) and examine how they have been used.
  • For words that are overused, substitute them with different words.
  • Learn commonly used prefixes, suffixes, and roots.
  • Connect new words to your existing knowledge and experiences.
  • Define the word, use it in a sentence, and draw it.
  • Because 70% of the most commonly used words have numerous meanings, it is necessary to apply context when trying to understand meanings.
  • Break down syllables in words to help understand meaning.
  • Keep a record of new words and their definitions. Also use them in a sentence.
  • Do not try and learn too many words at the same time. It will not work.

Other methods you can employ to increase your vocabulary can include: keywords (ie, associate new words with visual representation); motor imaging (ie, linking new words with signs, such as gestures, acting or pantomimes); self-selection (ie, searching and learning about new words uncovered in reading or the media); and wide reading (Manzo and others, 2006).

There are also different types of dictionaries you can use to increase your vocabulary. For those entering college or university, subject-specific dictionaries are extremely helpful. This is because a standard dictionary will either not have the term or has a different meaning (ie, a lay meaning) (RMIT, 2007). Another method of building vocabulary is “the card system” (RMIT, 2007). As you are reading, take note of any words with unknown meanings. Once finished reading, find the word in the dictionary and look up the definition. Write the word on a card and the definition on the back. Also write examples on the card, such as using it in a sentence. File the cards alphabetically and periodically look over each to promote meaning understanding.

To develop one’s vocabulary is not as difficult as you first believe. A number of straightforward activities can facilitate familiarisation and understanding. Many strategies for learning vocabulary are also present in software products, such as those developed by Ultimate Vocabulary.

References

Bromley, K, ‘Nine Things Every Teacher Should Know About Words and Vocabulary Instruction’ (2007) 50(7) Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy 528.

Manzo, AV, Manzo, UC, and Thomas, MM, ‘Rationale for Systematic Vocabulary Development: Antidote for State Mandates’ (2006) 49(7) Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy 610.

RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology), Vocabulary (The Power of Words) (2007) (viewed 12 February 2009).