Improving vocabulary is not a herculean task as perceived by many. A good vocabulary helps in many areas of life, both on the professional and personal front. If you are looking to improve communication, the first step to be taken is to improve vocabulary. Ten simple tips are discussed here that will help in improving vocabulary and, in the process, improve communication.
1. Reading is the easiest way to improve vocabulary. As you read, you are exposed to new words in context, which makes it simple to remember the words later. Reading complex and challenging material will help in exposing you to many new words.
2. New words are learned faster when they are learned from context. If you are picking up a new word from reading, then it is highly probable that you are learning from context. On the other hand, if you are learning new words using other techniques for improving vocabulary, be sure to look up the word in a dictionary to know the context in which the word is used. There are many websites and other vocabulary learning resources, too, that list words in their context.
3. Learning a new word is easy but retaining it takes practice. Some studies have shown that it takes about 20 repetitions for a person to master a new word. Make a list of new words and remember to review the list every day.
4. Associating a word to things you already know helps greatly in remembering the word longer. Creating a mental picture of objects that are related to words will improve retention. A single word can be related to many things or many contexts.
5. As you read, look up words that you do not know. Many times, we procrastinate and this makes us lose an opportunity to learn new words. Making it a habit to look up new words — immediately or later by making a list of words to look-up — will help tremendously in improving your English vocabulary.
6. Playing word games is fun as well as productive when it comes to increasing vocabulary. Games such as Scrabble, Boggle, and crosswords will sharpen the ability to build your vocabulary while having fun.
7. Word lists are a powerful tool for building vocabulary. For serious contenders of examinations like SAT, GRE, and GMAT, word lists form the key to success. There are many websites that have ready-made word lists and also send words on a regular basis by email. You can also create your own word lists.
8. Taking vocabulary tests will help in judging your vocabulary. Many websites have free vocabulary tests. These tests will help in evaluating your progress as well as help you learn new words to improve vocabulary.
9. Learning in a group will help you discuss new words with each other, which will help quicken the learning process. Get in the company of like-minded people and discuss new words and also use the new words in your day-to-day conversations.
10. The last tip is the simplest – get passionate about learning new words. When you are excited and passionate about improving vocabulary, you will automatically find ways and means to remember new words.