Expanding your Vocabulary (II)
5. Go back to your roots. One of the most powerful tools for learning new words -- and for deciphering the meaning of other new words -- is studying Latin and Greek roots. Latin and Greek elements (prefixes, roots, and suffixes) are a significant part of the English language and a great tool for learning new words. (Follow these links for the sections of this site that provide English Vocabulary Derived from Latin and English Vocabulary Derived from Greek.)
6. Play some games. Word games that challenge you and help you discover new meanings and new words are a great and fun tool in your quest for expanding your vocabulary. Examples include crossword puzzles, anagrams, word jumble, Scrabble, and Boggle. (Find some word-game Websites at the end of this article.)
7. Engage in conversations. Simply talking with other people can help you learn discover new words. As with reading, once you hear a new word, remember to jot it down so that you can study it later -- and then slowly add the new word to your vocabulary.
Final Thoughts
You hold the key to a better vocabulary. By using the tips outlined in this article, you should be well on your way to discovering and learning new words to expand your vocabulary and strengthen your use of the English language.
Finally, remember that you must practice putting your new words into your writing and speaking or risk not retaining them in your brain. Use repetition exercises when you first learn a word -- and consider other learning techniques, such as index cards, recording yourself reciting your words, association games, and mnemonics.
Some Vocabulary Tools/Websites
Here are some useful (if slightly random) tools for helping improve your vocabulary:
Dictionary.com (www.dictionary.com)
English-Word Information (www.wordinfo.info)
Free Rice (www.freerice.com)
Get The Words (www.getwords.com)
Improving Vocabulary (www.improvingvocabulary.org)
Vocabulary.com (www.vocabulary.com)
Vocab Vitamins (www.vocabvitamins.com)
WordPlays.com (www. wordplays.com)
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