How to Build a Vocabulary That Sets You Apart

Cultivating a vast vocabulary that enhances your communication is possible. You can do it no matter what your present linguistic situation is. Even the most advanced students of English once had little to no knowledge of the language. I do not subscribe to the idea that if you are older, you cannot learn new words just as well than those who have been studying the language for years. If there’s one piece of advice above all that I can give you if you want to improve your vocabulary, it is to read. Read as much as possible, and in many areas, and you’ll naturally encounter new words. From there, you decide how to record them for better recollection. And by reading–ideally every day and as much as possible–you’ll not only learn new words but also how to use them.

There is another reason why you should read if you hope to improve your vocabulary, and that is, you want to exercise your brain. The brain is like a muscle in that the more you use it, the stronger it’ll become. You’ll need to be intellectually challenged in order to be able to learn and memorize these words. And you’ll need to know how to use any words you’ve just learned. That takes some creativity.

I myself like to use a notepad to write down any new word I learn during the day so that later on, I can open the app and see it multiple times throughout the day.

1. Rewrite Simple Sentences With Stronger Wording

Take plain sentences and upgrade them. You could find them in any book, magazine, or other publication. If the word attracts you, then write it down on a pad or even on an erasable board. Look at the word from time to time. Your goal should be to familiarize yourself with the word so much that you can recall it and its meaning without hesitation. Hearing your own voice reinforces unfamiliar words, so record yourself speaking. Don’t worry too much about the sound of your own voice. Rather, concentrate on any new words and their meanings. Do this as often as possible. Eventually, you’ll learn these once unfamiliar terms.

2. Study Word Frequency Lists

Focus on high-impact words used in educated writing. Your lists can be ones you’ve compiled on your own, or that you’ve found in educational books, or even those composed online by others. You can take this list with you wherever you go, and whenever you have the opportunity, look at the words in your list and commit them to memory.

3. Shadow Speeches Or Audiobooks

Besides reading, watching TV shows can be helpful for learning new vocabulary. Ideally, you will want to view a program whose vocabulary is at a more advanced level. I myself love catching up on political shows whenever I can. Sure, discussions at times tend to become intense. But you are watching to learn new words. You will find that if you repeat phrases immediately after hearing them, eventually any new words will become ingrained. There is the added advantage that you’ll hear and learn how words are used in context, which matters when learning new vocabulary.

4. Focus On One Theme Per Week

Example: business terms, emotional language, persuasion. It is easy to get overwhelmed, especially in the beginning stages, whenever you are learning a new subject. When I was in junior high school and my teacher began an after-school tutoring program for me and other students, I didn’t initially think that I could muster the enthusiasm for weeks on end to learn new topics and vocabulary. But somehow, I told myself that it wasn’t so bad. Sure, I could be playing video games or watching my favorite baseball team play, but improving my knowledge of new words would undoubtedly pay dividends in the future. After about a month, I actually looked forward with zest to my one-on-one study sessions with one of my favorite teachers. And by the time I started seeing how much I was learning and how that acquired knowledge would help me in my studies, not only then but in the future, it became hard for me to quit the program. But you need to make it easier for you, at least in the beginning. Be kind to yourself. And if you do need to take a break, do that. But by focusing on one theme in the week, the chances of you becoming overwhelmed are reduced.

5. Learn Synonyms In Context, Not Isolation

Understand subtle differences, not just definitions. You need to not only learn what a word means, but how it’s used. The last thing you want is to learn a new word and then use it in the wrong way. That can be embarrassing. You can learn how it’s used by examining the sentences before and after. It is advisable to first write down the full definition before you consult examples.

6. Replace Overused Words In Your Writing

I, myself, fall into the pattern of repeating certain words in my own writing. Of course, not all choices were suitable for an idea I was hoping to communicate, but my research allowed me to see that there was more than one way of replacing a word with another one. If the synonym seems attractive and appropriate to what I’m trying to say, I’ll use it; otherwise, I may note down on paper the meaning of the new word, and as I later study words I’ve encountered in reading and research, they will eventually get ingrained in my long-term memory.

7. Use New Words In Different Contexts

Using the same word in multiple situations builds flexibility. I will be honest and say that I have used words I have just learned in spoken sentences that did not seem to be the right word at the moment, only because I was too excited to start using them. But I saw that with time these words became a natural part of my vocabulary more quickly than if I’d waited for the right opportunity to use them. Naturally, at a job interview or business meeting, you’ll want to make sure that you’re opting for the best synonym you can think of.

8. Analyze Strong Writing (Ads, Speeches, Essays)

This could be a great addition to your study of words through movies and programs. I suggest having subtitles turned on. I recommend you jot down any new word you notice. You can just write it in a notebook or a postcard. Notice word choice and why it works. I personally am a fan of literature of the 19th century as I’ll often encounter fancy, rare, and unusual words.

9. Create Mental Images For New Words

Attach a vivid image to each word. This will help you to better remember the word. For instance, you may picture the word “consternation” as a person with a shocked and unsettled expression. Imagine a man with wrinkles on his face who is always angry. See in your mind’s eye him arguing with someone. Over time, if you do this for words as often as possible, it will be easier for you to recall them at will. If you’re interested in learning more about how powerful images are for recalling information, make sure you read our article on memorization: Building a Better Memory: Step-by-Step Strategies for Improvement

10. Practice “Word Expansion”

Why stop at one word at a time when you can take one word and learn 5–10 related forms? By doing so, you’re pushing yourself intellectually. The original word is one that you may have just learned, or it could be a common one that you tend to overuse in your speaking and/or writing. The thesaurus is your best friend in this situation.

11. Study Word Origins

The story behind a word makes it stick. When I was in junior high school, a teacher of mine would gather a few curious students and study the book Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis. In this work, we learned about the many prefixes and suffixes that are common in English words. The book deals exclusively with Latin and Greek terms. Knowing the origin of the word can help you remember it better. Many words in our language ultimately come from Latin and Greek. I highly suggest this book to anyone wanting to enhance their vocabulary in a relatively short period of time. You’ll be surprised at how much you’ll learn if you devote a reasonable amount of time per week to studying this great book.

16. Teach a Word to Someone Else

Teaching can be one of the most effective ways of learning. Let’s contrast that with just learning, which is great, but by teaching you’re often forced to organize and explain your thoughts more clearly. There is less room for error, though in the process of teaching you may well still make mistakes. Do not worry about this as you will likely have the work written down and can refer to it in your daily studies to catch any errors you may have committed earlier. Sometimes your own students can correct you because they may already be familiar with a word. By teaching, you’ll be forced to move from passive recognition to active understanding.

13. Read Specialized Content Outside Your Field

Reading is essential if you want to improve your vocabulary. Through reading, our brains absorb information and words, and it is up to us to remember what we’ve read. When you read–be it an article, book, or even a passage on the back of a cereal box and an unfamiliar word draws your interest, write it down along with its meaning. It will be helpful to jot down a sentence or two. The purpose is to learn what the word means from the start, and to use it right away. Depending on your time constraints, you may want to look at that word and the supporting details that you wrote from time to time.

14. Build Analogy Chains

This can be especially useful. Every time you encounter a word, write in your notes the following:

“This word is like X, but used in Y situation.”

Do this over and over. Because we tend to forget the true meaning of the word if we’ve never used it before or don’t understand the context in which we saw it, drawing these analogies will make the words stick from the beginning. Whenever you review your list of analogies, in cases where appropriate, revise the phrases if you learn that they can be rewritten to better express the word.

15. Revise Old Writing With Stronger Vocabulary

Editing your past work is one of the fastest ways to grow. As a fan of creative fiction writing, love to correct my own stories. It is during the revision process that I see areas that need the most improvement. I also enjoy the process of finding ideas that I previously hadn’t thought about before starting my corrections. I myself often keep a thesaurus nearby, and I am now doing as I type these words. If you are adamant about improving your vocabulary, then consider consulting your own thesaurus whenever you make corrections to your own writing, whether it’s prose, non-fiction, or even personal correspondence. Look for the word that best expresses the thoughts or ideas that you’re trying to impart. One caveat, though, and that is, sometimes the thesaurus gives you a fancy word when a simple one will do. Simplicity is something we all should strive for more effective communication. But from time to time you’ll see a more elegant and rare word that would work beautifully in your writing. If you’re working, for instance, on a short story, then you may want to replace some of the bland words with better options. Study each and every line and word of your writing and see where you could enhance it. Oftentimes you’ll find that a synonym for an attractive word will elevate your writing from something that is simple to impactful. You should not try to impress others on account of picking the most fancy word, but rather leave a good impression through clear and effective communication. And a different, elegant word can make your sentence or passage seem lofty, but if communicates your main idea effectively, you’ve done your job.