 |
1062
Vocabulary Words, Page 5 |
Robert A.
Harris
January 14, 2010 |
Tips for Building Your Vocabulary
Try these ideas for learning the words above and how to use them.
Learn the words by using flash cards
Create a set of flash cards with the word on one side and the
definition
on the other.
-
Study each word and its definition until you know the word well. Keep
studying
after you know the word in order to build fluency (or
automaticity)--that
is, the ability to define the word instantly.
-
Next, study the flash cards backwards. That is, look at the definition
and name the word defined. Once again, continue to study until you
reach
fluency.
Find the words in context
After you know the meaning of the words, you now want to be able to use
them correctly in your writing and speaking. This is often more
challenging
than it seems, which is why thoughtless users of a thesaurus often go
so
wrong. "He was dead drunk," and "He was deceased inebriated" just are
not
synonymous expressions no matter what the thesaurus seems to say.
To find words used in context, download some good writing from
the Web.
One way to start is to Google "free full text books" or name a book, as
in "Great Expectations full text" and see what you can locate.
-
Choose books that have the entire book in one text file.
-
Then open the book in your word processor and perform a search on one
of
the words you have learned.
-
Copy the sentence for later study.
-
Continue the search ("Find Next") until you have several examples of
the
same word, so that you can see the variety and nuances of usage (by
that
author at least).
-
Change authors and get additional examples.
Write the words in sentences
Now that you know the dictionary meaning of the words and have studied
how they are actually used through several examples, write sentences
using
the words. Keep the example sentences in mind as you write, paying
attention
to the context of usage.
Find the words as you read
By now the words you have studied this way will be quite familiar to
you.
As you read, then, notice these words when you come across them. Mark
them
and their sentences and paragraphs and again study how they are used in
context.
If you follow this learning path, you'll soon know many new
words and--even
better--be able to use them appropriately in your writing. You'll also
have a lot of fun.
Previous Page |
1
2
3
4
5
Other Tools for Writers
VirtualSalt
Home
Copyright
1999, 2008 by Robert Harris | How
to cite this page
w w w . v i r t u a l s a l t . c o m
About the author:
Robert
Harris is a writer
and educator with more than 25 years of teaching experience at the
college
and university level. RHarris at virtualsalt.com