Are you someone who often finds themselves stumbling through words, unable to get a point across, stuttering and unsure of how to best express yourself? If so, expanding your vocabulary is likely one of the best investments you can make. Having a broad vocabulary helps you to effectively communicate and engages your audience. Here are a few reading techniques to help you acquire words to add to your personal arsenal:
The most obvious and arguably best technique for gaining new words is simply to read as much as you can. Try to select books, magazines, or articles that are beyond your current reading level. This will help to push you, putting more challenging and sophisticated words in front of you. Also consider reading in different genres. Reading a variety of topics will allow you to become familiar with different types of language.
Using a dictionary to look up the words you come across is also a great way to swiftly add words to your lexicon. While reading, you will inevitably come across words that you are unfamiliar with. Dictionaries are great tools for quickly understanding the meaning and usage of words, allowing you to immediately add them to your personal diction.
Though this may feel daunting, one of the best ways to expand your vocabulary is to write lengthy pieces. Writing engages your other language processing skills, such as comprehension and expression. By writing for extended periods of time, you will learn to use words more fluently and accurately. In order to really challenge yourself, consider writing pieces that dwell outside of your comfort zone. This will allow you to encounter new language and and better understand how to properly use more advanced vocabulary.
Word games are a great way to playfully engage in learning new words. Crosswords, Scrabble, and word puzzles are good examples of engaging activities that can help you to better understand groups of words, as well as how they are used together. Additionally, similar words can be identified and the context in which they are best used can be evaluated.
Having a large vocabulary is one of the main components of having mastery over language. Utilizing the techniques listed above can help you quickly strengthen your vocabulary, allowing for more effective communication. Whether you are a student or professional, expanding your vocabulary is a sure-fire way to enhance your language skills.
