Pump Up Your Word Power!
Become a Word Nerd...
1. Read, read, read. Reading is the most effective — and enjoyable — way to build vocabulary.
2. Expand your horizons. To build a strong vocabulary, you need to read widely. Venture beyond the familiar and the easy. Try something new and challenging. Take risks.
3. Make it fun. You won’t learn anything when you’re frustrated or bored. Don’t force yourself to read something you don’t like. Read what interests you. Let your curiosity be your guide. Talk about what you’re reading with others.
4. Always look for words you don’t know. This is extremely important. People tend to skip over or read around unfamiliar words. As a vocabulary builder, your job is to be on the lookout for unfamiliar words. Challenge yourself to find at least one new word every time you read.
5. Use your dictionary. Whenever you see an unfamiliar word, it’s essential that you look it up. Keep a dictionary handy while you read so you can look up words right away. Or you can jot them down on a piece of paper (with the page number so you can find them again) and look them up later.
Remember, words are the key to knowledge, and knowledge is the key to success. Every word you add to your vocabulary broadens your understanding of the world, improves your comprehension of what you hear and read, and sharpens your ability to express your ideas with greater confidence and style.