25 Ways to Improve Your Writing Vocabulary
A great vocabulary is just one essential
tool in a writer’s toolbox, along with punctuation, grammar, and many others.
Vocabulary can make your writing more powerful and more effective and help you
say exactly what you mean. This indispensable tool will help you choose the
best word for every job and avoid vague words that do not give your readers a
good sense of your meaning.
Building your vocabulary is one
of the easiest ways to improve the power of your writing and make any writing
task that much easier, as you will have several synonyms in your repertoire to
pull from every time. Developing your vocabulary need not be difficult or
painful. Here are 25 ways you can improve your writing vocabulary every day.
Use a word immediately after
you learn it. Try to make a game out of using a new word as soon as you learn
it. Every day, try to slip in a new word into the conversation, a journal
entry, an assignment or an email to a friend. Do this as often as possible, and
repeat the word to yourself.
Once you’re out of school, word
drills and assigned reading become things of the past. While these were tools
for building your vocabulary repertoire while you were young, it doesn’t mean
you should abandon reading. Try to read a well-written and edited essay, magazine
article, book or news article every day. Nonfiction and technical books will
quickly teach you new ways to think and speak with words you may be unfamiliar
with, but any type of reading will help you along.
Learn the roots of words. Most
words in the English language are built from a common root, prefix, and suffix,
usually with an origin in the Greek or Latin language. Once you learn a root,
you’ll begin to understand more words that use the same root. For example,
-duc- (Latin root word) means to lead or to make, such as in the words produce
or deduce.
Keep a thesaurus handy. As you
write, keep a thesaurus handy and use it when you find yourself using a word
too often, or using a word that you know doesn’t quite convey the right
meaning. This will help you better express yourself, and you’ll also learn a
new word in the process.
- Develop Practical Vocabulary
This means you should start by
learning words that express what’s important to you for the task at hand. A
good example of this is learning trade language or words you use often in a
hobby or vocation. Rather than immediately turning to cliches or jargon that’s
tossed around, look for clearer words to express to peers what you’re writing
about.
- Learn New Words Every Day
To improve your vocabulary
quickly, make an effort to learn at least one new word every single day. There
are plenty of ways to do this, such as a Word of the Day calendar or email
list, or simply picking a word from a thesaurus or dictionary.
- Look up Words You Don’t Know
How often do you come across
words that are unfamiliar as you read? Don’t just gloss over them; take the
time to look them up, and if you don’t have the time right then, write them
down and look them up later.
Journaling won’t just help you
develop your writing style, it will also help you improve your vocabulary. Try
to use new or interesting words you’ve learned recently into a journal entry
for the day or the week.
You’re probably familiar with
empty words in your speech (such as “uh” or “um”), but your writing probably
has empty words as well. Look for these empty words in your writing that do not
offer any substance to your reader and replace them with something more
appropriate. The same principle applies to phrases and sentences, so make sure
that you haven’t used six or seven phrases to say something that could be
better communicated in one sentence filled with carefully-chosen words.
- Diversify Your Reading List
If you tend to read the same
sort of things day in and day out, you may not be exposing yourself to a wide
enough range of vocabulary. Diversify the topics you read to include natural
science, Shakespeare, contemporary literature, politics, history, philosophy or
any other topics you think you may enjoy.
Word puzzles in the newspaper
or a magazine aren’t just a fun way to fill time, they’re also perfect for
boosting your working vocabulary. Crossword puzzles are a challenge that get
your brain working hard to search your memory for words you do know but don’t
use, and this can help you move words from your memory banks into your working
set of vocabulary which will come across in your writing.
There are plenty of word
games on the market designed to improve vocabulary and language skills
without being a bore. Some of these games you may have played as a child, so
it’s time to break them out again and get to “work.” If you have a friend who
could also use some help — or someone with a great vocabulary you think will
challenge you — invite them over for a game night.
- Practice New Words in Divergent
Ways
It takes between 10 and 20
repetitions to make a new word a part of your vocabulary. To help the word
settle into your mind and memory, write it down (both the definition and a
sentence you make up using the word), use it in conversation, include it in an
email or any other way you can think of.
Start by saying the new word
aloud, then relate it to a word you already know. A good example of this is
gargantuan, which means “very large” or “gigantic.” Say a sequence aloud:
small, medium, large, very large, gargantuan. Then list things you think are
gargantuan.
Mnemonic techniques are memory tricks
you can use to remember new words. You may remember a word by sounding it out
and thinking of a funny sentence that matches the meaning, such as turning
egregious (extremely bad) into “Don’t let that smelly rotten egg reach us!”
Research shows that
visualization is a great way to remember new words and their meanings. A good
example of this is the word stratovolcano, which is a high, pointed mountain
with a violent explosion. One way to remember this meaning is the fact that the
prefix “strato” sounds like “straight-oh,” which may make you think of a
straight ruler or a “straight-o-volcano,” which describes the word’s
definition.
- Make Your Own Vocabulary
Tests
Keep a list of the new words
you learn each week and incorporate into writing and conversation. At the end
of each week, make yourself a quiz using the words to cement them in your
memory.
Do you find yourself turning to
the same word again and again in your writing? Grab a piece of paper and write
it at the top. Next, brainstorm or use a thesaurus to generate a list of ten to
twenty new words you can use instead. You can keep these lists in a vocabulary
notebook and add to them whenever you learn a new synonym.
There are plenty of online
courses as well as in-person classes you can attend to boost your writing
vocabulary and learn how to use new words correctly. Try to find a self-paced
course that uses assignments and quizzes to hep you increase fluency and brush
up on your writing skills. Some classes are aimed at essay writing or creative
writing, so you can find a class that will help you improve the style you need
the most help with.
After you finish writing, be
your own editor and go though the piece with a fine-toothed comb to identify
overused and nondescript words with something more precise or colorful. Editing
is an important process for spotting writing errors, but it’s also great for
improving the tone, style, and clarity of your writing. It might help to read
the sentences aloud, then note any lack of precision. Search through your
memory for more descriptive words, or consult a thesaurus if you need to.
As you replace words, remember
that using a large number of complex words won’t necessarily clarify the
meaning, and it may just make your writing more pompous. Ask yourself, “Do I
know a better word to use instead?” You may replace “use” with “acquire” or
“obtain,” or “do” with “perform.”
- Move Words from Comprehensive
to Expressive Vocabulary
You actually have two types of
vocabulary: one is a much larger set of words you understand, even if only
vaguely, and the other is a smaller set of words you actually use to express
yourself. Moving words from your comprehensive, but passive vocabulary, to your
active, expressive vocabulary is easier than you think. To do this, you’ll need
to know how to define, pronounce and spell the words. Say them out loud and use
them at every opportunity to move them into your active set.
Do you think your writing could
use some help? If you’re struggling with your written vocabulary, try asking
someone else for help. A second set of eyes can offer a great deal of insight
and spot problems you may not notice yourself, including poor word choice.
Don’t be afraid to ask a friend, teacher, co-worker or someone online to review
your writing for feedback on your vocabulary.
- Carry a Dictionary and
Thesaurus with You
How often do you find yourself
with free time and nothing to do? Carry a pocket thesaurus or dictionary with
you and you’ll find time to beef up your vocabulary while you’re waiting for an
appointment, commuting to work or waiting for a bus. Whenever you have a few
minutes to spare, read a page or two and learn a new word to add to your
writing. It’s also a great idea to look up obscure words you don’t quite grasp
that come to you on the fly as you go about your day. You can also use the
dictionary or thesaurus to look up unfamiliar words you come across in your
daily life.
- Use College Preparation
Tests
College prep tests that use SAT
and ACT-type words are a great way to take your writing to the next level. This
form of advanced study will challenge your mind and give you a new set of words
to use that are practical and offer your writing the clarity it needs. You’ll
also get the chance to brush up on the most important Latin and Greek roots and
get a new set of words with activities to help move them into your active
vocabulary set.
There are tons of non-board
games that will help you improve your writing vocabulary while you have fun.
Try downloading fun word games onto your phone or computer so you can get some
practice while you unwind after a busy day. Some games are designed to build
vocabulary skills, but there are plenty of others that will help you practice
spelling, phonics, and even typing skills. There are even some designed for
college students to prepare for testing and vocabulary-rich exams.
Hopefully, this list has given
you an excellent place to start to build your vocabulary a bit at a time. If
you think about it, there are opportunities all around you to develop this
important skill, so spend time every day reading and listening to take in new
words and then develop a system to incorporate these new words in your writing
and speech. Before long, you’ll find your vocabulary has grown to a new level
and your writing has gained the clarity you need with an ease you didn’t think
possible.
