How to improve vocabulary?

FrankGrimes

<Wasn't really sure which forum to put this in so this is my best guess>

I am interested in finding a tool or set of books/ebooks to help improve my vocabulary (and grammar too I suppose!). I've been meaning to get around to it for the general benefit of having an expansive vocabulary but now I am planning on doing an MBA soon it is of more importance (help with the course and I won't have another window to work on it when I start the course).

After a very brief web search it became clear that there are plenty of commercial options (like this) out there but I would have thought there are useful tools freely available and also want to avoid paying what might turn out to be junk.

I have no problem paying for a tool or book but want to make sure it's worth it before doing so - any recommendations/tips are much appreciated.

muckety

If you have a good dictionary, keep it beside you and read everything you can lay your hands on (newspaper, classic literature, contemporary etc.) - look up every word you don't understand clearly.

Grammar is different - while I believe you will absorb sentence formulation from reading 'good' writers, a book on basic grammar would help with the basics. For an entertaining start, try Lynne Truss 'Eats, Shoots and Leaves'.

Dave!

muckety wrote: »

If you have a good dictionary, keep it beside you and read everything you can lay your hands on (newspaper, classic literature, contemporary etc.) - look up every word you don't understand clearly.

I agree with this! I've always done that as I'm reading, and now the internet makes it even easier! So if I'm reading boards even, if I don't recognise a word I'll right-click on it, "search in google", and click 'definition'

Also I would suggest that if you're out and about and hear a word you either (a) don't know, or (b) like / might use again, then write it down in your phone or something.

I do that all the time... most recent ones are:

amorphous
shibboleth
aminus
torpor
vertiginous


The West Wing seems to be a good source

Dunno any software though I'm afraid

Nervous Wreck

Dave! wrote: »

vertiginous

Thanks for that!

fabbydabby

www.freerice.org tbh

Iaia

Read a lot of complicated or more complex written books like Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond, LOTR, or the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind.

rediguana

Sign up for www.dictionary.com 's word-of-the-day. I think they've been dumbed down in the past few months, but they're still worth getting. The email gives the origin of the word too, and two or three examples of its usage.

Order The Economist "Style Guide" too. Good for concise, business-style writing guidance.

banshee_bones

Just read more! vary from what you would normally go for. Take recommendations from friends, borrow books from them or join a book club. Oh and join up in your local library too

Happy Reading!

Matt Holck

write about a shoe

try to describe it in as much detail as possible

veda123

FrankGrimes wrote: »

<Wasn't really sure which forum to put this in so this is my best guess>

I am interested in finding a tool or set of books/ebooks to help improve my vocabulary (and grammar too I suppose!). I've been meaning to get around to it for the general benefit of having an expansive vocabulary but now I am planning on doing an MBA soon it is of more importance (help with the course and I won't have another window to work on it when I start the course).

After a very brief web search it became clear that there are plenty of commercial options (like this) out there but I would have thought there are useful tools freely available and also want to avoid paying what might turn out to be junk.

I have no problem paying for a tool or book but want to make sure it's worth it before doing so - any recommendations/tips are much appreciated.

Though there are lots of commercial options ,there are free tools to help for the verbal section
http://www.vocabularywiki.com/

Antilles

veda123 wrote: »

Though there are lots of commercial options ,there are free tools to help for the verbal section
http://www.vocabularywiki.com/

Ooh, I love that website. Especially the 'Enrich Your Wordpower' section. I think it's really, really, really...

...

good

pansoul

Fairly good advice so far. One point I'd add: Merely understanding words when you read them is just the necessary preliminary base. So obviously - of defining significance is selectively delving into that vast repository you've accumulated. With such judicious selection you can then unfurl a beautiful technicolour sequence of words to enliven your utterance and overall to present your thoughts in a convincing manner. Unsheathe that pen, wield it with Dickensian dexterity, and smile as your opponents become beguiled by the mesmerising flow before you Finish Them with a sudden sharp STAB!


Oops, got a bit carried away there. What I mean is that you must not alone understand words but also be able to use them. Obviously there's a close relationship there (as if you don't know a word it can be troublesome employing it). So as you learn it will become easier to use.

But anyway, I think the process of vocabulary-improvement is bi-pronged: Learning and Using. I must make a cup of tea now but I'll try consider good ways to better your usage as I do.

pansoul

Right, creative juices of the tea imbibed, here goes. (Though I should disclaim I'm not an expert by any means, just a humble logician.)

So.... We know that an expanding range of words in your armoury will inevitably mean you can articulate yourself better. But, to take things a little further, I think two words should be emphasised - Context and Imagination: you must know your context and use your imagination to bring it to life; or alternatively, start from the other end - use your imagination to create a context.

Conveniently, I think that's the process I used in my last post, so it might offer a useful illustration. For example, when referring to giving life to a repository of words I said one might "unfurl a beautiful technicolour sequence of words." What I was imagining there was the endless stream of coloured tissues (or whatever they use) that magicians sometimes pull out of their pockets or their sleeve or mouth or wherever.

Similarly the bit about "unsheathe the pen, wield it... etc." There I was thinking of the pen being mightier than the sword so I was imagining sword-ifying the pen and therefore applying sword-like terminology to it such as unsheathing and wielding and attacking. Putting things in a context like that opens up a whole other sphere of vocabulary, and as well as simply giving you more options it also gives an impetus and direction to your writing.

I don't know if that's especially good writing (feedback welcome!), but I think it's effective in conveying the point I had in my head and I used a fairly wide-ranging vocabulary so from those criteria it was effective.


Hopefully that is of some benefit to you and you'll find a means of accessing Kingdom Good Vocabulary within yourself rather than resorting to some silly, hyped "commercial tools".

Phototoxin

read a dictionary.. . take notes

read something like the dictionary of prose and fable. Has a lot of meaning behind the words

me-skywalker

well it really depends on what the MBA is on? as far as your little foray into big words and nice sounding sentences, sometimes a bit too much is exactly that.

Dave!

I thought it was quite good. I suspect that they would be a bit more selective in their use of 'big words' when in another context, but that they were simply giving an example.

af_thefragile

This helps me a lot:
http://thesaurus.reference.com/

Especially when i'm writing songs or poems and such. Helps me find stronger and more impacting words, improving my vocabulary at the same time.

Also when i come across a word i don't know the meaning of, a quick look on www.dictionary.com solves it all!
I use that site so much, i have it bookmarked!

pauline fayne

Personally i wouldn't be without my thesaurus ...
many thanks to af the fragile for putting up the link for an online one .
That will be very useful when i'm on the move..