Overview

By developing your vocabulary—learning new words and using them regularly—you will become better equipped to communicate effectively.

To build a stronger vocabulary, take time to notice new words and phrases. You may want to keep a vocabulary journal in which you can record these unfamiliar words along with their meanings. To ensure that you understand the new word, you can study the word's context, which will provide clues to its meaning. Verify your understanding of words by using a dictionary to determine whether you are using the word correctly. Finally, you can use new words and phrases in your speaking and writing. By reading a variety of materials, using a thesaurus, and playing word games, you will encounter unfamiliar words to learn.

To discover the meaning of an unfamiliar word, examine the supporting and contrasting details, or the context, that surround the unfamiliar word. Another way to understand an unfamiliar word is to break it down into parts. The main part of a word is its root. A prefix or suffix may be added to change the meaning or part of speech of the root. The more familiar you become with common roots, prefixes, and suffixes, the easier it will be to figure out the meanings of unfamiliar words.