A large part of learning a language is acquiring the vocabulary you need to be able to express yourself but with over 170,000 words currently in use in the English language, where do you start? This post gives handy tips on how to take your English vocabulary to the next level, as well as providing links to some more in-depth posts on the subject.
What’s the best way to improve my vocabulary?
We recommend learning words in topic groups, for example adjectives used for describing food and verbs for communicating. That’s why our book, ‘Vocabulary Boost: 30 Days to make your vocabulary more impressive’, is organised in groups of 5 words, each group relating to a different topic.
We believe it’s more effective to learn groups of words that have very different meanings, rather than trying to learn several synonyms to describe the same thing. So, in Vocabulary Boost, you won’t find lists of synonyms but instead, groups of words relating to the same general topic, but with quite different meanings.
We also think you learn words more effectively when you read them in context, so we’ve provided for each word, two example sentences under each definition, two more sentences in the exercises in each unit and one more in the Review tests. With five typical sentences for each word, you’ll gain a fuller idea of how that word is used. For example, is it usually used positively to express something good, or does it convey a negative idea? Is it usually used in a particular tense? Is it often used with another word (a collocation)?
Another tip you often read is to make a note of any new words that you hear or read. There’s a good reason for this. The words that people around you are using are likely to be words that are useful for you to learn. You may not walk around with a notebook in your pocket, but you almost certainly have a phone. Try to get into the habit of putting new words and phrases into your phone (and then looking at them when you’re on a bus, waiting for a friend in a café, etc!) For more information on this, see How to learn vocabulary
Which new words should I learn?
Of course, this partly depends on your interests and the sort of subjects you want to talk or write about. It may well be influenced by the sort of words that you need for work. After all, learning new words is only useful if you’re going to use them! However, most people want to be able to speak and write about a good spread of subjects, whether it’s the weather, our emotions, the food we eat or the buildings we live in. In Vocabulary Boost, you’ll find words connected with all of these topics – and many more! Learn these words and you’ll be equipped to discuss a wide range of subjects. Not only that, but you’ll be able to say quite specific things about each topic. The weather isn’t just hot – it’s muggy. Your colleague wasn’t exactly rude to you this morning, but they were definitely a bit abrupt. You’ll also be able to impress people with your word choice. You can tell people that the market you’ve just visited wasn’t just busy, it was bustling and the apartment you chose not to move into wasn’t just small, it was cramped. For more information on this, see What is impressive vocabulary?
How can I remember new words?
Knowing which words to learn is one thing, but remembering them is another! So how can you make sure these useful words are in your long-term memory? It helps if you can read the word in context several times and with Vocabulary Boost, you’ll read it five times. Of course, the next important stage in remembering vocabulary is down to you – you need to use the words! So make sure you practise your new words as often as you can, in conversation or in writing. For more tips on learning new words, see How to learn vocabulary
Are all the words suitable for use in writing?
Most of the words in Vocabulary Boost are neutral, (ie neither formal nor informal) but where a word is formal or informal, it is clearly marked with a label, for example:
brag verb intransitive, informal, disapproving
What about the differences between UK and US English?
The majority of words in Vocabulary Boost are used both in UK and US English, but where UK English uses one word and US English uses another, we provide both words, and clearly mark them with a regional label, for example:
reverse (UK), back up (US)
How do I use these words?
Learning the meaning of a new word is, of course, important, but it is often the case that there are other things you need to know about a word before you can use it correctly. For example, you may need to know something about its grammar, whether it is used in formal or informal, spoken English. You may also need to know what other words are often used with this word – its collocations.
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