I need advise on vocabulary usage
By surajpkn
@surajpkn (582)
India
August 27, 2007 11:59am CST
Hello friends, I have a problem and i would like to discuss it with you all. Actually i have a good vocabulary in english and i know to immediately say meanings of so many words when asked. But when i write an article, or essay or do an abstract writing, it doesn't strike me to use those niche words and i end up using very simple words which makes my article week in vocabs.
I have tried so many times, but it just does not strike me to use those words when i write or speak. I do not know how to improve my situation. Please, i would like all your ideas on improving these skills.
7 responses
@RosieS57 (889)
• United States
27 Aug 07
Get yourself a Thesaurus in English. Good native speakers who want clear and high level language use consult Roget's Thesaurus regularly. It gives you synonyms for hundreds of thousands of words in English. It doesn't have to be Roget's -- any old thesaurus will do.
Congrats on your hard work to obtain fluency in English. I really must work more on my Spanish. It's use it or lose it!
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
27 Aug 07
Are you sure this makes your articles weak? Too often, writers use words that their readers don't understand or use often. Simple words are easier to read and understand and are preferred over others.
That said, if you still want to use those words, just try rewriting with that in mind. After you've done it for awhile, you'll probably get in the habit of using them the first time.
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
28 Aug 07
I actually agree with you. Flowery words don't really impress people. It's even like an eye-sore to articles if there are words there that require us to open our dictionaries or make us remember our context clues. *LOL*
Why do you think blogs are a hit of today? Isn't it because these are simple, day-to-day articles with simple people and an easy-read article that doesn't care of how many words you write but their main content is the desire of the author to express his/her feelings regarding the topic? *LOL*
But if you really would like to use those words. Then try saying those statements out loud and then type. I don't quite get it though, how do conceptualize a statement or a sentence without first saying it out loud in your mind? Isn't it that supposedly when you write, it's like your talking but this time you are typing? Or am I the only one doing this? *LOL*
Take it easy friend. Literary compositions are given credit to their ideas and not to the words these writers used.
Good luck!
@smacksman (6053)
•
28 Aug 07
One tip is not to repeat words over and again in an article.
As said above, a thesaurus is a great boon to overcome repetition and increase the vocabulary used. That does not mean you have to use obscure words - it is still best to keep it simple.
I remember a programme on television about the old time music halls where the compere delighted in using the most obscure words to introduce the next act and got a cheer from the audience when he included outrageously archaic words!
@ritikagarg (120)
• India
28 Aug 07
then keep it simple and don,t try to make it difficult mostly people like to read that which they can understand easily and without any problem.and one thing more pratice is also very important keep practising and after some time u will find that gradually u are using your words in yuor writting and speech.so keep practising......
@michaeldadona (5684)
• Malaysia
28 Aug 07
OK. To increase your power of words, it plays around this circle; SYNONYMITY and ACRONYMITY.
Must look/search for five for each word.
Let say for TAKE, find the synonymty and acronimity.
Finally must be well in IDIOM.
I know you can do it but just need one key. All key will never bigger than padlock, car key will never bigger than car. House key will never bigger than house and some sort of it.....
Bye for now and wishing me and you best of luck and always in good look.
The Little Me,
Michael.
@andyliuzn (1029)
• Guangzhou, China
28 Aug 07
Hello Suraj,
I don't have a large vocabulary, and I don't like to use difficult words either, it's awesome for you to have a good vocabulary. For me, if you are good enough in expressing yourself no matter what words you are using, that's pretty good enough:)
Anyway,I myself also want to make pregress as well in writing good sentences too. And it'll be nice if I could use some naturally difficult sentenses then.:)
@patgalca (18391)
• Orangeville, Ontario
27 Aug 07
As Rosie said, the best thing you can do is get yourself a thesaurus. There are many types out there, some more difficult to follow than others (I have 3). But you can also do a search online and find a thesaurus website. That could save you some money if that is an issue for you.
If you think a word is weak, look it up in the thesaurus and it will give you a list of other words that mean the same thing. This will help strengthen your vocabulary. Actually, just reading through a thesaurus alone can help you.
Good luck!
