How do you expand your vocabulary? (Help)

By dave
Philippines
November 15, 2018 8:31pm CST
Do you need to read voraciously to acquire new vocabulary? Or Maybe listing a hundred or maybe a thousand of words on your notebook? Or do you need to listen to tons of audiobooks or videos? Lastly, does writing essays or maybe topics could increase it as well? What suites you? Anyways we have different styles to learn but what strategies do you think is very effective? I have a low vocabulary when it comes to english so that's why i have a hard time grasping some words to express it on paper or even in blogs. Glad if you leave a good suggestions as well.
7 people like this
8 responses
@arunima25 (87855)
• Bangalore, India
16 Nov 18
I make a note of any new word that I come across..it can be in notebook or mentally. I try to use it more and more so that I get comfortable with it. I always look for antonyms and synonyms of words. I look in Wordweb to find a more suitable word while writing my blogs and articles.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (87855)
• Bangalore, India
17 Nov 18
@dave121495 We all tend to forget words if we do not use them or do not come across them very frequently.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
17 Nov 18
@arunima25 True,, i used to be well verse in english, The problem is that i've been on hiatus with writing from now that's why it got rusty.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
16 Nov 18
nice suggestions arunima. it's pretty effective. the problem is just i have a low memory when it comes to words haha
1 person likes this
@porwest (92404)
• United States
16 Nov 18
Being a writer outside of sites like this my whole life, I suppose vocabulary has always been a big part of my life. I am always interested in learning new words, and many times in the past actually resorted to reading dictionaries and thesauruses. I tend to have a pretty expansive vocabulary, and occasionally I do get a cocked brow when speaking to someone as a result.
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@porwest (92404)
• United States
18 Nov 18
@dave121495 I like to think so. But I am sure others may be better with words than I am. Otherwise I might have a different full time occupation.
• Philippines
18 Nov 18
@porwest It's good to have confidence in your vocabulary so you can clearly point out what you are saying. Just be don't be overconfident though.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
16 Nov 18
wow, i guess you're a virtuoso when it comes to words.
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@sofssu (23662)
16 Nov 18
I read a lot and write articles and poetry ..I love using the thesaurus.. gives me more choices and improves my vocabulary. ..
1 person likes this
• Philippines
16 Nov 18
i don't have a hard copy of a thesaurus, only a software from encarta. maybe i will buy some. doing poetry is good as well.
1 person likes this
@Iamkitty (475)
• Kozhikode, India
16 Nov 18
Reading English newspaper, and listening to audio visual material really helps. Your vocabulary seems good
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• Philippines
16 Nov 18
So are you more of auditory type of learner or visual? Really? Thanks
@Iamkitty (475)
• Kozhikode, India
16 Nov 18
@dave121495 both. yeah!
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• Philippines
16 Nov 18
@Iamkitty that's nice.
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@yoalldudes (35037)
• Philippines
16 Nov 18
When I was in university, I read and then list the words I'm not familiar in a notebook.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
16 Nov 18
Same here, but mostly i'm fond of listing words i like and cool to pronounce.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
17 Nov 18
@yoalldudes thanks :) i will
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@yoalldudes (35037)
• Philippines
17 Nov 18
@dave121495 Have fun!
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Nov 18
Practice makes perfect. Reading and listening may be the 1st step and the next thing is using them. Observing how people would be using certain words in certain situations. It would be good if you could have different friends from different English speaking countries because that way you would even see the difference between the "john" that the English people are referring to the "John" the person, "john" in England refers to the restroom. "Lift" in England is "elevator" in America. There's just really out there that a person can learn from to improve and add to one's vocabulary. Good Luck ! :-)
1 person likes this
• Philippines
17 Nov 18
Thanks for the tip rosie. :) I'm a little bit familiar with the lift thing in england but not the john.
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
16 Nov 18
my phone has a dictionary. whenever i come across a word unknown to me, i search it in my dictionary, and then use the word as needed
1 person likes this
• Philippines
16 Nov 18
I also use that method. it's good to used it so that it will be ingrained to your system.
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@Courage7 (19633)
• United States
16 Nov 18
I like to watch YouTube videos to actually hear the people speaking words. I find that the easiest for me to learn.
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• Philippines
17 Nov 18
I like to watch tons of podcast as well. Great, you found what suites you well.