We often underestimate the power of words and the weight they carry, but there isn’t a more powerful thing out there. Whether it is to comfort a loved one in distress or mark the beginning of a rebellion against the forces of darkness in the world, words are mighty and can change lives more than you could possibly imagine. And if you should be so lucky to dedicate your life to learning new ones and using the power of words, then you probably understand their impact. What’s even greater is the fact that you can never stop learning new vocabulary and absorbing new words to shape your thought and speech.
These tips will help you do so.
Content List
Read
There is no better way to learn new words and introduce new vocabulary to your mind and soul than reading. You will get exposed to other worlds and see how gifted writers wield language to make a point. This is why you will find the most well-spoken and articulate people to be avid readers. It is quite simple; the more you read, the more expansive your vocabulary will be and the more you’ll encounter words that you are not familiar with, which is quite exciting really because learning something new is always intriguing.
Use those new words
Whether you got those new words from a book, film, or someone in conversation, the best way to memorize and learn them by heart is using them. Make them a part of your daily conversations and use them in your writing and speech whenever possible. That way, that new vocabulary will become a part of your own, and you’ll make room for new expressions and terms.
The thesaurus is your friend
This is particularly important for writers, academics, and people who create content on a regular basis, but also for a person who has a passion for language and wants to learn new words. A thesaurus will introduce you to synonyms you have never encountered before, and it will help you grow and improve your use of languages. Whenever you find yourself using certain words too often, open a thesaurus and look for better alternatives.
Play word games
Who said learning new vocabulary has to be tedious and taxing? You can learn a whole lot of words by playing word games, which are as challenging as they are informative and exciting. There are plenty of options out there, but when playing Scrabble, you learn more than most games. Though it is advisable that you get some help from a word unscramble tool, so you could learn in less time and without losing your sanity trying to make sense of the options ahead.
Make a list
Making a list of new words and having it on you is pretty handy if you want to expand your vocabulary. We live in an age where smartphones are always at hand, and if you simply opened a note and wrote a word and its meaning and how to use it, you can check it every now and then and add new finds on a regular basis. This helps you keep the passion for words alive and helps any new vocabulary to really stick.
Be curious
Curiosity is really important for people who want to learn new words, and it will help you more than you could possibly imagine. If you’re talking to a person and they use a word or expression you’re not familiar with, Google it. When watching films, if the actors use vocabulary you’ve never heard of, pause the film and look it up. It is this kind of curiosity that makes the difference, and you’ll find that your vocabulary is growing at an exponential rate.
Write a lot
Saving the best for last, writing can really make a difference in your vocabulary and your ability to learn new words. Even if you don’t do it for a living, you could just as easily start writing and expressing your thoughts and feelings with your own words. More importantly, edit your own work. After a while of learning new things, go back to older writings and edit based on the knowledge that you have acquired. You will notice a huge difference in the way you form sentences and express your feelings, and it will help you keep growing.
Passion for words and languages is something that everybody should have. After all, it is how we choose to communicate for the most part, whether it is in written or spoken forms. Learning new vocabulary will help you become a better person and change the way you view things, and that alone should be enough incentive to go through with this.