10 Best ideas to improve English vocabulary

Building vocabulary is an important aspect of any language development. Vocabulary is the foundation of all language skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening). English, which is the most comprehensive language of all has an extensive vocabulary. It is required to convey your ideas and achieve better communication skills. In this article, we will discuss the advantages of developing vocabulary skills and the best ways to improve English vocabulary.

Importance of use of expansive vocabulary:

 A good vocabulary is required to help deliver a clear message to the audience, to help understand the speech of the speakers, and above all this it develop the framework of your essay writing. The use of eloquent vocabulary can help formulate captivating sentences that help the readers to grasp the core message of the content. It avoids the repetition of the same words in a paragraph or in one sentence which creates a sense of pleasure while reading the content. It plays a great role in paraphrasing the text which makes it easier to read. A good vocabulary can help in expressing ideas with more clarity than with a limited frame of words. It increases confidence and helps in delivering a speech or presentation more fluently.

The English language is the “Working Language” that needs to be used by all professionals, especially engineers. They need to have strong vocabulary skills to complete their technical reports and explain complex ideas and technologies to people from non-technical backgrounds. Engineers need to have a strong grip on the English language to complete their dissertations at the finale of their academic journey. Some students who came from non-English speaking countries often juggle in writing professional dissertations. They then seek assistance from engineering dissertation help service providers for writing their dissertations using up-to-mark vocabulary and proficient writing skills.

Ways to develop vocabulary skills:

You can follow the ideas below to help improve vocabulary in English for developing persuasive content:

1. Understand the etymology of the words:

Whenever you come across a new word always try to evaluate the origin from which it is derived. Many words have a common root and you can guess the meaning of the word by prefixes or suffixes. For example; in Latin, the “ics” suffix indicates the matters relating to a particular subject or it highlights certain activities and practices. If you only learn this suffix you can easily understand the meaning of words; Ethics, Mathematics, Acrobatics, Gymnastics, etc. Learning the roots of the words can help you enhance your vocabulary much faster.

2. Focus on your reading skills:

Try to allocate a fixed period to spend in reading articles and journals from English magazines and newspapers. Make reading a part of your routine and religiously follow it until it becomes your habit. This will drastically improve your vocabulary as you go through the writings of various authors and encounter thousands of new words. This will be more effective as you go through the words in novels and books rather than in a vocabulary list. You will also learn the correct usage of these words in sentences. Do not restrict your reading to limited context. Always try to keep diversifying the topics you read and advance your reading choices across various publishers. This will help build your vocabulary skills.

3. Use dictionary and Thesaurus:

Dictionaries have always been a trustworthy source for expanding your vocabulary. It has millions of words and their meanings along with its synonyms and antonyms for better understanding. Dictionaries are now available online for convenient usage. To improve English various vocabulary applications can be installed. Wordela, Memrise, and Vocab Genius are some of the examples. It is more helpful if you select the dictionary that is appropriate to your level. For example, beginner students use a dictionary that has pictures and examples. The advanced level students use regular dictionaries that have complete definitions and are not edited for English language learners. Thesaurus is also used at this level as it provides related and alternative words that can be used.

4. Use the new words in daily conversation:

Whenever you come across any new word, save it in your notebook or your personal vocabulary list. Then try to use that word daily in your conversation so that you can learn the suitable situations in which the word can be used. This technique will teach you the art of word choice in various circumstances. It will also be easy for you to keep the new words in your long-term memory and gradually they will become part of your fluent conversation.

5. Practice Vocabulary tests:

Practicing quizzes and tests can help you to memorize the words. You can easily create quizzes on Google Forms including any question type you choose for example; choice questions or text fields. You can choose the synonyms of the word given in the question. You can also ask yourself definitions of the words that can help memorize the meaning. You can also add infographics to make the quiz more interactive. Showing pictures can be a great way to memorize the literal meaning of the word. To sum up, online vocabulary quizzes are an effective way to enhance the vocabulary skills and help people learn new words.

6. Categorize your words:

Sorting the listed words and grouping them will make it easier for you to incorporate the new words into your daily conversation. For example; Under the category of emotions you can list all the words related to it: adoration, agitation, affection, anguish. Similarly, in the category of expressions, you can list the related words: pout, scowl, frown, delightful. By grouping the words, it becomes easier to comprehend and recall their general meanings and how to use them in speech.

7. Learn practical terms and words:

There are some special words and expressions used in industries as a professional language called jargon. If you have difficulty in comprehending the phrases used by your coworkers, then try to learn English business vocabulary for better communication skills. For example, some industries use the phrase “Cut corners” which means to complete a task carelessly. Another expression is “Call it a day” which means to quit working on a project. Similarly, the “workflow” refers to the sequence of tasks that an employee is expected to complete.

8. Play games to enhance vocabulary:

Playing word games is the most fun and interesting way to improve English vocabulary. This game-based learning technique forces the player to focus unconsciously for hours on improving their vocabulary skills. By playing word games you will not feel bored and pressured and learn in a carefree environment. Games that help expand your vocabulary:

·         Taboo words

·         Flashcard memory match game

·         Heads Up on iPad

·         Scrabble.

List down the new words that you come across while playing the games and review the list regularly to memorize the new words.

9. Use web platforms:

Various online platforms help you improve your vocabulary skills. The most exciting feature that they provide is that they send the word of the day via email or an app. This particularly helps in memorizing the words as they get saved in history. You can then review your history later. Websites like Vocabulary.com, Memrise.com, and LanGeek.co are among the valuable online resources that help learners improve their vocabulary skills. The most unique feature of these web platforms is that they focus on gamification and use graphical representation to make language learning more interesting and enjoyable.

10. Edit your document:

When you complete any professional writing for example any letter, or an application go through your content and highlight the repetitive words and phrases you used in one sentence or a paragraph. Now replace them with new words you have learnt throughout the week. By editing your text, you will get to know the right usage of words. If you bring it into your daily practice, you will eventually improve your vocabulary skills. You can also seek assistance from many service providers for example English dissertation help that not only assists you in writing your dissertations but also provides the service for editing your work.

Studies revealing the importance of the use of good vocabulary in essay writing:

Writing is built on language, and one of the key elements that define the caliber of writing is vocabulary. Writing quality is influenced by vocabulary usage, and one of the distinguishing features of excellent writing is lexical richness. Nevertheless, there have been few and uneven studies on the relationship between writing and vocabulary utilization. Writing is a crucial productive skill for EFL students. However, it is a common occurrence in China for university students to overuse high-frequency words when expressing themselves in English writing, and when they do use low-frequency words, they typically use them incorrectly. It suggests that vocabulary learning and usage are issues for college students. (L.Zhai, 2016).

Teachers should assess their students’ aptitude, and one way to accomplish this is by giving them essays to write about the material they have taught. Other than that, the following table encapsulates the primary justifications for learning how to write essays:

 

·         to become adept in reading, taking notes, and conducting research

·         to develop the ability to think critically and analytically

·         To improve your writing proficiency on any subject

·         to gain a deeper understanding of your subject and topic by writing about it

·         The ability to express your thoughts on a subject in well-structured phrases and words

(masteressaywriters, 2019)

Conclusion:

It concludes that using expressive vocabulary in everyday and professional life is essential as it highlights your communication skills. If you are struggling in developing your vocabulary skills then review the ideas listed above that can make your learning easier and interesting. Do try the above-listed ways so that you can effectively enhance your vocabulary in a brief period.

References:

MEW. 2019. HOW TO WRITE AN ESSAY? – THE ULTIMATE GUIDE. Online Available At <https://masteressaywriters.co.uk/blogs/how-to-write-an-essay-the-ultimate-guide> [Accessed on 26/10/2023].

Zhai, L. (2016). A study on Chinese EFL learners’ vocabulary usage in writing. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 7(4), 752. Online Available At     <https://www.academypublication.com/issues2/jltr/vol07/04/16.pdf>