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How to Increase Your Vocabulary By Consuming Words

Increase Vocabulary - When you sit down to read a book, newspaper, magazine, or an article on the Internet you are independently reading. Reading material you want to read, not because you have to, from any of these mediums will increase your vocabulary.

There is a good reason independent reading promotes vocabulary growth. Each time you read something new you are exposed to new words and can become familiar with their meaning through the context of what you are reading. The greater the variety of your independent reading, the more vocabulary you will assimilate.

Use the following techniques to increase value of, while enjoying, that book.

Things You'll Need

Books
Newspaper
Magazine
Dictionary
Internet

Instructions

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  1. Read as much and as often as you can. Most vocabulary words are learned from context. How does the author use the new word within the sentence? How does the word fit with the, or clarify, the content? The more words you are exposed to, the better vocabulary you will have.
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  2. Use it or lose it. When you have learned a new word you need to use it in your conversations and/or writing. Use it in different sentences from 10 to 20 repetitions to really make a it part of your vocabulary. Learning a word and not using it will lead to you to promptly forget it.
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  3. Improve your context skills. Research the word in your dictionary and online. What other meanings does the word have and how else can it be used? Since the vast majority of words are learned from context your vocabulary will increase by understanding how it is used.
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  4. Play with words. Once you have learned a new word you can use it during a conversation but also in a more playful moment. Wow your opponent when you lay Scrabble, Wheel of Fortune, or any other game where knowing words wins. You will also be able to complete more crossword puzzles.
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  5. Keep a notebook and jot down words you don't know. Look them up and write down the definition. This is a proven technique that works. By looking up the definition you are supplied with in-depth information about the word. You are also actively thinking and writing about the word which will aid in keeping it in your memory.

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