When I started writing and reading a lot more, one thing I wanted to know was how to improve vocabulary. I was reading all sorts of books that my peers had recommended, many of which were certainly higher-level reads that required secondary sources and plenty of re-reading. One question I asked myself a lot was, “How can I develop my vocabulary?” In this blog, I will discuss how I’ve improved mine over the years and why I think it’s important for writers to do that.
How to Improve Vocabulary
1. Make a list
This is the method I started with and the one I continue to use. If I come across a word I don’t know and can’t infer from the context, I find the definition and record it in a notebook. Don’t just copy and paste it. Take the time to write it out. That’ll help you retain it better. It’s unlikely that you’ll remember the meaning of the word after recording it once, so there are two ways to learn these words that I use. The first is to quiz yourself on your list. Create flashcards and have at it. Find a new word, and add it to your deck. Second, you write out the words you learn onto a sheet of paper, kind of like what you would do if you were studying for a science exam. Now, you don’t have to write out every word you come across that you don’t recognize. We don’t want to be compulsive. It’s often better for you to try to understand how the word is used first. And even if you still don’t get it, it’s not worth our time and energy to find the definition and record it every single time.
2. Flashcards
I mentioned this above but it’s worth elaborating on. Flashcards are a great tool for memorizing new words, and it makes it more fun. If you’re bored and have nothing else to do you can queue up your flashcards and do some review for ten or fifteen minutes. You can go as long as you like. The act of actually creating your own deck will also help you remember the words you’re attempting to learn.
3. Play word games
Who doesn’t love a good word game? There are so many to choose from. The most common ones would include crossword puzzles and Scrabble. Some of these will help you learn new words, others will test your knowledge of words you already know. All 20-35,000 of them. If you do a quick search for word games you will find a ton of these. You can kind of go through them and find the ones that you enjoy the most.
4. Read
The best way to learn new words is to read. You don’t have to write anything down, you just have to read. If you ask most people if you need to read to develop as a writer, the answer is likely to be a unanimous yes. You don’t have to read a book a week or any of the books that people think you “should” read, but you should find time to read something. You can read at your own pace and don’t bother comparing your reading habits or the books you read to others. Read what you feel like reading. There’s no book you have to read. Have fun with it. However, I do recommend going out of your comfort zone every once in a while. Something more challenging or in a genre you don’t usually read.
How Important is Vocabulary?
According to some data, the average adult knows between 20,000 and 35,000 words. So, for those who might be feeling inadequate when, perhaps they venture to read something more challenging than they’re used to, give yourself more credit. You probably know more than you think.
But you’re probably still wondering how important having a strong and extensive vocabulary is for being a writer. The short answer is that having a good vocabulary is a tool in your toolkit. It can be helpful, yes, because we want to articulate our message in the best possible way using the best or the most appropriate words available. Perhaps not always. But, it’s not everything. A better vocabulary doesn’t mean a better writer. Taking the tool analogy, we want our to be sharp and ready, which means taking advantage of vocabulary exercises is probably a worthy time investment.
Do You Need to Practice Your Vocabulary to Be a (Good) Writer?
You probably don’t need to deliberately practice your vocabulary to be a good writer. There are so many talented writers who have lived and will live who don’t do any of the exercises named above, except for reading. So, if you had to choose just one of the strategies I discussed, definitely go with reading. I was making the case in this blog that you should try to do more deliberate practice. I hope that you’ll at least consider doing some review, even if it’s just once a week or every two weeks, as a way of helping you develop as another writer.
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