How to Increase Your Vocabulary by Reading

Want to increase your vocabulary? Chances are, you already have everything you need to succeed. Besides a dictionary, all that's required is any reading material whether it's a great British classic, a pop-culture magazine, or a Pulitzer-prize winning newspaper. By following these five suggestions, you'll be able to use your favorite publications to add new words to your vocabulary.

1. Read your text word-by-word to find new vocabulary words

Don't rush through your reading. Have you ever noticed that when you do learn a new word, you start to see it everywhere? It's always been there of course. You're noticing the word more now, because you're not skimming over it anymore now that you know its definition. Just imagine all those other words you've been missing, because you're not reading the text closely enough. Make sure you're reading every single word. Take special note of unfamiliar words.

2. Get into the habit of looking up words in the dictionary

When you identify a word you don't know, always look it up in the dictionary. Before searching for the word, however, you may want to use context clues and guess the word's meaning (it may improve your memory of the word).

If you don't have a dictionary on hand, the Internet has plenty of dictionary websites. In fact, if you're reading a story on the Web, the browser Firefox has a great dictionary add-on where you can simply highlight a word, left click it, and choose "search dictionary," to get a definition ( located here ).

If you're not by a computer and don't have a dictionary, write the word down somewhere, so you can look it up later. As long as you get into the habit of checking the word's definition, you will successfully increase your vocabulary.

3. Write down your vocabulary words and their definitions

To create a lasting impression in your mind, write down a list of your to-learn words and include their definitions. You're much more likely to remember words you write down. If you simply look them up, you'll probably forget them. Sure, if you see the word again, you may remember it, but you probably won't be comfortable enough to include the new word into your own vocabulary.

4. Create your own vocabulary flashcards

For words that you frequently see or are handy to know for your line of work, you may want to create vocabulary flashcards. Type them, handwrite them, use note-cards, use scrap pieces of papers-it doesn't matter. Write the vocabulary word on one side and its definition on the other. By testing yourself in your spare moments of time, you're much more likely to create permanent additions to your vocabulary.

5. Know when it's appropriate to use the word

What's the point of learning new words if you don't know how to use them? Look at how the word is used. How does the author use it? Does your dictionary give any sample sentences? Know when it's appropriate to use your new vocabulary word.

Remember that even authors can misuse a word. More mediocre writers love to cram their articles with unusual words that aren't always appropriate. If you're not comfortable using the latest addition to your vocabulary, there's nothing wrong with relying on common words.

Conclusion

Reading is one of the best ways to increase your vocabulary. Sure, word-of-the-day calendars and pre-made vocabulary cards can help. But your encounters with new words in your readings demonstrate that they're being used (and how they're being used). By paying closer attention to the materials you'd ordinarily read anyway, you'll find an easy (and inexpensive!) way to increase your own vocabulary.