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How Do I Improve My Everyday Vocabulary?

Tiffany Manley
Tiffany Manley

There are a variety of things that you can do to improve your everyday vocabulary, including reading on a regular basis, using a dictionary to look up words that you are unfamiliar with or to learn new words, engaging in activities you normally do not participate in and socializing with a variety of people through a variety of mediums. Improving your everyday vocabulary has the potential to benefit you in many ways, such as improving your communication skills and your ability to be successful. In addition to learning new vocabulary words, it is important to understand and use those words in everyday communication so that you do not forget the words or their meaning.

Reading is one of the best ways to improve your everyday vocabulary. Especially when it is done with a variety of genres, reading has the potential to expose you to a vast array of words that you might not have known otherwise. When you are reading, you might keep a dictionary handy to look up words that might be unfamiliar to you. If you still need clarification on a word, looking it up in a thesaurus might give you a better understanding of what the word means.

Using dictionaries can help improve a person's everyday vocabulary.
Using dictionaries can help improve a person's everyday vocabulary.

Learning a new word each day can also help you improve your everyday vocabulary. You might do this in a variety of ways, but a common one is to use the dictionary. Each day, look up a new word, learn what it means, and use it as much as you can so that you remember it. Some websites also list a "word of the day," and some might email you a word of the day if you sign up for that service.

Socializing with a variety of people is a good way to improve one's vocabulary.
Socializing with a variety of people is a good way to improve one's vocabulary.

You often might be familiar with the words and phrases used in your daily life but have no idea what words associated with other activities and places mean. Engaging in activities that you normally would not participate in might give you ample opportunity to learn new words and their meaning. This likely will expose you to new people and places, broadening your overall vocabulary and life experiences.

Just as engaging in new activities might help you improve your everyday vocabulary, so might socializing with new people. These people have different life experiences and might come from a place where you have never been, so they are a great source of new words. In addition, socializing with new people using a variety of methods further introduces you to new words. Words used on the Internet might not be the same ones used at an afternoon tea. Socializing in a variety of ways allows you to expand your everyday vocabulary.

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    • Using dictionaries can help improve a person's everyday vocabulary.
      By: Sebastian Crocker
      Using dictionaries can help improve a person's everyday vocabulary.
    • Socializing with a variety of people is a good way to improve one's vocabulary.
      By: CandyBox Images
      Socializing with a variety of people is a good way to improve one's vocabulary.