{"id":40,"date":"2019-12-07T11:35:55","date_gmt":"2019-12-07T11:35:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/coreqenglish1\/chapter\/read-strategically-diversify-your-vocabulary\/"},"modified":"2025-03-18T20:30:01","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T20:30:01","slug":"enhancing-your-vocabulary","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/enhancing-your-vocabulary\/","title":{"raw":"Enhancing Your Vocabulary","rendered":"Enhancing Your Vocabulary"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>Learning Objective<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Describe strategies for enhancing your vocabulary<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Use structural analysis to understand the meanings of words<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>Learn Common Roots and Word Etymology<\/h2>\r\nModern English represents a cornucopia of different languages. In fact, if you limited yourself to words with only specifically \u201cEnglish\u201d origin, you would have a pretty small vocabulary.\r\n\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2483\/2017\/07\/15220921\/EnglishInfluences_new.png\" alt=\"A timeline of Historical Influences on the English Language. Celtic and Latin influenced West Germanic Languages, which transitioned into Old English between 450 CE and 550 CE. Anglo-Saxon began its influence with the arrival of Germanic Settlements in the late 400s. Norse began its influence on the language in 787 when the Viking Invasions began. Anglo-Norman and Old French began their influence in the 1000s when the Norman Invasions began. French, Latin, Greek, and Italian began their influence in the 1400s to the 1600s due to Renaissance Mixing. From the 1700s to the present, English has been influenced by Empire Import languages, including Hindi, Persian, Arabic, Turkish, Malay, and American English. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"896\" \/>\r\n\r\nIf you learn basic root words, especially Latin and Greek roots, you will be able to break apart words to figure out what they mean. Take a look at this <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_Greek_and_Latin_roots_in_English\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">List of Greek and Latin roots in English<\/a>. You might be surprised.\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/h5p.org\/h5p\/embed\/133483\" width=\"1293\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><script src=\"https:\/\/h5p.org\/sites\/all\/modules\/h5p\/library\/js\/h5p-resizer.js\" charset=\"UTF-8\"><\/script>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>Understand Structural Analysis<\/h2>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Structural analysis is the process of breaking words down into their basic parts to determine word meaning. Structural analysis is a powerful vocabulary tool since knowledge of a few word parts can give you clues to the meanings of a large number of words. Although the meaning suggested by the word parts may not be exact, this process can often help you understand the word well enough that you can continue reading without significant interruption.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">When using structural analysis, the reader breaks words down into their basic parts:<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s3\"><b>Prefixes<\/b><\/span><span class=\"s1\"> \u2013 word parts located at the beginning of a word to change meaning<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s3\"><b>Roots<\/b><\/span><span class=\"s1\"> \u2013 the basic meaningful part of a word<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s3\"><b>Suffixes<\/b><\/span><span class=\"s1\"> - word parts attached to the end of a word; suffixes often alter the part of speech of the word<img class=\"alignright wp-image-185\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/106\/2016\/05\/12152110\/biker-297147_1280-300x254.png\" alt=\"Decorative image.\" width=\"217\" height=\"184\" \/><\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">For example, the word bicyclist can be broken down as follows:<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">bi - prefix meaning two<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">cycle - root meaning wheel<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">ist - a noun suffix meaning 'a person who'<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Therefore, structural analysis suggests that a bicyclist is a person on two wheels\u2014a meaning which is close to the word's formal definition.<\/span><\/p>\r\nJust to pick an example, when you understand that the prefix \u201cortho\u201d means straight or right, you start to find connections between seemingly unrelated words, such as orthodontist (a specialist who straightens teeth) and orthography (the correct, or straight, way of writing).\r\n\r\nUnderstanding the logic behind words always pays off in terms of learning and recalling. Consider these examples: \u201cbreakfast\u201d means \u201cinterrupt the night\u2019s fast,\u201d and \u201crainbow\u201d means \u201cbow or arc caused by rain.\u201d While these meanings may be trivial to native English speakers, having such insights about words, foreign or otherwise, never fails to deepen your connection to them.\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Consider the word part \u2013cide. Though it cannot stand as a word by itself, it does have meaning: <em>to kill<\/em>. Think about the many words in our language that include the word part \u2013cide. Knowing this one word part gives us knowledge about many words.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"textbox examples\">\r\n<h3>Infixes<\/h3>\r\nSome languages also use <strong>infixes<\/strong>, which are inserted in the middle of a word to alter its meaning or intensity. English rarely uses infixes in formal contexts, but they appear informally for emphasis or stylistic effect. Examples include:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><em>abso-<strong>friggin<\/strong>-lutely<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t<li><em>un-<strong>freaking<\/strong>-believable<\/em><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nIn these cases, the infix intensifies the word\u2019s meaning. However, infixes remain a rare and informal feature in English.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox exercises\">\r\n<h3>Link to Learning<\/h3>\r\n<span class=\"s1\">To further develop this skill, refer to the convenient reference sheet <a href=\"http:\/\/www.lethbridgecollege.net\/elearningcafe\/images\/stories\/pdf\/structural_analysis.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s4\">Structural Analysis: Common Word Parts<\/span><\/a>, for a list of some common prefixes, roots, and suffixes along with their meanings and examples of words that use them.<\/span>\r\n\r\nTo practice this skill, try the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.lethbridgecollege.net\/elearningcafe\/index.php\/studyskills\/vocabulary-development\/structural-analysis-exercises\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s4\">Structural Analysis Exercises<\/span><\/a> from Lethbridge College.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nAlthough structural analysis is a technique that can be used by anyone, there are definitely certain disciplines that use it more extensively. The medical field, in particular, uses terminology grounded firmly in structural analysis. Check out the following sites to learn some common word parts found in the medical field:\r\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\r\n \t<li class=\"li4\"><span class=\"s5\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wisc-online.com\/objects\/viewobject.aspx?id=gen704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s6\">Building Medical Terms: The Digestive System<\/span><\/a><\/span><span class=\"s1\"> - This site helps you build and learn terms related to the digestive system.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li5\"><span class=\"s7\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.free-ed.net\/sweethaven\/MedTech\/MedTerm\/default.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s6\">Medical Terminology from SweetHaven Publishing Services<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li4\"><span class=\"s5\"><a href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/ca\/podcast\/medical-terminology-systems\/id323696512\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s6\">Medical Terminology Systems, Sixth Edition Audio Exercises<\/span><\/a><\/span><span class=\"s1\"> - This site helps you learn a variety of word parts related to medical terminology.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li4\"><span class=\"s5\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.medword.com\/prefixes.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s6\">Medword Resources Medical Terminology Basics<\/span><\/a><\/span><span class=\"s1\"> - This site contains lists of medical prefixes, suffixes, combining forms, crossword puzzles, and more.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li5\"><span class=\"s7\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sheppardsoftware.com\/web_games_vocab_med.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s6\">Medical Terminology at Sheppard Software<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Maintain a Personal Lexicon<\/h2>\r\nBy keeping a personalized list of learned words, you\u2019ll have a handy reference you can use to review these words later. It\u2019s very likely you\u2019ll want to go back and refresh your memory on recent words, so keeping them in your own list is much more efficient than going back to the dictionary every time.\r\n\r\nEven if you never refer back to your lexicon again, writing words down at least once will greatly enhance your ability to commit them to your permanent memory. Another excellent learning aid is to write an original sentence containing the word \u2014 and using your lexicon to do that is a great way of enforcing this habit. You can also add many other details as you see fit, such as the date you first came across the word or maybe a sequential number to help you reach some word quota you define.\r\n\r\nThere are many ways you can keep your personal word list; each has its own advantages and disadvantages, so make sure to pick the format that works best for you. You may prefer to keep it as a simple text file in the computer, or in a regular paper notebook, or maybe as flash cards in a shoe box.\r\n\r\nOne option is a computer spreadsheet for its handy features such as searching, sorting, and filtering.\r\n<div class=\"textbox exercises\">\r\n<h3>Watch It<\/h3>\r\nIt's one thing to expose yourself to new words\u2014it's another to internalize these new words and make them part of your working vocabulary.\r\n\r\nEnjoy the public service video shared below, originally filmed in 1948. Feel free to laugh at its more artificial elements.\r\n\r\n[embed]https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9ea4CdQPWfc[\/embed]\r\n\r\nYou can view the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/course-building\/English+Comp\/Transcripts\/BuildYourVocabulary_transcript.rtf\">transcript for \"Build Your Vocabulary- 1948\" here (download).<\/a>\r\n\r\nThough dated, this video does offer good advice for how to develop a stronger working vocabulary. How would you update these tips to the twenty-first century?\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>Follow a Process<\/h2>\r\nTo make vocabulary improvement a permanent habit in your everyday life, you should make it as habitual, automatic, and tightly integrated into your daily workflow as possible\u2014otherwise you won\u2019t do it when your days get too busy.\r\n\r\nIn that regard, one particularly useful concept is the one of maintaining a \u201cWord Inbox.\u201d By having a predefined place you use to capture the words you come across, you can process them much more efficiently.\r\n\r\nYour process can be as simple as you wish\u2014the key is to specify it beforehand and then follow it. By knowing exactly how and how often to process your inbox, you stay on top of your vocabulary improvement process, even when there are other pressing matters crying out for your attention.\r\n<h2>Leverage Every Resource You Can<\/h2>\r\nThe internet is a gold mine of resources for vocabulary building. Here are a few to get you started, though many more exist:\r\n\r\nThere are plenty of<a href=\"http:\/\/www.google.com\/search?hl=en&amp;q=vocabulary+software&amp;btnG=Google+Search\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> vocabulary applications<\/a> you can try. There are many\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&amp;location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3FinitialSearch%3D1%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Daps%26field-keywords%3Dvocabulary%26x%3D9%26y%3D20&amp;tag=phaedrus0b&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">vocabulary-related books<\/a> you can explore. There is a wealth of free literature on sites such as\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gutenberg.org\/wiki\/Main_Page\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Project Gutenberg<\/a>. If you use the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.getfirefox.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Firefox<\/a> browser, there are many ways to integrate dictionary lookup functions, such as the plug-ins<a href=\"https:\/\/addons.mozilla.org\/en-US\/firefox\/addon\/735\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Answers.com<\/a> and<a href=\"https:\/\/addons.mozilla.org\/en-US\/firefox\/addon\/68\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> DictionarySearch<\/a>. You can find specialized vocabulary lists, such as these<a href=\"http:\/\/www.psychpage.com\/learning\/library\/assess\/feelings.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> feeling words<\/a> or<a href=\"http:\/\/www.msgarrettonline.com\/descripwords.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> descriptive words<\/a>. You can even learn<a href=\"http:\/\/www.pangloss.com\/seidel\/shake_rule.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> some classy, Shakespearean insults<\/a>!\r\n\r\nThe point is that you\u2019re only limited by your willingness to learn: let curiosity be your guide and you will never run out of resources to learn from.\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\r\nhttps:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/a38e4503-8cde-4b52-bddd-a4e2a9bb324f\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Learning Objective<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Describe strategies for enhancing your vocabulary<\/li>\n<li>Use structural analysis to understand the meanings of words<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Learn Common Roots and Word Etymology<\/h2>\n<p>Modern English represents a cornucopia of different languages. In fact, if you limited yourself to words with only specifically \u201cEnglish\u201d origin, you would have a pretty small vocabulary.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2483\/2017\/07\/15220921\/EnglishInfluences_new.png\" alt=\"A timeline of Historical Influences on the English Language. Celtic and Latin influenced West Germanic Languages, which transitioned into Old English between 450 CE and 550 CE. Anglo-Saxon began its influence with the arrival of Germanic Settlements in the late 400s. Norse began its influence on the language in 787 when the Viking Invasions began. Anglo-Norman and Old French began their influence in the 1000s when the Norman Invasions began. French, Latin, Greek, and Italian began their influence in the 1400s to the 1600s due to Renaissance Mixing. From the 1700s to the present, English has been influenced by Empire Import languages, including Hindi, Persian, Arabic, Turkish, Malay, and American English.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"896\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you learn basic root words, especially Latin and Greek roots, you will be able to break apart words to figure out what they mean. Take a look at this <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_Greek_and_Latin_roots_in_English\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">List of Greek and Latin roots in English<\/a>. You might be surprised.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/h5p.org\/h5p\/embed\/133483\" width=\"1293\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><script src=\"https:\/\/h5p.org\/sites\/all\/modules\/h5p\/library\/js\/h5p-resizer.js\" charset=\"UTF-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Understand Structural Analysis<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Structural analysis is the process of breaking words down into their basic parts to determine word meaning. Structural analysis is a powerful vocabulary tool since knowledge of a few word parts can give you clues to the meanings of a large number of words. Although the meaning suggested by the word parts may not be exact, this process can often help you understand the word well enough that you can continue reading without significant interruption.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">When using structural analysis, the reader breaks words down into their basic parts:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li2\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s3\"><b>Prefixes<\/b><\/span><span class=\"s1\"> \u2013 word parts located at the beginning of a word to change meaning<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s3\"><b>Roots<\/b><\/span><span class=\"s1\"> \u2013 the basic meaningful part of a word<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s3\"><b>Suffixes<\/b><\/span><span class=\"s1\"> &#8211; word parts attached to the end of a word; suffixes often alter the part of speech of the word<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-185\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/106\/2016\/05\/12152110\/biker-297147_1280-300x254.png\" alt=\"Decorative image.\" width=\"217\" height=\"184\" \/><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">For example, the word bicyclist can be broken down as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">bi &#8211; prefix meaning two<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">cycle &#8211; root meaning wheel<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">ist &#8211; a noun suffix meaning &#8216;a person who&#8217;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Therefore, structural analysis suggests that a bicyclist is a person on two wheels\u2014a meaning which is close to the word&#8217;s formal definition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Just to pick an example, when you understand that the prefix \u201cortho\u201d means straight or right, you start to find connections between seemingly unrelated words, such as orthodontist (a specialist who straightens teeth) and orthography (the correct, or straight, way of writing).<\/p>\n<p>Understanding the logic behind words always pays off in terms of learning and recalling. Consider these examples: \u201cbreakfast\u201d means \u201cinterrupt the night\u2019s fast,\u201d and \u201crainbow\u201d means \u201cbow or arc caused by rain.\u201d While these meanings may be trivial to native English speakers, having such insights about words, foreign or otherwise, never fails to deepen your connection to them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Consider the word part \u2013cide. Though it cannot stand as a word by itself, it does have meaning: <em>to kill<\/em>. Think about the many words in our language that include the word part \u2013cide. Knowing this one word part gives us knowledge about many words.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox examples\">\n<h3>Infixes<\/h3>\n<p>Some languages also use <strong>infixes<\/strong>, which are inserted in the middle of a word to alter its meaning or intensity. English rarely uses infixes in formal contexts, but they appear informally for emphasis or stylistic effect. Examples include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>abso-<strong>friggin<\/strong>-lutely<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>un-<strong>freaking<\/strong>-believable<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In these cases, the infix intensifies the word\u2019s meaning. However, infixes remain a rare and informal feature in English.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox exercises\">\n<h3>Link to Learning<\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"s1\">To further develop this skill, refer to the convenient reference sheet <a href=\"http:\/\/www.lethbridgecollege.net\/elearningcafe\/images\/stories\/pdf\/structural_analysis.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s4\">Structural Analysis: Common Word Parts<\/span><\/a>, for a list of some common prefixes, roots, and suffixes along with their meanings and examples of words that use them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>To practice this skill, try the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.lethbridgecollege.net\/elearningcafe\/index.php\/studyskills\/vocabulary-development\/structural-analysis-exercises\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s4\">Structural Analysis Exercises<\/span><\/a> from Lethbridge College.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Although structural analysis is a technique that can be used by anyone, there are definitely certain disciplines that use it more extensively. The medical field, in particular, uses terminology grounded firmly in structural analysis. Check out the following sites to learn some common word parts found in the medical field:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li4\"><span class=\"s5\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wisc-online.com\/objects\/viewobject.aspx?id=gen704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s6\">Building Medical Terms: The Digestive System<\/span><\/a><\/span><span class=\"s1\"> &#8211; This site helps you build and learn terms related to the digestive system.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li5\"><span class=\"s7\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.free-ed.net\/sweethaven\/MedTech\/MedTerm\/default.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s6\">Medical Terminology from SweetHaven Publishing Services<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li4\"><span class=\"s5\"><a href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/ca\/podcast\/medical-terminology-systems\/id323696512\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s6\">Medical Terminology Systems, Sixth Edition Audio Exercises<\/span><\/a><\/span><span class=\"s1\"> &#8211; This site helps you learn a variety of word parts related to medical terminology.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li4\"><span class=\"s5\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.medword.com\/prefixes.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s6\">Medword Resources Medical Terminology Basics<\/span><\/a><\/span><span class=\"s1\"> &#8211; This site contains lists of medical prefixes, suffixes, combining forms, crossword puzzles, and more.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li5\"><span class=\"s7\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sheppardsoftware.com\/web_games_vocab_med.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s6\">Medical Terminology at Sheppard Software<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Maintain a Personal Lexicon<\/h2>\n<p>By keeping a personalized list of learned words, you\u2019ll have a handy reference you can use to review these words later. It\u2019s very likely you\u2019ll want to go back and refresh your memory on recent words, so keeping them in your own list is much more efficient than going back to the dictionary every time.<\/p>\n<p>Even if you never refer back to your lexicon again, writing words down at least once will greatly enhance your ability to commit them to your permanent memory. Another excellent learning aid is to write an original sentence containing the word \u2014 and using your lexicon to do that is a great way of enforcing this habit. You can also add many other details as you see fit, such as the date you first came across the word or maybe a sequential number to help you reach some word quota you define.<\/p>\n<p>There are many ways you can keep your personal word list; each has its own advantages and disadvantages, so make sure to pick the format that works best for you. You may prefer to keep it as a simple text file in the computer, or in a regular paper notebook, or maybe as flash cards in a shoe box.<\/p>\n<p>One option is a computer spreadsheet for its handy features such as searching, sorting, and filtering.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox exercises\">\n<h3>Watch It<\/h3>\n<p>It&#8217;s one thing to expose yourself to new words\u2014it&#8217;s another to internalize these new words and make them part of your working vocabulary.<\/p>\n<p>Enjoy the public service video shared below, originally filmed in 1948. Feel free to laugh at its more artificial elements.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"oembed-1\" title=\"Build Your Vocabulary (1948)\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9ea4CdQPWfc?feature=oembed&#38;rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>You can view the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/course-building\/English+Comp\/Transcripts\/BuildYourVocabulary_transcript.rtf\">transcript for &#8220;Build Your Vocabulary- 1948&#8221; here (download).<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Though dated, this video does offer good advice for how to develop a stronger working vocabulary. How would you update these tips to the twenty-first century?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Follow a Process<\/h2>\n<p>To make vocabulary improvement a permanent habit in your everyday life, you should make it as habitual, automatic, and tightly integrated into your daily workflow as possible\u2014otherwise you won\u2019t do it when your days get too busy.<\/p>\n<p>In that regard, one particularly useful concept is the one of maintaining a \u201cWord Inbox.\u201d By having a predefined place you use to capture the words you come across, you can process them much more efficiently.<\/p>\n<p>Your process can be as simple as you wish\u2014the key is to specify it beforehand and then follow it. By knowing exactly how and how often to process your inbox, you stay on top of your vocabulary improvement process, even when there are other pressing matters crying out for your attention.<\/p>\n<h2>Leverage Every Resource You Can<\/h2>\n<p>The internet is a gold mine of resources for vocabulary building. Here are a few to get you started, though many more exist:<\/p>\n<p>There are plenty of<a href=\"http:\/\/www.google.com\/search?hl=en&amp;q=vocabulary+software&amp;btnG=Google+Search\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> vocabulary applications<\/a> you can try. There are many\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&amp;location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3FinitialSearch%3D1%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Daps%26field-keywords%3Dvocabulary%26x%3D9%26y%3D20&amp;tag=phaedrus0b&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">vocabulary-related books<\/a> you can explore. There is a wealth of free literature on sites such as\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gutenberg.org\/wiki\/Main_Page\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Project Gutenberg<\/a>. If you use the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.getfirefox.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Firefox<\/a> browser, there are many ways to integrate dictionary lookup functions, such as the plug-ins<a href=\"https:\/\/addons.mozilla.org\/en-US\/firefox\/addon\/735\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Answers.com<\/a> and<a href=\"https:\/\/addons.mozilla.org\/en-US\/firefox\/addon\/68\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> DictionarySearch<\/a>. You can find specialized vocabulary lists, such as these<a href=\"http:\/\/www.psychpage.com\/learning\/library\/assess\/feelings.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> feeling words<\/a> or<a href=\"http:\/\/www.msgarrettonline.com\/descripwords.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> descriptive words<\/a>. You can even learn<a href=\"http:\/\/www.pangloss.com\/seidel\/shake_rule.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> some classy, Shakespearean insults<\/a>!<\/p>\n<p>The point is that you\u2019re only limited by your willingness to learn: let curiosity be your guide and you will never run out of resources to learn from.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\n<p>\t<iframe id=\"assessment_practice_a38e4503-8cde-4b52-bddd-a4e2a9bb324f\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/a38e4503-8cde-4b52-bddd-a4e2a9bb324f?iframe_resize_id=assessment_practice_id_a38e4503-8cde-4b52-bddd-a4e2a9bb324f\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;width:100%;height:100%;min-height:300px;\"><br \/>\n\t<\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-40\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Original<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Image: Historical Influences on the English Language. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Lumen Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Modification, adaptation, and original content. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Lumen Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC: Attribution-NonCommercial<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>10 Sure-Fire Strategies to Improve Your Vocabulary. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Luciano Passuello. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Litemind. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/litemind.com\/10-strategies-improve-vocabulary\/\">https:\/\/litemind.com\/10-strategies-improve-vocabulary\/<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC: Attribution-NonCommercial<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Vocabulary Development: Structural Analysis. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Lethbridge College. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.lethbridgecollege.net\/elearningcafe\/index.php\/studyskills\/vocabulary-development\">http:\/\/www.lethbridgecollege.net\/elearningcafe\/index.php\/studyskills\/vocabulary-development<\/a>. <strong>Project<\/strong>: eLearning Cafe. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Image of bicyclist. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: ClkerFreeVectorImages. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/en\/biker-bike-sports-biking-effort-297147\/\">https:\/\/pixabay.com\/en\/biker-bike-sports-biking-effort-297147\/<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/about\/cc0\">CC0: No Rights Reserved<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">Public domain content<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Build Your Vocabulary (1948). <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: SehgalTV. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/AR5pnxui13E\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/AR5pnxui13E<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/about\/pdm\">Public Domain: No Known Copyright<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":29,"menu_order":20,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Modification, adaptation, and original content\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Lumen Learning\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-nc\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"10 Sure-Fire Strategies to Improve Your Vocabulary\",\"author\":\"Luciano Passuello\",\"organization\":\"Litemind\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/litemind.com\/10-strategies-improve-vocabulary\/\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-nc\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"pd\",\"description\":\"Build Your Vocabulary (1948)\",\"author\":\"SehgalTV\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/AR5pnxui13E\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"pd\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Vocabulary Development: Structural Analysis\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Lethbridge 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