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Hey guys I'm new to the forum, and I guess what pushed me to join was a great curiosity to see how important it is for other reading folk to expand their vocabulary through reading or other methods. Personally it's really important for me, and I manage to work on it pretty consistently.

How important is it, and what methods do you use? Would you even be willing to spend money on it if it really helped you?

Thanks for your feedback everyone.

I think the main way I have increased my vocab is by reading. Lately I have taken to reading with a dictionary by me. It is important to me, but I know I could do more to expand it.

I think reading is a great way to expand your vocabulary. I can't say its one of the reasons why I read but it's definitely a great benefit of reading.

In terms of methods you could always try the Word of the day gambit, to learn and use a new word each day. Having a dictionary with you when you read is also a great way.

No need, im perfect on that score

If I don't know a word, I like to search it up in the dictionary. Once I found the meaning, sometimes I like to use a thesaurus so I can use it for something like Word Association.

I also think it's great to expand your vocabulary, you can sound smart in front of your friends.

With the growing acceptability of swear words in the media and entertainment industries, I am making a concerted effort to counteract it by increasing my vocabulary and learning more eloquent words. A quick four-letter curse can suit certain circumstances (I'm not an angel) but in general I think swearing is lazy. Word power works!

I think it's very important to expand your vocabulary. I find while reading that there are many words used that I don't have any idea what they mean. I then have to stop and check the dictionary for the meaning and then pick up where I left off.
Funny thing is that I find myself using that new word I learned every chance I get until the novelty wears off...lol.


Scott B.

Maud Fitch wrote:With the growing acceptability of swear words in the media and entertainment industries, I am making a concerted effort to counteract it by increasing my vocabulary and learning more eloquent words. A quick four-letter curse can suit certain circumstances (I'm not an angel) but in general I think swearing is lazy. Word power works!

Agree Maud .... lazy and an indication of vocabulary deficit IMO, it's much more satisfying if you can just bring an eloquent put down to mind instead & it really shuts people up (if only while they try to figure out the meaning!).
It's very satisfying to come across a new word and then find an appropriate circumstance to use it.
Love the new avatar, very evocative. Would make a good title for Jasper ... 'Wrapped in a Good Book'!

Adequate communication requires only a rudimentary vocabulary.
But to be a truly effective communicator, one requires an array of words at their disposal, or a great thesaurus.
The more the merrier, I say !!

I've taken up seriously learning new words since about a year ago when I decided that from now on I'll be writing down in my notepad every word I haven't heard of and I would write at least 20 words a day on a little memo and wherever I walk or what I do I'm constantly trying to remember of at least 3 words in my mind by taking a first letter out of these 3 words and after I master them I go onto another 3. For example you have:
-Sublimate
-Augment
-Deleterious
So that gives you SAD and if you think it as a word "sad" which is to be unhappy it's easier to remember it

Very important. My mother is an English major, so she always had me keep a dictionary close to me as I read so I didn't have to ask her what words actually meant.

I love words. I love to find new ways of expressing myself. And I love using words that express my feelings as acurate as possible. I also love word structure and word origins. So yeah expanding my vocab is important to me and reading is a fun way to do it.

Fran wrote:

Maud Fitch wrote:With the growing acceptability of swear words in the media and entertainment industries, I am making a concerted effort to counteract it by increasing my vocabulary and learning more eloquent words. A quick four-letter curse can suit certain circumstances (I'm not an angel) but in general I think swearing is lazy. Word power works!

Agree Maud .... lazy and an indication of vocabulary deficit IMO, it's much more satisfying if you can just bring an eloquent put down to mind instead & it really shuts people up (if only while they try to figure out the meaning!).

WOAH. Hold the horses. Are you kidding?

Swearing is extremely important - it is important to use it properly and to enjoy it, like any other turn of phrase. Why is swearing somehow base or below standard?

"Word power works!" - YES! and swear/curse words are part of that!

"F*ck you" gets a message across far more quickly, and effectively than "do you know, I have taken an extreme dislike to you, and I would much appreciate it if you accepted this dislike by listening to the following opinion: I simply loathe your ideas, and they injure me in my most basic integrity". Sorry - those who don't appreciate swearing have no idea how language works. ("F*ck you" says all of this and more, for example.)

-- Thu Dec 29, 2011 1:34 pm --

Vocabulary 'deficit' doesn't even come into it.
If you have to shut people up with long words, that is pretty cheap. As Orwell says, being clear is always the most important thing, no matter what you are trying to say. Verbal clutter, especially in insult or discussion gets no-one, nowhere.

I would never say swear words should be enjoyed although I admit I enjoy the less harsh ones. People tend to use curse words when nothing else comes to mind. The curse you mentioned is actually pretty vague and doesn't really say much at all. What it says is that you are frustrated and really angry at the person. It doesn't say why, or just how much you are frustrated with them. It is far overused and is used in so many different contexts that a specific meaning has gotten lost.

Artdude wrote:

Fran wrote:

Maud Fitch wrote:With the growing acceptability of swear words in the media and entertainment industries, I am making a concerted effort to counteract it by increasing my vocabulary and learning more eloquent words. A quick four-letter curse can suit certain circumstances (I'm not an angel) but in general I think swearing is lazy. Word power works!

Agree Maud .... lazy and an indication of vocabulary deficit IMO, it's much more satisfying if you can just bring an eloquent put down to mind instead & it really shuts people up (if only while they try to figure out the meaning!).

WOAH. Hold the horses. Are you kidding?

Swearing is extremely important - it is important to use it properly and to enjoy it, like any other turn of phrase. Why is swearing somehow base or below standard?

"Word power works!" - YES! and swear/curse words are part of that!

"F*ck you" gets a message across far more quickly, and effectively than "do you know, I have taken an extreme dislike to you, and I would much appreciate it if you accepted this dislike by listening to the following opinion: I simply loathe your ideas, and they injure me in my most basic integrity". Sorry - those who don't appreciate swearing have no idea how language works. ("F*ck you" says all of this and more, for example.)

-- Thu Dec 29, 2011 1:34 pm --

Vocabulary 'deficit' doesn't even come into it.
If you have to shut people up with long words, that is pretty cheap. As Orwell says, being clear is always the most important thing, no matter what you are trying to say. Verbal clutter, especially in insult or discussion gets no-one, nowhere.

You actually make my point .... 'F*ck you' has loads of different meanings, at least in Ireland it does! However, in the context in which it is usually utilised I hold to my opinion that it is a lazy, imprecise and vulgar expression.
As a nation of writers and thinkers we have many, many people who could request that you perform a similar action on yourself with so much panache that you might actually be tempted to try.