How important is expanding your vocabulary to you?

Use this forum for book and reading discussion that doesn't fall into another category. Talk about books, genres, reading issues, general literature, and any other topic of particular interest to readers. If you want to start a thread about a specific book or a specific series, please do that in the section below this one.
Post Reply
User avatar
ebethina
Posts: 329
Joined: 01 Jul 2017, 20:47
Currently Reading: Homeport
Bookshelf Size: 128
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ebethina.html
Latest Review: "Temptation Trials Part II" by B. Truly

Re: How important is expanding your vocabulary to you?

Post by ebethina »

It is incredibly important to me as I have a learning disability that I try to hide. Personally I feel like if I wouldn't have started reading at an early age I wouldn't be where I am at today. Mine is very mild but still it's rather embarrassing so I try really hard to listen to other people use words I am not familiar with in a sentence than later when I am using a phrase similar it helps me remember what word to use to make me look smarter than I am. Plus, it helps in books too. That's where having the dictionary in a kindle helps.
Latest Review: "Temptation Trials Part II" by B. Truly
User avatar
Helga_
Posts: 81
Joined: 14 Nov 2013, 02:20
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 8

Post by Helga_ »

Very important for me, cuz I love learning languages in general. My vocab study goes for both my mother tongue and English. One of my rules for learning words: making sure to learn proper contexts that go along with certain words (not just new words---even though I've learned some words, if my knowledge is limited to simple dictionary definitions, I don't feel I "know" the words). Plus, I hope to work as a freelance translator one day, so...
User avatar
AdaJude
Posts: 27
Joined: 05 Nov 2017, 00:59
Bookshelf Size: 10

Post by AdaJude »

Interesting discussion here. I guess modern writing in social media is lazy. In that it has been made shorter, maybe even more precise to the point. Not much space for vocabulary. I've taken upon myself to go against this trend. I consider vocabulary very important.
User avatar
Lincolnshirelass
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 1509
Joined: 30 Oct 2017, 04:36
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by Lincolnshirelass »

I love to expand my vocabulary and to savour and experiment with new and unusual words, but having said that, I also find it too easy to fall into the trap of using a long and difficult word/expression for the sake of it.
An Eye for an Eye only ends up making the whole world blind.

Mahatma Gandhi
vaz222
Posts: 126
Joined: 11 Jul 2017, 22:07
Bookshelf Size: 13
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-vaz222.html
Latest Review: "The 11.05 Murders" by Brian O'Hare

Post by vaz222 »

I think it's fairly important if you're striving to be a well educated individual.
Latest Review: "The 11.05 Murders" by Brian O'Hare
User avatar
PABS
Posts: 67
Joined: 11 Jun 2018, 05:24
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 67
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-pabs.html
Latest Review: This Side of Paradise: the Religious World of Elijah Muhammad by Curtis J. Tilleraas

Post by PABS »

Expanding your vocabulary is very important. (I congratulate you on your goal.) We think in words. A larger vocabulary results in more precise thinking. Reading, especially reading varied genres, is an excellent way to achieve your goal.
Taekwondoqueen
Posts: 87
Joined: 01 Jul 2018, 09:04
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 14
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-taekwondoqueen.html
Latest Review: World, Incorporated by Tom Gariffo

Post by Taekwondoqueen »

Whenever I reach a word in a book that I do not know, then I will look it up in my dictionary. I will sometimes flip to a random page and learn all of the words on that page, just because I can.
Asisha Joseph
Posts: 65
Joined: 09 May 2018, 11:26
Favorite Book: The Lord Of The Rings
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 10
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-asisha-joseph.html
Latest Review: Andalusian in Jerusalem by Mois benarroch

Post by Asisha Joseph »

Quite, quite important. But only through conversation and books and movies. As in, I usually hate sitting down with a dictionary and looking for words I don't know.
User avatar
Pingin51
Posts: 7
Joined: 18 Jul 2018, 04:26
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 12

Post by Pingin51 »

Vocabulary building is quite important cause as the day goes by, things change, technology upgrades as well as people. So it quite impressive to find yourself in the mist of people who are up to date., It gives you a chance to learn skills, improve and so on.
User avatar
Juliar252
Posts: 125
Joined: 18 Sep 2018, 09:50
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 19
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-juliar252.html
Latest Review: If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your But's by Mark L. Wdowiak

Post by Juliar252 »

Incredibly important. I think communication is a vital skill and having multiple ways of describing something or communicating an idea is essential.
User avatar
1ditzyrn
Posts: 194
Joined: 08 Mar 2018, 09:52
Favorite Book: Desire
Currently Reading: Daisies and Dragon Slayers In The Equator
Bookshelf Size: 127
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-1ditzyrn.html
Latest Review: Genesis (The Infinity Series, Vol.2) by Bellamy Westbay
Reading Device: B00IKPYKWG

Post by 1ditzyrn »

I enjoy increasing my vocabulary and learning new words. I also like to learn the reasoning behind different figures of speech that people use. I find it interesting to see where phrases like "throw the baby out with the bath water" originated.
User avatar
Sakilunamermaid
Posts: 495
Joined: 18 Jan 2018, 22:29
Currently Reading: Ready Player One
Bookshelf Size: 481
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU

Post by Sakilunamermaid »

I find myself very annoyed with the way that I have been writing and speaking. Using limited and repetitive words bothers me deeply. I haven't been reading much lately and that is what has me feeling stifled when expressing myself.
User avatar
zarah_
Book of the Month Participant
Posts: 208
Joined: 05 Jul 2018, 18:17
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 53
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-zarah.html
Latest Review: Entrepreneurship: 5 Best Practices for Stay-At-Home-Moms who want to start an Online Business by Joy Jennings

Post by zarah_ »

I think it's important especially if your job deals with writing (i.e. author, advertising, song writing). I love coming across words I haven't heard of or haven't used in a while in books. One trick I picked up at school is to look it up in the dictionary and try use it in a sentence. That method has stuck with me and is useful to date. Another way to expand your vocabulary is through crossword puzzles, which my mum does. She also likes reading books.
User avatar
Alice Thokchom
Posts: 233
Joined: 10 Oct 2018, 04:48
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 41
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-thokchom-alice.html
Latest Review: Sigfried’s Smelly Socks! by Len Foley

Post by Alice Thokchom »

Yes, reading is a great way to expand our vocabulary. We come across new words which would otherwise not be found in our daily conversation.
A joke is to entertain people. If it fails to do so, it's something else!
gregs317
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 441
Joined: 23 Jul 2013, 22:17
Bookshelf Size: 0
2025 Reading Goal: 12
2025 Goal Completion: 0%

Post by gregs317 »

I think it's fairly important. Learning new words expands your thinking ability, and can only benefit you.

Personally, I love to look up new words that I find in books that I'm reading or on TV shows. It makes me feel a little more intelligent to learn new things.
Post Reply

Return to “General Book & Reading Discussion”