Finn: How to vastly extend your vocabulary & then consolidate what you have learned!

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Introduction.​

This thread is going to be quite lengthly, consisting of a number of long paragraphs. If you're generally interested, I recommend you try to get into it.

I do not wish to present myself pretentiously, but I say with certainty that a number of people have, in the past, assumed that I am indisputably intelligent on the basis of my ''extensive vocabulary''. When I discuss this with people, many people appear to wish their vocabulary was more extensive, and regret it not being so.

Well, take it from me, making your vocabulary more extensive isn't actually that difficult.​

Steps one can take to improve their vocabulary.​

I am aware of a number of steps that can be taken in order to improve the extensivity of your vocabulary without hindering you too much along the way, or forcing you to sit and read a dictionary for hours on end.

Method #1, Writing on your hand.

Over the years, this has been a fundamental factor in the development of my own personal vocabulary, and I am glad I have adopted this method.

When you're in school or work, for example, you generally have a pen around you, and so writing on your hand is practical.

Although a simple idea, it is very successful - when you have encountered a word you are unaware of, or certainly a word which appeals to you, write it on your hand as soon as possible. For example, I have only been out for a couple of hours today, but I have written the following two words on my hand:



As soon as I got home, I popped onto www.dictionary.com, typed the words in, and read the definitions. For the rest of the day, you see the words on your hand, and you automatically refresh yourself of what the words mean. This truly is an effortlessly excellent way of extending your vocabulary, and is one I highly recommend.

Method #2, Taking fifteen minutes at the end of the day.

Although I don't use this method anymore, it has certainly been helpful in developing my vocabulary. The concept is simple - at the end of the day, get into bed, and leave your light on for fifteen minutes. Have a thesaurus (NOT a dictionary) beside your bed, awaiting the brilliance of your nightly arrival.

For me, I found that the best method was to look up my favourite words in the thesaurus. As you're probably aware, words from the same semantic pool typically sound similar, and so words that appeal to you generally have similar synomyms. For example, the first time I ever tried this method, my vocabulary was somewhat limited. I looked up the word ''poisonous'', and some of the words I found beneath were remarkably endearing. Ever since that first, I still to this day call people ''nefarious serpents'' and ''virulent lizards''.

Generally, words that appeal to you most tend to stick, and you will gain the most pleasure from using words that you like anyway, so this method is, from a utilitarian viewpoint, very successful.

I decided to demonstrate it myself.

Method #3, Word lists.

I suspect this will be the least appealing of my three methods, and practically, it is the least appropriate, but it is certainly a very productive and successful method if you have the time to adopt it.

Like Method #2, I haven't used this for a number of months, but when I was using it, it proved very productive for me personally.

Essentially, this can be linked to Method #2, in that when you come across a word you are particularly fond of, you simply write it down, putting the bracketed meaning alongside it. The last list I made was made about six or seven months ago, but remains on my wall next to my bed to this very day, and so when I wake up and or go to bed, I look up and down the list, and it enhances my vocabulary for that day. Here is my example, which is quite an old one now:



If you've bothered to read all of this, I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it, and I am thankful that you took the time to read it, and I hope it helps you.​

 

Thank you for furthering the goals of grammar nazis everywhere.

 

Very nice guide, descriptive and helpful. Also, I like the use of original pictures.

 

obvious means to an end is obvious?

 

Very well written guide, creative use of pictures and fun tips to memorize words. Good jobeh Finn

 

i dunt like dis gide cuz i dident lern n e thing

 

I don't really see the point of this, besides people thinking you are a genius or saying "what?" after every sentence.

6/10 for the extreme effort. I really like your cake one though.

 

I'd appreciate it if you didn't post stupidly on my guides, Daily.

• The thread teaches you HOW to do something.
• You have learned HOW to do something.
• If you didn't learn HOW to do something, you probably didn't bother to read it, are already knowledgeable of the methods, or are just trolling.

Some people like to be able to express themselves elequently, and I am one of them. Being able to express the way in which you feel without having to use the same word for an emotion each time can be personally very rewarding for some people, although I understand that it isn't as rewarding for others, and so I can appreciate your opinion.

Thanks for the 6/10 rating for ''extreme'' effort. Perhaps you could benefit from my guide and could have consequently chosen a more appropriate word.

 

Nice guide, Finn.

Although I can't help saying, don't people think you're a bit weird using all of these words? I've never heard someone call another a 'nefarious serpent.

 

Yay now i know how to be smarticle!

 

I tend not to make such remarks in person, although branding irritable children online with such insults really pushes their buttons.

 

Nick, do not be such a nefarious serpent.
Building your vocabulary is very useful in many activities.
I as well read the thesaurus, the next day, I dread forgetting a word.

Also, I would like to point out this website which will aid you if you do not own your own thesaurus.
The web page is thesaurus.com. This is also a part of dictionary.com.
This could increase your vocabularial intellect.

P.S. I have not found vocabularial in any dictionary. Thus, I will attempt to make it a commonly preferred word and attempt getting it in the dictionary.

For the rating of this guide:

9/10 Overall
10/10 Pictures
9/10 Description
9.5/10 Ideas

Very commendable guide Finn. I praise that this will aid many readers.

Edit: I hope you do realize Nick that I was just playing a pun on you. I would never personally mean what I had called you.

 

Thanks for the insightful and extensive feedback.

 

It is not much of a dilemma. Personally, I find you guides very superb due to your grammar dogmas.

I would like to add that I just learned the word dogma due to this guide. Thank you for more suggestions of your beliefs Finn.

 

Excellent guide, Finn.

This will surely widen my already somewhat-extensive vocabulary

 

I enjoyed this guide. I will use the first technique.

 

Yes, you must! And then you can tell me how it goes.