A great vocabulary is an essential tool in a writer’s toolbox.
Using new words can transform dull, lifeless phrases into something much more engaging.
But what’s the best way to learn new words?
You could read a book or open up a thesaurus every day. You could play word puzzles with your friends—if that’s how you like to roll on a Friday night.
Or you can cheat a little by reading our infographic below.
We have compiled a list of 19 words that have become widely used in everyday conversation and on social media. Some will be familiar; others have been used as slang for years but have only recently entered the mainstream.
Using a wider range of words can add variety and range to your writing.
Check out our infographic to spice up your vocabulary.
9 ways to improve your vocabulary
Writers naturally gravitate toward familiar words. If you’re looking to spruce up your writing and give yourself more to work with, here are some approaches worth trying.
1. Read every single day
As a writer, this one shouldn’t be too hard for you. The truth is, sometimes we can be so engrossed in our own work, we forget to step back and enjoy the words of others.
Make this a priority. Keep a book on your bedside table and read a little each night.
Reading regularly is one of the most reliable ways to encounter new words in context. You can even slip in a technical book or two, depending on what sort of language you’re looking to develop.
If you’re on an electronic device (such as a Kindle) you can highlight words as you read. It will tell you the meaning, and you can bookmark them for later—handy if you want to revisit new words as you go.
Of course, if you’re reading a good old paper book, you can still make notes on your phone or with pen and paper. Depending on the book, you might be keen to highlight as you go. We know some people find this blasphemous, so we won’t push this one!
2. Create your own personal dictionary
It’s one thing to read and learn a new word; it’s another altogether to actually remember it.
Start a Google Doc, or if you prefer something a little more traditional, set yourself up with some pen and paper.
Every time you come across a new word you love and want to use in your own writing, make a note of it.
You could jot the standard dictionary definition next to it. Or get a little more creative and write your own definition—have a little fun with it and make it a word to remember.
Tools like Grammarly can also prompt you to reconsider word choices as you edit.
3. Do a little etymological research
Etymology is the study of the origin of words and how meaning has changed and developed over the course of history.
If you’re into words—which, as a writer, you no doubt are—this is a bit of fun you can have while also adding to your vocabulary.
If you’re looking for a free resource, head over to Etymonline.com. It’s a comprehensive online etymological dictionary that covers the history of words across centuries. It also has its own app and browser extension.
Next time you come across an unusual word, do a little research before adding it to your list. Research suggests that understanding a word’s origin helps encode it more durably in memory, making you more likely to recall and use it later.
4. Embrace the music
Books aren’t the only resource we can use to discover new words.
Next time you’re enjoying some downtime, pop in some earbuds and pay close attention to the lyrics. You’ll come across words and phrases you might not encounter in print.
Research supports the role of music in vocabulary acquisition, and lyrics are a particularly rich source of informal and contemporary language.
5. Go people-watching
Let’s face it, who doesn’t love a bit of people-watching?
It’s also a practical way to expand your vocabulary.
Think about all those times in your writing when you have struggled to put a conversation to paper. This is no easy task and takes a lot of fine-tuning as you go.
Observing real conversation is some of the best research you can do, giving you direct access to the words and phrases people actually use.
Take your pen and paper—or go with your phone to be a little more discreet—and make notes about the types of words people use in their everyday conversations. Note the mannerisms, the rhythms, the slang.
6. Host a game night
Sure, not everyone might be as keen as you to expand their vocabulary, but who can pass up a games night?
There are several great games that build vocabulary while you play. Here are some worth picking up:
- Scrabble: never one to be overlooked. You will need to keep the dictionary close for any of those inevitable disputes.
- Boggle: shake up the pieces and find as many words as possible in three minutes. You won’t be discovering long words, but you might uncover some hidden gems.
- Scattergories: you lose points for duplicating answers, so you have to think outside the square—fast. Great for pushing beyond your defaults.
- Wordsmithery: you’re given three possible definitions and have to guess the right one. An effective way to add obscure but genuine words to your vocabulary.
7. Take a writing course
Being a writer can sometimes be rather lonely. Taking a course is a great way to meet people with common interests and learn plenty of new skills—and words—along the way.
If you’re not really a people person, you can opt for an online course taken from the comfort of your home. Most are self-paced, so there’s no rush.
There are classes covering creative writing, thesis writing, non-fiction, and more. Find the one that interests you: you’ll not only discover new words but improve your writing in the process.
8. Find your common words
Head through the latest piece you wrote and read it back. There will be words that keep cropping up—this is a natural habit for any writer.
Highlight or make note of them and work through the piece again with a thesaurus. It’s a practical way to replace your defaults with something more precise.
This is one of the quickest ways to improve your writing. Jump to it and see what you come across.
9. Ask friends and family
You may have the best vocabulary in the family, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t something to learn from those around you.
Set them a task: ask everyone to send you their favorite obscure word. Ask 20 people and you’ll get 20 different answers. People enjoy this kind of thing and are usually happy to take part.
All you have to do is ask. It’s a quick way to add new words to your vocabulary with minimal effort on your part.
The strategies above can help you build a broader vocabulary over time. The infographic earlier in this article gives you 19 words to get started with right now.
