Overview

You learn most of the words in your vocabulary through conversations or from reading. To learn a new word, analyze the context in which it appears. The context consists of the surrounding words and sentences, which provide clues to the meaning of the unfamiliar word. The word's definition or an example may be given in the context. Some of these clue words might include the following: which means, for instance, likewise, however, and therefore. You may also figure out the word's meaning by its location in the sentence or by whether it follows the rules of a certain part of speech.

Another way to figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word is to break it into parts. The root, or base, is the main part. When you encounter an unfamiliar word, think of words that you already know that may share its root. Also consider any suffixes or prefixes that may have been added to change the root's meaning or part of speech. The more familiar you become with common roots, prefixes, and suffixes, the more you will be able to figure out the meanings of new words. By developing your vocabulary—learning new words and using them—you will become better able to communicate.

To help you learn and retain new words, you should write the new word down in a notebook and check the meaning and its pronunciation in the dictionary. You can also relate the new word to words you already know. Associating the spelling or meaning with a familiar word will help you to remember it. Finally, practice the new word in your writing and conversation.