Expand your vocabulary with these proven strategies
In academic writing, the mastery of language is paramount. Yet, many students find themselves grappling with a limited lexicon, struggling to convey their ideas with clarity and precision.
Adela Belin from Writers Per Hour discusses some effective strategies to expand your vocabulary and take your academic writing to the next level.
Read, Read, Read
The single best way to improve your vocabulary is to read as much as possible, especially in your field of study. Exposure to academic texts expands your knowledge of discipline-specific terminology and helps you internalize the conventions of scholarly writing.
Adela says, ‘Make a habit of reading journal articles, books, and other resources related to your research interests. As you read, pay attention to unfamiliar words and look them up in a dictionary or thesaurus.’
Keep A Vocabulary Journal
Maintain a dedicated notebook or digital document where you record new words you encounter in your reading. For each word, include the definition, part of speech, and a sentence demonstrating proper usage.
‘Regularly review your vocabulary journal and quiz yourself on the words. Incorporating new terms into your own writing is key to making them stick,’ says Adela.
Use Online Resources And Apps
Take advantage of the many digital tools available for vocabulary building. Websites like Vocabulary.com offer adaptive quizzes and games tailored to your learning level.
Adela notes, ‘Apps like Anki allow you to create flashcards and spaced repetition study sets. Set aside a few minutes each day to practice with these resources. You can also find word-of-the-day emails and social media accounts to expand your lexicon.’
Write, Write, Write
The best way to internalize new vocabulary is to use it in your own writing. Incorporate unfamiliar words into your academic assignments and experiment with using synonyms and antonyms to express ideas in different ways. The more you practice using new terms in context, the more natural and automatic they will become.
Adela says, ‘Expanding your vocabulary takes time and consistent effort, but the payoff is well worth it. A rich command of language will elevate your academic writing, making it more precise, sophisticated, and persuasive.’
About Writers Per Hour
Writers Per Hour is an essay writing service based in Brooklyn, NY, offering custom-written papers across various disciplines and academic levels. The experts are not only well-versed in their respective fields of study but also bring years of experience in academic writing to the table. They are familiar with all citation styles and adept at handling urgent and complex orders. They also offer services such as sourcing ideas, structuring materials, aiding with citations, offering new perspectives, providing professional editing and advice, and presenting high-quality examples.
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