Improve your Vocabulary in 5 simple steps!

It is common knowledge that working on your vocabulary is one of the most essential parts of your CAT preparation. What isn’t common knowledge is how you are supposed to go about it. Many people have differing opinions on the most efficient way to build your vocabulary. Here are some of the popular ones.

“Make a habit of reading one page of the dictionary everyday”

Flaw: And then do what? The dictionary is a reference book used to define words in the most technically correct way. It is not supposed to be used as a vocabulary-building tool. You may know this if you have ever looked up a word in the dictionary – it does not list synonyms and how the word is supposed to be used, just the exact meaning or meanings of the word.

“Flash Cards are clearly the way to go”

Flaw: They are but not for CAT. CAT and other entrance exams never have direct vocabulary questions like the GRE. ‘Learning’ the meaning of difficult words is not going to help you do well in the reading comprehensions. You have to know how and where these words are used, what connotation do they carry and what their presence in a sentence signifies.

“Read a lot of books and newspapers”

Flaw: If you want to increase your general awareness, yes. But simply reading is not going to improve your vocabulary. While reading books, when we encounter a difficult word, we simply guess its meaning from the context and continue with the flow of the story. We are hardly ever motivated enough to look that word up in the dictionary.

There are a thousand other suggestions each having their thousand flaws. All these methods are not completely useless but they are inadequate for the purpose of doing well in CAT. Here is a way to combine some of these suggestions and come up with an efficient method of systematically improving your vocabulary.

The Five-Step Vocabulary Builder

1.       Find a source

The first step is to discover a source from which you can get five new words

everyday. You may use a dictionary but you should find something that explains word meanings less formally. It is a bonus if this source shows the usage of the word in a sentence along with the meaning. You can search for sites which have a daily word list of some sort to suit your needs. Basically, you need five difficult words per day for the next year from a trusted source, so ensure this requirement.

2.       Associate with the words

Now that you have the words, do your homework – read the meaning of the words, read the sentences in which these words are used, read synonyms of these words (if provided). Try and remember if you have ever heard these words before. If yes, in what context were they used when you heard them or read them. Familiarize yourself with these words by writing them down with their meanings in a notebook.

3.       Make your own sentences

Use the words in sentences of your own. This helps you understand the different layers of word usage. Read the example sentences given and try to frame a sentence of your own. Ensure your sentence is worthy of someone who isn’t a teenager anymore! Although this exercise may seem redundant, it is very helpful in registering the word permanently in your brain. If you want to spice things up, try and make a sentence which contains all five words!

4.                Spot the words

Now comes the easy part – try and spot the new words while reading newspapers or books. If you have followed the first three steps diligently, then this step will automatically happen! Every now and then, you will encounter words that you have learnt and this time, you will gain a deeper understanding, both of the word and the context in which it is being used. This is how your new found vocabulary will help you in CAT questions.

5.       Use the words

The last and final step will complete your thorough understanding of the words you learnt. If you start using the words in your day to day life – in conversations, office mails etc – then that suggests that the word has made its way into your vocabulary already. The thought process of when you try to learn a new word and when you use it is completely different and an exam like CAT tests the latter thought process more than the former.

Here’s a list of five words to get you started off on the process. Have fun!

Words – Meanings

·         Pithy – Having substance or point

·         Diaphanous – 1. See through, 2. Insubstantial or vague

·         Besot - Infatuate

·         Fringe – something that is marginal, additional or secondary to some activity

·         Brandish – to shake or wave (as a weapon) menacingly

Word Associations

·         Pithy – It is an adjective used to characterize someone or something having substance or point. The synonyms given are terse, succinct, crisp etc. all of which signify that a pithy reply will be one which has maximum impact with as few words as possible.

·         Diaphanous – The first meaning is in terms of fabric – see-through being a characteristic of cloth. The second meaning is an adjective that suggests vagueness. Synonyms given are flimsy, almost transparent for the first meaning and weak, frail, light for the second meaning.

·         Besot – This is a verb, it suggests being inspired foolishly due to excessive love or admiration. Being besotted would mean to stop thinking clearly. The only synonym given is infatuate which means that this word is used very specifically.

·         Fringe – This is used primarily as a noun. It suggests something that is not central to an activity or subject. Synonyms include peripheral, secondary, extreme, edge, perimeter. The meaning of this word is very broad which indicates that the usage will be varied too.

·         Brandish – This is a simple verb that is generally used to indicate the presence of weapons. The actual word means to shake or wave your weapon in an aggressive manner. Synonyms given are wielded, ply and flaunt – again all the words can be used in the context of a weapon.

 One-word and Multi-word Sentences

His words have achieved the status of, at the very least, pithy aphorisms if not proverbs.

·         The journalists seem to be besotted with her, tracking her down even when she was on vacation.

·         The temple wall seemed to have been carved out of a single piece of stone and featured active young ladies in diaphanous dresses.

·         The White sand beaches fringed with palms are a special attraction for tourists.

·         At around noon, a man walked into the bank brandishing a small, silver handgun.

·         The terms of his employment could be called diaphanous at best as they permitted him to take up major projects while working on the fringes of other ones.

·         Besotted by his love for the princess, Prince Charming foolhardily entered the kingdom of Ogres brandishing his sword and shouting curses at the green demons.

·         His pithy replies to all their questions were enough to ensure his inclusion in the team, however he was deemed suitable only for the fringe activities.

·         Her scarf was diaphanous and decorated with ornamental beads along its fringes, but her demeanor was quite unlike someone who might be besotted with love; her words, unlike her calm exterior, were abundant with pith as though she were brandishing a mace in all of our faces.

This activity takes about fifteen minutes and is very efficient. If you have read the sample list of words given above, you will most definitely encounter them at many places from now on. Once you have complete command over these words and their usages, you can include them in your vocabulary set

and start using them.