Take this Vocabulary Quiz to find out how big is your vocabulary. We update the quiz regularly and it’s the most accurate among the other quizzes.
Adding new words to your written vocabulary is one of the simplest ways to improve your existing writing skills. The English language is one of the most extensive of all languages, which means you’ll never run out of vocabulary words to learn and apply. A strong vocabulary benefits all forms of writing, from fiction to journalism to essay writing to poetry. To that end, the time you spend honing your vocabulary skills is time spent honing your writing skills.
What Is the Importance of Vocabulary for Writers?
A writing vocabulary, like a speaking vocabulary, includes words that you can quickly recall and use. A strong vocabulary, from action words to descriptive words and beyond, allows for more precise writing and helps you avoid using ambiguous words. As your vocabulary expands, you will be able to describe specific settings, emotions, and ideas more accurately. You also hone a skill known as “painting with words” among writers.
The most useful vocabulary words are those that you can recall and use almost instinctively. After all, learning vocabulary is only useful if you can use it in a piece of writing and, more importantly, use it correctly. If you ask a published author for writing advice, you’ll probably be told that it’s better to use common words correctly than complex words incorrectly. Fortunately, one of the most important advantages of having a larger vocabulary is being able to use both common and complex words with equal precision. Also, you must try to play this vocabulary quiz.
Vocabulary Quiz
Most of us haven’t spent much time learning new words since we were in high school or college. Fortunately, you can always resume where you left off. Here are some pointers to get you started with learning new vocabulary words:
Make reading a habit. When you encounter words in context, it is easier to build your vocabulary. Seeing words in a novel or a newspaper article can be far more beneficial than seeing them on vocabulary lists. Not only are you exposed to new words, but you also see how they are used.
Consult a dictionary and a thesaurus. When used correctly, online dictionaries and thesauruses are valuable resources. They can help you recall synonyms that would be better words in the context of what you’re writing. A complete dictionary definition can also teach you about antonyms, root words, and related words, which is another way to expand your vocabulary.
Play some word games. Scrabble and Boggle are two classic games that can help you improve your English vocabulary. Crossword puzzles can do the same. Follow up rounds of these word games with some note-taking if you really want to be efficient. Keep a list of the words you learned while playing the game and refer to it from time to time.
About the quiz
Make use of flashcards. Using flashcards to study a variety of words is a quick way to build a large vocabulary. Flashcards are convenient and easy to organize in today’s digital age, thanks to a plethora of smartphone apps. It’s reasonable to aim for one new word per day. You can always strive for more, but it may not be feasible to learn dozens of English words every day.
Subscribing to “word of the day” feeds is a good idea. Some web platforms will send you a new word every day, either through a website, an app, or an email, to help you expand your vocabulary. These words can be added to running word lists.
Make use of mnemonics. A mnemonic device is a type of word association that aids in the recall of word definitions and proper usage. Consider the word obsequious, which means “attempting to gain favor from influential people through flattery.” Break that word down into its constituent parts: “obse” is the beginning of “obsessed,” and “obsessed” is the end of “obsessed.” “qui” sounds similar to the French word for “yes” (oui), and “us” sounds similar to the word “us.” So consider the big word obsequious to mean “obsessed with saying yes to us”—which is exactly what it means!
Experiment with new words in conversation. It is possible to have a large vocabulary without knowing how to use it. This means you must use your personal dictionary on your own initiative. If you come across an intriguing word while reading, make an effort to use it in conversation. Experimenting in low-stakes situations allows you to practice the art of word choice and, with some trial and error, hone in on the right word for a specific context.
For more personality quizzes check this: Figurative Language Quiz
