.On developing a good Vocabulary (a not-so-long thread)

The basics:
.Vocabulary= all the words in a language i.e. a language& #39;s repertoire of words.
Also, it means all the words in a language that one can recognize (while reading and listening) and use (while speaking and writing).

In this thread, "Language& #39;s repertoire" refers to the 1st meaning while "Vocabulary" refers to the 2nd.
The intermediate:

.Vocabulary ≠ Register = Words used in a specific field ≈ Jargon. (≈ because no two words in a language& #39;s repertoire are the same. "Synonymous" = "similar" ≠ "same"
.Vocabulary = Passive vocabulary + Active vocabulary.
.Passive vocabulary= words one can recognize but doesn& #39;t use (often)
.Active vocabulary= words one uses (very) often

Building a vocabulary always follows this route: Language& #39;s repertoire » Passive vocabulary » Active vocabulary.
To move a word from a language& #39;s repertoire to your passive vocabulary, you need a lot exposure (movies, books etc.). To take a word from your passive vocabulary to your active vocabulary, you need immediate use (writing, discussions etc.).
Both require deliberate efforts; but since the 1st step is easier to do, I& #39;ll talk more about the 2nd. (BTW, achieving step 2 is really what it means to have a good vocabulary; I mean what& #39;s the use in knowing words that you don& #39;t use?).
1.
Use words to express yourself and not to impress. Doing the former will always make you search your passive vocab for the words that precisely explain/state what you mean to say. Doing the latter will make you into a pseud!
2.
If possible, use words immediately they& #39;re learnt, to create ≄3 sentences. It& #39;ll stick more.
3.
Alongside looking up a word in the dictionary, look up its transcription to learn it& #39;s correct pronunciation. (Don& #39;t come and be pronouncing "indite" differently from "indict" because of the difference in spellinghttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙄" title="Gesicht mit rollenden Augen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit rollenden Augen">)
...You could check its etymology to know how it was formed —this will help your usage. If you do, you& #39;ll not be thinking that "indomitable" comes from "indomie" like @Afambu_Tochi https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="đŸ€“" title="Nerd-Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Nerd-Gesicht">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit FreudentrĂ€nen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit FreudentrĂ€nen">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit FreudentrĂ€nen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit FreudentrĂ€nen">
4.
In hindsight, I& #39;ve discovered that a large % of my vocab was acquired by actively watching movies and listening to rap music. I occasionally read the dictionary; but trust me, that was a boring way to do ithttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="đŸ˜Ș" title="Verschlafenes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Verschlafenes Gesicht">
A caveat:
.These apply to a language you& #39;re already acquainted with.

Thanks for reading thru to the endhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😊" title="LĂ€chelndes Gesicht mit lĂ€chelnden Augen" aria-label="Emoji: LĂ€chelndes Gesicht mit lĂ€chelnden Augen">. Kindly RT for others to learn.
PS:
This thread was inspired by my friends, @chibuzorndubisi and @abebs_.The former once joked that my active vocabulary alone is more vast than his active and passive vocabulary combined (that& #39;s hyperbolichttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit FreudentrĂ€nen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit FreudentrĂ€nen">, but I took it seriouslyhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😎" title="LĂ€chelndes Gesicht mit Sonnenbrille" aria-label="Emoji: LĂ€chelndes Gesicht mit Sonnenbrille">); the latter thinks I speak good Englishhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😊" title="LĂ€chelndes Gesicht mit lĂ€chelnden Augen" aria-label="Emoji: LĂ€chelndes Gesicht mit lĂ€chelnden Augen">.
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