“…you will learn to love words and their meanings.” –Kevin Spacey in Pay It Forward
As a professional editor, I, too, have learned to love words and their meanings. How do I improve my vocabulary?
Joining professional editing associations has done a lot for me regarding this. I often read posts that my fellow members make. These are very intelligent people who have an impressive vocabulary and use sophisticated words habitually when they write. I tend to pick up on their language and use it myself.
Just yesterday my husband and I visited my parents, who live an hour away from us. My mother commented on how my everyday speech has become more sophisticated and how my vocabulary has gotten better. That was a high compliment. I told her that it was because of my reading the posts of other editors and thus virtually “hanging out” with them.
Reading books also helps, of course.
What do you do to improve your vocabulary and the way in which you speak and write?