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Words
We learn words by living. Research shows that “you have learned 3,000 to 5,000 words each year from kindergarten through twelfth grade, with only 300 of those new words being taught by teachers.”(1) Think of the staggering number of words you already know in English, even if it isn’t your first language. The same research indicates that "we actually use only about 20 percent of the words we know. The average high school graduate recognizes about 50,000 words and uses only about 10,000, whereas the average college graduate recognizes around 70,000 words and uses approximately 15,000. During your years in college, you probably will learn about 20,000 new words."(1)
How much use do you make of your vocabulary? Many of us use shortcuts and repeated expressions to communicate on an everyday basis. Do you, or people you know, have a habit of repeating words like dude, man, like, cool, you know, and stuff, for example? In speech, we often overlook and forgive repeated words because we do not keep track of them—words are uttered and literally disappear into thin air. When writing, however, we create a record of words that can be read by the reader at any point. If you repeat words, especially common slang words, your reader may grow bored or think that you are repeating the same idea over and over again. Make sure your writing has an impact by choosing new, fresh and specific words that best represent what you want to say.
You may find the process of abandoning overused words in favor of new ones frustrating and time-consuming. You may want to work by first writing the way you would normally express yourself, and then replacing overused words with the help of a thesaurus. It may take time, but you will be proud of the results when you read over your writing and begin to enjoy the power of wielding words.
(1) Smith, Brenda D. The Reader’s Handbook: Reading Strategies for College and Everyday Life. New York: Longman, 2001. 21.
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