“Judicious” means “with good judgment” or “using common sense.” A judicious balance of work and play is good for you. Example:  “The chef used a judicious blend of sweet and hot spices to season the grilled fish.”

The word “assiduous” means “with care and persistent effort.” The best students are usually the ones who are assiduous in their study habits. Example:  “She is devoted to her mother and is assiduous in caring for her and her three … Continue reading…

“Adroit” means “skillful” or “adept.” Someone who is adroit makes the best possible choices in any given situation. Example:  “His adroit use of humor kept the debaters calm, even though the topic was very controversial.”

“Requisite” means essential or necessary. Many schools have classes they call “prerequisites” – these are classes that it is necessary to take before moving on to a higher-level class. Example:  “The two candidates were both very skilled, but only one … Continue reading…

One important aspect of increasing your vocabulary is knowing which word is pertinent to your situation. “Pertinent” means relevant and to the point, something that is logically connected. Example:  “Karen doesn’t always speak up in the weekly meetings, but when … Continue reading…

Regular use of these powerful words will convince your friends that you’re erudite. Someone who is erudite is learned and scholarly, and has read many books to get that education. “Erudite” is from the Latin verb “erudio” or “to train.” … Continue reading…

The word “chronology” comes from the Greek root “kronos” meaning “time.” A chronology is a series of events, or timeline. Example:  “Deep waterways like the Grand Canyon show the chronology of geologic deposits in the strata revealed on the cliff … Continue reading…

Changes in society require changes in vocabulary, and these neologisms are created to describe them. “Neologism” means “new word”, from the Greek roots “neo” (new) and “logos” (word). Example:  “It takes several years for the Oxford English Dictionary to officially … Continue reading…

“Ad hoc,” meaning “for this.” “Ad hoc” refers to something that has been created for a specific purpose or goal, often existing only until that goal has been achieved. Example:  “The school board needed more information on enrollment, so it … Continue reading…

“De facto” means “In fact” or “in reality” – what actually is done. For example, it might be the rule on a road to only use the express lane if you’re travelling over the minimum speed limit, but if everyone’s … Continue reading…