Ultimate Vocabulary – Vocabulary Building Software

How to Expand and Improve Your Business Vocabulary

July 19, 2010

For many people, communication is an important part of their daily work and professional career. Do you do any of these tasks?

Write memos and e-mails to your coworkers or your boss
Create to-do lists and instructions
Document policies and procedures
Develop written or oral presentations
Write letters or create brochures that go to outside clients

If so, then communication is an important part of your job, and you’ll benefit from an expanded and comprehensive vocabulary. Learning how to spell, pronounce, and correctly use powerful vocabulary words in context will bring your work to the attention of your managers, and help you get ahead in your career.

The more words you know, the better able you’ll be to communicate and participate in discussions on a wide range of topics. You can also focus on words and terms that are specific to your profession, or in the field in which you’d like to work. We’ve found some resources to help you improve your business vocabulary, whether general or field-specific. You can also check with your local city business organizations (in the United States, the Rotary Club and the group SCORE can link you with business-related development) or community colleges for career development help.

Books

Banking English (Julie Pratten). An exercise book and reference guide that lists over 700 words and phrases used in the field of finance, banking, and international trade.

High Season: English for the Hotel and Tourist Industry (Michael Duckworth). Developed with the help of major hotel and tour operators, this resource teaches key vocabulary words and common expressions, and tests the reader with reading, writing, and listening exercises.

Multimedia

English in the Workplace (Brown and Lucas). The DVD provided with the book gives excellent examples of natural spoken English in a workplace setting, and provides a valuable resource for practice in pronunciation and using words in context.

Business English (Guffey and Seefer). A complete set of business English lessons, exercises, and answer keys, along with access to both student and teacher-oriented web sites that provide additional interactive instruction.

Websites

BBC Learning English. A site with general and specific information about business English, with short quiz sections and on-line discussion forums.

English Club. A free site with various English language resources, including target vocabulary lists for a variety of fields.

Vocabulary Exercises: Analogies

July 17, 2010

One of the types of vocabulary test question that frequently appears on examinations such as the SAT or GRE is the analogy question. This exercise is designed to test whether you know the meanings of words, and also whether or not you can understand the relationships between those meanings, and apply them to other word pairs.

Here’s an example of an analogy question you might find on a test:

DENIGRATE is to PRAISE as ___________ is to _____________:

(a) VAUNT, OBEY
(b) INTEGRATE, COMBINE
(c) DESTINATION, PILGRIMAGE
(d) EAGER, RELUCTANT
(e) DOG, CANINE

Which pair of words correctly completes the phrase? Keep in mind that you need to first determine the relationship between the initial word pair in order to discover the correct answer. In this example, denigrate and praise are both verbs; denigrate means to belittle or criticize, which is the opposite of praise. You’ll need to find the word pair where the two words are antonyms. If you look at the word pairs for answers (b), (c), and (e), you should notice that these pairs are all similar in some way:

Integrate and combine have nearly the same meaning.
Destination and pilgrimage are both nouns related to travel, and though one is the end point and the other the path, they are not antonyms, just describing different things.
A dog is a member of the canine family of animals.

What about the pair in (a)? Vaunt is a verb that means “to praise or boast about.” Obviously, this word has no relationship to the word obey. That leaves us with (d). Eager and reluctant are antonyms, and have the same relationship as denigrate and praise.

Learning how to identify the relationship between the example pair on each question will help you quickly eliminate the incorrect answers. Here are some of the possible word relationships you’ll find on the examinations:

Synonyms (examples: reluctant/unwilling, confident/assured)

Antonyms (examples: valiant/fearful, affluent/indigent)

Components Included (examples: bunch/grape, pride/lion)

Components Missing (examples: desert/water, atheist/belief)

What Things Are Used For (examples: pencil/write, telephone/talk)

What Things Are Made Of (examples: ice/water, tablecloth/linen)

Look for sample tests in books and on line – the more you practice these analogies, the easier they’ll be.

Word of the Day: Plethora

July 16, 2010

Are you in a mid-month slump? Running out of ideas about how to improve your vocabulary study methods? Don’t worry – that’s why we started this Vocabulary Builder’s Blog. We give you tips on study techniques, news about research and findings in educational practices, and links to helpful resources in print and on line. In fact, there’s a plethora of tools we provide to our readers, like helpful hints on how to get the most out of your study time, as well as definitions and examples of powerful and useful vocabulary words you can use to improve your communication and presentations.

Today’s word is plethora (PLEH-ther-uh), a noun meaning “an abundance of [something]” which comes from the Greek root plethore (“fullness”). This word is usually used to describe a situation where there is almost too much of something – for example, so many choices on a restaurant menu that you can’t make up your mind what to get. Some synonyms for plethora include myriad, plenitude, and profusion.

Example: The decorator provided a plethora of options for the paint he could use inside the house, and seemed disappointed when I decided to have all of the rooms painted a glossy eggshell white.

If you’ve been looking on line for vocabulary study tools, you may have been overwhelmed by the plethora of sites available to you. Here are a few sites that we like:

Vocabulary Building Games (http://www.vocabulary.co.il/)

Geared more towards younger children, but this site also has games, quizzes, and word puzzles for learning levels up through secondary school.

Activities For ESL Students (http://a4esl.org/)

This is an excellent site for people who are learning English as their second language, and has both English-only and bilingual quizzes.

Ohio University Department of Linguistics (http://www.ohio.edu/linguistics/esl/)

This site, run by Ohio University, has a wide range of materials related to vocabulary study and education. If you live near a college or university, be sure to check out their web site for additional resources, and to find out if they offer free or low-cost vocabulary study programs on campus or on line.

World Wide Words (http://www.worldwidewords.org/)

A fun resource that explores the wide range of interesting and useful words in the English language, including etymology, usage, and word-related trivia.

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Effective Vocabulary Study: Putting Words in Context

July 13, 2010

If you took our recommendation for fun word-related movies to watch, and have seen “Word Wars” (or read the book Word Freak by Stefan Fatsis, the basis for the movie), you’ll know that professional competitive Scrabble players spend hours memorizing long lists of words and how to spell them, but pay much less attention to the actual meaning and usage of those words. After all, they just need to be able to place them to advantage on a board, not use them in conversation.

You, on the other hand, need to be comfortable using your new vocabulary words in context. Here are a few tips you can follow to make sure that you’ll be able to get the most out of your vocabulary study:

Learn the definition of the word along with its proper spelling and pronunciation. When you understand the meaning of a word, you’ll be able to use it in a sentence. Write out at least three different sample sentences for each word you’re learning.
If you’re working with a study partner, split the list of words you’re studying in half and write out sample sentences for each word on your half. Then copy the sentences, leaving out the target words. Exchange your sample sentences and try to fill in the blanks correctly.
Find examples of the words you’re learning being used correctly in context, and see how other people use them in sentences. Ultimate Vocabulary’s Word Discover system gives you 50 Power Examples for each word you’re studying, giving you a wide range of texts to review. You can search on line for other examples, or keep a journal where you note down sentences you come across while reading that feature words from your study list.
Use your words in conversation. The best way to get comfortable with your new words is to say them out loud, in conversation with friends, family, or your study partners. Find opportunities to introduce the words into the conversation, and you’ll catch the attention of your listeners. If any of the words on your vocabulary list relate to your job, make sure to use them in presentations or documentation, and you’ll be sure to impress your managers.

Learning how to use your new words in context can score you a lot of points!

How to Create Connections: Exploring the Universe of Words

July 12, 2010

In the last post, we talked about how you can use your strengths to get the most out of your vocabulary study, and make the connections in your brain that will promote retention and recall, so that the time you spend studying is put to its best use. Making connections is an important part of vocabulary study – words are connected to each other, by meaning, spelling, grammatical usage, and origin, and the more connections you make, the better you’ll learn.

The concept of “mind-mapping,” or using a graphical structure to diagram, organize, and outline concepts while encouraging creativity, was popularized in the 1970s by Tony Buzan, world-renowned author and educator, and is a common tool used today in business to help teams make connections and see new possibilities by providing a focus for their brainstorming sessions.

You can use the same techniques to help you focus on your vocabulary study. This will be particularly useful if you’re a visual learner, but helpful in any case, because the acts of thinking, drawing, and viewing your map will intensify the connections you’re making in your brain, as you create the connections between the words.

Start by writing the word you’re focused on in the middle of a piece of paper, then let your mind run free. What are the ideas and images that come to you when you think about the word? Think about synonyms to the word, and antonyms. Write down each of the words or concepts that comes to mind and draw a line between the main word and the “satellite” words. Then think of more words related to those satellite words, and continue the process. In the end, you’ll have a web of words on the page. Some of the ones on the outer edges of the paper might not seem even remotely related to the main word, but you’ll be able to follow the connections back into the center every time.

Like a spider creates a web to trap insects, your web of words will help you capture ideas and wrap them up in your brain. Ultimate Vocabulary’s software uses this technique with its Word Discover component, giving you instant maps for thousands of words, with click-through capabilities so that you can explore the universe of words in multiple dimensions.

Using Ultimate Vocabulary's Word Discover Feature

What’s the Best Way to Study Vocabulary?

July 9, 2010

The answer? All of them. Over the past thirty years, educators and academicians have been researching the different ways that people learn – the “multiple intelligences” that all of us have in varying degrees. The results of that research (which has been, and will continue to be, further refined) are helping teachers and students worldwide find the best ways to give and get instruction for the fastest and most lasting learning. Which style of study you choose depends on how you, yourself learn best.

If your strength is linguistic (verbal), you’re already well-suited to work with words. Focus on reading and writing, and especially in using your words in conversation. Because you naturally pick up new words easily, make sure you complete your vocabulary study with the rest of the verbal “picture” by including word roots, definitions, synonyms, and antonyms.

If your strength is logical (mathematical), you’ll find that vocabulary study will be made easier if you focus on the connections between words. Your mind automatically tries to fit things into patterns and categories, so use that strength to group vocabulary words, and think about the ways that you can classify words. What words have similar meanings? What words share the same roots? Which nouns can be made into adjectives? You might find that you learn more quickly by using fill-in-the-blank context problems – your brain is already tuned in to the problem-solving formula.

If your strength is visual (spatial relationships) you’re also going to benefit from thinking about the connections between words, and particularly if you draw them on paper so you can see them. Use color-coding on your flash cards; the visual clues (red = noun, blue = adjective, etc.) that you look for without even knowing will help you quickly categorize and remember your vocabulary words. Whenever you can, find or draw a picture that illustrates the definition of a word, and keep that image in your mind when studying the word.

If your strength is physical (motion), then you need to get your body involved in your vocabulary study. This can involve anything from walking back and forth while you study a list of words to making sure you write out every word you’re trying to learn, so that your hand works with your brain to make the connection. You’ll also benefit from vocabulary-centered board games or on-line learning tools that require you to pick things up and move them around – again, the more physical effort you make in your study process, the better you’ll retain what you’re studying.

No matter what your strength is, you’ll benefit from using all of the techniques described above. The more ways you learn something, the more easily you’ll absorb and remember the lesson.

Reference: Campbell, Bruce, Linda Campbell, and Dee Dickinson. Teaching and Learning Through Multiple Intelligences. NY: Allyn & Bacon. 1996. (2nd edition)

Vocabulary for Success: 10 Words to Learn Today (Part 2)

July 8, 2010

Learning one word doesn’t just increase your vocabulary by one, but usually by two or more, because you’ll also learn related words as part of your vocabulary study. Adjectives have associated adverbs, nouns can be turned into adjectives, some words are related through their word roots, and most words have synonyms and/or antonyms that you can – and should – memorize as part of the study process for a particular word. In yesterday’s post, we looked at the words dubious, mitigate, ambient, chronic, and utopia. When you create your flash cards for vocabulary review, you can add these words as well:

dubiously (adverb meaning “with doubt or suspicion”)
ambiance (noun meaning “surroundings, atmosphere”)
aggravate (an antonym of mitigate meaning “to make worse”)
habitual (a synonym of chronic meaning “recurring”)
utopian (adjective meaning “idyllic, perfect”)

When you’re studying today’s five words for success, keep in mind all of the related words that go along with them, and you’ll find that your efforts will bring you even more results.

incessant (in-SESS-ant) adjective
Definition: Unending, continuing without a break.
Example: I can’t concentrate on my reading because of my roommate’s incessant chatter on her cell phone.

proliferate (pro-LIFF-er-ate) verb
Definition: To increase in number.
Example: The wildflowers she planted when she was a child continue to proliferate, and now the whole meadow is covered in colorful blossoms each spring.

vindicate (VIN-dih-kate) verb
Definition: To prove the rightness of something, to justify.
Example: Alan had evidence that the shopkeeper had cheated him, but the judge said that did not vindicate his actions, and fined him for damages to pay for the door that he had kicked in.

admonish (ad-MON-ish) verb
Definition: To reprimand, to chastise.
Example: Ellen’s dog learned quickly – she only had to admonish him once after he chewed up the newspaper, and he never did it again.

truculent (TRUCK-you-lent) adjective
Definition: Fierce, combative, angry.
Example: The police were out in force to control the truculent crowds who came to protest the new city taxes on gasoline and cigarettes.

Vocabulary for Success: 10 Words to Learn Today

July 7, 2010

How do people perceive you? What sort of impression do you make on the people you meet? Whether it’s friends or strangers, co-workers or managers, you’re judged every day – sometimes more kindly than others! – by what you wear, what your attitude is, and what you say. Just as you pick your outfit according to the event you’re attending, and alter your mood to match your companions and your circumstances, you’ll need to select the right words for each occasion. The more words you know, the easier this will be. Here are ten useful words to learn and practice to help you adapt to any situation:

chronic (KRON-ick) adjective
Definition: Persistent or present over a long period of time, either continually or recurring.
Example: Stuart was unable to save enough money for a new car due to his chronic betting (and losing) at the racetrack.

ambient (AM-bee-ent) adjective
Definition: Enveloping, surrounding, present everywhere.
Example: It’s difficult to make a good-quality recording of a live outdoor performance in a city park because the ambient noise level is so high.

mitigate (MIH-tih-gate) verb
Definition: To make less, to decrease, to make better
Example: That naturopath suggests taking a double dose of vitamin B6 or chewing on fresh ginger to mitigate the motion sickness many people feel on long sea voyages.

utopia (you-TOH-pee-ah) noun
Definition: A perfect situation or state of affairs.
Example: We all dream of a utopia where everyone has everything they need to live a good life, but not all of us are willing to sacrifice what we have to help others.

dubious (DOO-bee-us) adjective
Definition: Doubtful, open to question, uncertain.
Example: The ambient temperature at the poles during the winter is so high, scientists are dubious as to whether or not we will be able to do anything to mitigate the speed at which the ice caps are melting.

Come back tomorrow for five more words that you’ll find useful in any future scenario, whether utopian or post-apocalyptic!

Vocabulary Exercises: How to Improve Spelling and Pronunciation

July 6, 2010

We’ve met people who are bright, articulate, and capable of conversing on any topic with grace and authority but who, if you asked them to write down what they so easily say out loud, would misspell half of the words they’re confidently speaking. Knowing how a word is spelled is an important aspect of vocabulary improvement – you won’t impress anyone with your verbal ability if you don’t know how to correctly spell the words you’re using. Conversely, someone whose written correspondence is polished and professional will lose their credibility if they can’t read their own presentations aloud without mispronouncing the words. Make sure that both spelling and pronunciation exercises are part of your daily vocabulary study by using these study tips:

Use flash cards to practice spelling. Have a friend or study partner read the word out loud while you write it down. Verify that you’ve spelled the word correctly, and if not, write out the correct spelling several times to lock it in your brain and your muscle memory.

Use flash cards to practice pronunciation. Make sure your flash cards have the word on one side and the proper pronunciation guide on the other, and read the word out loud to your partner, who can correct you if necessary.

Use practice tests. From the library, a local university, or on-line sources, find practice SAT, GRE, and TOEFL examinations, each of which has one or more sections in which you’re required to find errors in spelling and grammar, or to pick the correct spelling of a word from a list of options.

Use a friend’s help. If you can’t locate a practice test, or have specific words you want to practice, have a friend write out the words on your list, deliberately misspelling most of them in some way. Use this list to test yourself on the proper spelling of each word.

Use the words that you find difficult to spell or pronounce. Remember, the more times you practice a word, the easier it will be to remember it and use, spell, and pronounce it correctly in the future. Work these words into your daily conversation and correspondence, and you’ll soon have them completely mastered.

Recommended GRE Vocabulary Study Guides

July 1, 2010

The newest editions of some of the best study guides for 2010 have been published, and if you’re studying for the GRE (or just want to learn some excellent vocabulary words and skills) then we recommend you check out these books and other learning tools:

Cracking the GRE (2011 Edition)

The Princeton Review is known for quality work and current information. This book comes with a DVD and on-line access to several practice examinations. For those of you who find it easier to listen to a presentation than to read it, the DVD provides video tutorials, as well as interactive tutorials on line to give you more practice at the questions you’ll be faced with on the actual test. The practical advice on how to work with the reading comprehension section of the test is more than worth the price of the package, as many people have the most trouble with this section. This book (and DVD) cover all of the aspects of the GRE, including the math sections. If you’re planning on taking the GRE next year, this may be your best resource.

Barron’s Essential Words for the GRE

If you’d rather focus on just the vocabulary words and test strategies, this book will give you both excellent instructions and a list of 800 words to learn, many of which appear frequently on the exam. Practice tests, including sentence-completion exercises which will help you learn how to use and identify words in context, are part of the package.

Guerrilla Tactics for the GRE

Subtitled “Secrets and Strategies the Test Writer’s Don’t Want You To Know,” this book is designed to help you deal with the “trick” questions built in to the GRE – the ones where the test writers are deliberately trying to confuse you so that you’ll pick what looks like the correct answer, but actually isn’t. Knowing what to look for will help you avoid making that mistake, and getting a look “behind the scenes” of the test itself will make you more confident about taking it.

GRE Vocabulary Flashcard Book (REA)

Vocabulary study – there’s an app for that! When you purchase this book of flashcard exercises (for 900 words frequently found on the GRE) you also get access to a vocabulary test preparation application for your iPhone or iPod. The book’s portable – the application even more so. This set truly gives you on-the-go vocabulary review.