A standard approach to vocabulary study, which some of you may remember from grade school, is to take a list of words, memorize them, and try to repeat them when quizzed on their definitions and/or spelling. However, just committing to memory a set of words doesn’t mean that you’ll have the skill to use them in your conversation or your writing, and all the work that you put into the initial memorization will be lost if you have no ability or opportunity to use the words in the future. What will definitely improve your understanding and retention of a word and its definition is creating a “web” of meaning to hold that word and connect it with other bits of knowledge to keep it in place.

For those of you who are using the Ultimate Vocabulary software, you’ll be familiar with the Word Discover™ feature called “Word Explorer.” This tool allows you to view the word you’re studying as it relates to other words; specifically, the synonyms and antonyms for that word. Even if the target word is unfamiliar to you, it’s likely that you’ll find one or more words in the visual display of related words that you have used in the past. Seeing how these words connect will give you a better idea of what the target word means, and how it can be used in context.

In addition to giving you help in comprehension and context, synonyms and antonyms are important for other reasons. Just the fact that you know different ways to say the same thing means you have vocabulary appropriate for any occasion. While you may need to express the idea of initiative (with the meaning “being eager to do something”) in several different situations, you will reach your audience in the most effective way if you can use exactly the right word or phrase each time. Here are some examples:

In a formal management presentation: “We believe next year’s employee seminars should focus on the importance of developing individual enterprise regarding departmental goals.”

In an employee seminar: “This exercise will help you focus your personal ambition and work as a team with enthusiasm.”

In a casual conversation: “The employees certainly show a lot of get-up-and-go when they’re working on the new project.”

Add value to your vocabulary study with synonyms and antonyms, and your goals will be easy to reach!