Learning new words is of critical importance in developing a professional vocabulary and expanding your conversational abilities so that you can be comfortable speaking with people at every level, in every situation. In addition, the more words you know, the better able you’ll be to quickly comprehend the meaning of the documentation, articles, and proposals that you need to deal with in your work. You’ll also be able to fully appreciate the things you read for pleasure, without missing any of the writer’s intent or nuance.

However, no matter how many words you learn, you’ll always encounter others that are unfamiliar to you, or used in a way you don’t initially understand. If you are faced with a block of text – a paragraph, full page, or complete article – whose meaning you don’t quite get at first, there are certain things you can do to improve your understanding, even without knowing the exact definition of every word.

Read it through and write it down. Carefully read the passage from start to finish, and think about two things. First, what are the points, facts, and ideas that you’re sure of? Second, what questions do you have? These can be questions about concepts or about specific words. In your own words, write out what the main ideas are (the ones you’re confident you understand), and make a list of the questions you came up with.

Focus on what you don’t know. You have a list of questions, and these need to be answered. Start with the easy answers: the definitions of the words you didn’t know. Go to your favorite paper or on-line dictionary and look up the words. If there are multiple definitions for a word, identify the one that seems to most closely match the general meaning or theme of the passage. Once you’ve done that, you might find that some of your “concept” questions are easy to answer.

Use the knowledge you already have. Look at your remaining questions, and think about whether or not there is any information in the passage, or in your own knowledge and experience, that will help you deduce the answers. Our brains contain more data than we’re aware of, and the instinctive answer that first pops into your head may very well be correct. Using the answers you’ve come up with, rewrite the passage in your own words, trying to match the meaning and context of the original text. By comparing the two, you’ll get a sense of whether you’ve understood the passage well enough to replicate it.

Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to get help if you need it! From on-line forums to your co-worker in the next cubicle, resources are all around you. Asking questions about topics in which you’re not an expert is perfectly reasonable. The alternative – thinking you know something and being proven wrong – is usually much more unpleasant than any momentary embarrassment you might feel in asking for help.