Whether we like it or not, people automatically judge us by our vocabulary, both when we’re speaking to them face to face and when we’re communicating via e-mail or written communication. When someone hears you speak, or reads what you’ve written in a letter, brochure, or handout, they’ll make assumptions about your level of expertise, the education you’ve received, where you’re from, and even what sort of person you are.

By increasing your vocabulary – and more importantly, by thoroughly learning those words so that you’re completely comfortable pronouncing and using them correctly – you’ll receive benefits in your personal and professional life.

Clear Communication Counts

The more extensive your vocabulary is (extensive: large, broad, comprehensive) the more easily you’ll be able to communicate on a wide range of topics. You’ll be able to write clear and detailed descriptions and reports, and you’ll be able to read and understand more complicated texts and documents. It’s a sad fact that many people, even those with university educations, are not very skilled writers. Your abilities as a writer will help you stand out in the crowd, whether you’re competing with other students or working towards advancement in your company.

The importance of clear communication can’t be emphasized enough, especially in a work environment. Do you remember when the Mars Polar Lander crashed in 1999, impacting on the surface of the planet instead of setting down gently to gather scientific data? That crash was due the miscommunication between two teams of scientists and how they calculated measurements. Clear, precise, detailed communication can potentially save a company millions of dollars each year.

Confident and Fluent Speakers Succeed

When you think back on the presentations you’ve attended, which ones do you remember best? We’re sure that at least one presentation is memorable for the exceptional quality of the speaker – or for the speaker’s complete lack of skill. When you speak easily and fluently, and speak with confidence, you’ll attract listeners to you, and your ability as a speaker will affect how your audience reacts to and remembers your speech. Knowing precisely which words to use, and being confident in your pronunciation and use of those words, will give your presentations a polish that will keep your audience interested. A popular speaker is often asked to return, and since a majority of people world-wide list “fear of public speaking” as one of their top ten fears, if you’re a willing and successful speaker, you’ll be at the top of the list when such opportunities come up. And there’s no better way to bring yourself to the attention of management (in a good way, that is!) than to be the featured speaker at a company meeting or corporate-sponsored seminar.

Why is a better vocabulary important to you? Leave your answers in the comments.