[des monstres]

askfksajjgjklgjklgsakjlgasjkla

[MythnoonA]

reading helps a ton. It forces you to look things up if you don't already know about them, learn the root and language origins, etc.

[dolcedor.]

Reading definitely helps. Ever since I stopped reading books on a regular basis, my vocabulary has shrunk considerably. Sigh.

[haneul]

I've been learning a lot of new words since I started university haha so that definitely helps, and aside from that, reading whatever. Books, newspaper, magazines. Any reading is good reading to expand and review your vocabulary

[jaeka]

Yeah my english teacher said reading fiction especially is a good vocabulary builder. That's what I'm doing now, I really want to expand my vocabulary.

[vip_gd]

reading and the dictionary
as a kid i used to read the dictionary in my free time

[xxctxx]

Yeah reading definitely beefs up your vocabulary "box"
Listening to (intellectual) people talk is helpful because they use a variety of words in the correct context!! ~
(although I contradict myself because...I find it quite annoying when there's a group of people having a fairly chilled out conversation and someone has to come out with huge-not used that often-words (usually just to show off) when it could have been expressed in much simpler terms lol... )

[Fropit]

reading is a good way to learn big words!
i never knew there was a word such as procrastinate before..
but i discovered it through soompi! simply because many people does it.

lol

[neshpa]

Haha, I don't think your boyfriend's sentence makes sense -o-;; Or maybe it's just me ...
Most of the words I learn are from I go to Encarta dictionary or whatever and they have three word of the days that I always click on to read the meaning of it XD Most of the time I forget it but that's okay. I think my vocab is pretty good.

Another way to learn big words to find otu what it means and say it a lot to people and eventually you'll just remember what it means. That's how I learnt the word "opulent" lulz.

[McChicken]

lol he used English imagery techniques

[laris]

whenever you hear someone use a "complex" word you can't understand, just ask them what it means instead of nodding your head pretending you know the definition

[PoooBear]

I always thought reading helped :]
that way you learn new words and how to apply them properly.
I love a man who can use big words XD even if I dunno what he's saying.
There's always context clues ;D

[cannotfindserver]

learning big words can be a nice hobby. i'd probably do that one day.

[[HyuNi]]

Using 'big words' to make youself sound 'smarter' does the complete opposite.
It's obvious that your looked up words in a dictionary/thesaurus because although those words make sense seperately, they sound ridiculously out of context.

The reason behind expanding your vocabulary should be to more accurately express yourself.
Using 'big words' in the wrong context or creating awkward phrases makes you sound... well... like a tool.

[SUMM3RxBABii]

big words hurt my head >.<"

i've been actually forced to learn big words these past 2 years for the SATs and phew, they're a pain in the ass. what i usually do is break it down..like for acumen...means insight and i thought of acuvue to understand it better

[MythnoonA]

^ yeah, but once you know those things--it'll be much easier for you, and you'll have no problem with the big words. That's like a mnemonic device you used. =D

lovesicles ~ do it for yourself--you'll find out it can be really interesting--it's good that you like reading to begin with, because a lot of people feel like their forced to read certain things in school--so they won't read anything for fun--just what's required. -.- You're way ahead of them.

[des monstres]

Using 'big words' to make youself sound 'smarter' does the complete opposite.
It's obvious that your looked up words in a dictionary/thesaurus because although those words make sense seperately, they sound ridiculously out of context.

The reason behind expanding your vocabulary should be to more accurately express yourself.
Using 'big words' in the wrong context or creating awkward phrases makes you sound... well... like a tool.

i don't want to learn bigger words just to impress other people.
i want to learn it to benefit myself. and it will probably help with writing better papers.
idk. when my boyfriend and his friends have conversations, they all use big words i don't understand.
~____~;

[pocketsoul]

i asked him what are three things that makes him like a girl:
"beautiful physically and audibly and olfactory and tactile; conscious and conscientous; morality and metaphysical comprehension"

I don't know anyone that talks like that in real life. I think it's a bit "ostentatious" to throw "big words" around like that. If you haven't taken the SATs yet, I would suggest getting SAT flashcards. They definitely helped to expand my vocabulary. My friends and I would try to incorporate new words we learned into our daily conversation and that helped too.

[sandy.s2.yu]

Definitely reading, tons of reading. I read just about everything everywhere, lol. And look up the words. =]
I think it's fun to just randomly throw in a big word in a conversation with my friends to mess them up, lol. xD
And it helps them learn new words, so it's okay. x]

[Dess]

I read constantly. My vocabulary comprehension surpassed that of most college students at the age of 14. =/
Unfortunately that also meant I developed a reputation at my school as "The Human/Walking Dictionary". -.-