Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-06-25
INCREASE YOUR VOCABULARY

A person with a full vocabulary, an ear for nice uses of
words and hne distinctions IN meaning is Immediately stamped
as cultured, well educated and we'll bred. Doesn't it behoove
all of us then to be constantly on the alert to increase our
vocabulary and acquire a nicely of speech. We can all do
Let me quote for you ten rules which have proved help
full to many:
Never pass an unfamiliar word without ascertaining both
its meaning and its pronunciation. That is simple enough,
isn't itq Simply make use of your dictionary.
Do not use a word of foreign extraction if you can
express the meaning just as clearly with one OF Anglo-Saxon
origin. There are exceptions, however, as in the case of such a
word as the French word "connoisseur" 1t would take
many English words to express what that one foreign word
does. The use of too many foreign words is an afectation.
Determine the exact meaning of a word and use it in its
right sense. II know what it means but | just can't explain
it." How often we hear some one say that. Until you can
explain it don't use it, for until you can, you don't really
know it. A vague knowledge can>only give expression to
vague thoughts.
Become conversant with the worlds best authors and
Gull from their writing the words by which their best
thoughts are expressed. A student of music tries to hear all
of the finest music that he can. 1t is a big factor IN his
musical education. Does not the same theory apply to the
person who wants to become educated in the use OF words9
So read good literature. Read intellgenty, thoughttuhy
and observingly.
Studying synonyms is the fifth rule for increasing ones
vocabulary. The usefulness of this rule can be readily
seen. If ones memory is well stored with synonyms, one
is able to express fine shades of meaning as well as to avoid
excessive repetitions of words.
The sixth rule, is to listen to the speech Of others, ever
on the alert to catch new words. This habit indicates a
mental alertness which every business woman particularly
should possess. So form the habit of making mental notes
when your associates use words which are new to you.
Useless as beads without a string is the knowledge OF
many words if one doesn't know how to combine them. 80
rule number seven is, exercise your conservative faculty
in combining words into expressive phraseology, and thus
enrich the spoken or written expression of your thought.
The eighth rule, cultivate accuracy or expression, must
be handled carefully. The person whose effort for accuracy
of words is too obvious is very tiresome. So one must be ac-
.urate without appearing SO. This will come with practice
and after one has made use Of the former rules.
The ninth rule, avoid slang, in the case of a business
woman is capable of one exception. There is a can of the
business woman, which, while it is really slang, has become
part Of a business life. Such expressions as, Turn down.,
Sits up to you, 'Get a line on those goods" are the bust
ness vernacular and, while really slang, are perfectly permits
sible and proper in business. Otherwise avoid slang IT you
would bear the stamp of refinement.
The tenth and last rule, cultivate your memory, is an
excellent rule to follow not only in ones endeavor to in
crease ones vocabulary but in ones effort to increase ones
efficiency in life in general.