A Multipurpose Tool for your English Vocabulary Toolbox

Do you find it frustrating when you can’t think of the words you need to explain something or make a point in English when it’s so simple in your first language?

Lots of people tell me they need more English vocabulary. But when we talk more, it’s usually obvious that they already know far more English words than they thought— often more than enough to explain their ideas and maybe even convince their bosses to try the approach they’re suggesting.

The problem is remembering the relevant words right when you need them.

In my lessons, we discuss different situations in which scientists need to use English at work, and we look at relevant words they might need in those situations.

But you can do more of that on your own than you might expect.

When you know an important meeting is coming up, or when you’re stressed about how to discuss an issue in English, there are ways to prepare.

Think about topics that might come up or the point(s) you want to make. Then brainstorm all the related English words you can think of in a few minutes. (If you speak a language that shares a lot of word roots with English, whether Latin or Germanic languages, it may even help to think in that language as well, and then see if there are any similar words in English.)

A Tool that can Help You Prepare

If you are having trouble remembering the word you know, or figuring out which will work best, there’s a free online tool that might help. A thesaurus is like a dictionary of English word synonyms (and antonyms—word opposites). It can give you lots of options at once—and let you compare meanings and similar words.

I often teach a short lesson on using www.thesaurus.com to compare words and consider their connotations. If you type in one word (for example “suggest”), it will give a list of its synonyms. (It even color codes them to show you how closely their meanings are related!)

Then you can choose two or three of them to compare, and it will give their synonyms and antonyms, giving you a better idea of which word might suit your purpose best and which might have implications you don’t want.

It's a really useful tool when you have a fairly good idea of word meanings but want to see which is closer to your purpose—or see related words. Remember, though, that it won’t save you time with words you don’t know.

It also may give some synonyms that are uncommon or sometimes inappropriate for work, either because they’re too casual, too abrasive, or sometimes because of unwanted connotations. So don’t use a word you’re unsure about it without checking its meaning and connotations!

For brainstorming before a meeting like I just recommended, it can remind you of a whole set of related words you might not have thought of. It can be a quick memory aid.

(If you’re fascinated by words, it can also take up more time than intended. Watch the clock when you don’t have time for learning new words!)

I hope this will help you feel more prepared and less stressed when you need to speak up at work! Don’t forget that you’re trying to work together to solve a problem. Most of your listeners aren’t concerned with the quality of your English as much as with the value of the ideas you’re sharing. Focus on your contribution, not your English!

I’d love to hear if you’ve used a thesaurus or what you think after testing it out. It’s such a useful tool, especially for people writing in English. However, I wonder if many non-native English speakers have heard of it. There aren’t many that I’ve talked to!

#vocabulary #problemsolving #hints4clearenglish