4... LOOK INSIDE THE WORD
Some English words contain a smaller word inside the bigger word.
For example:
The word ‘extraneous’ contains the word ‘extra’ and ‘extra’ is a synonym for the word extraneous.
Some words include a prefix or a suffix, so knowing the meaning of the prefix or suffix may help us to understand the new word.
For example:
The word ‘disproportionate’ contains the word ‘proportion’ which means: the size, quantity or number of something; the amount of something.
And, one of the meanings of the prefix ‘dis-‘ is ‘not’, so “not an equal size, quantity, number or amount”.
For example:
The word ‘denounce’ looks a little like announce.
The prefix ‘de-‘ means a negative.
So denounce means ‘to speak out against something or someone’.
Prefixes and suffixes help us interpret the meanings of some words.
Here’s a link to a very simple, helpful list of prefixes and suffixes:
http://teacher.scholastic.com/reading/bestpractices/vocabulary/pdf/prefixes_suffixes.pdf
For a more advanced list:
http://www.cdl.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Common-Prefixes-Suffixes-and-Roots-8.5.13.pdf
5... COLLOCATIONS: WORDS THAT OFTEN GO TOGETHER
We can understand a new word better when we see it used with other words.
For example:
The adjective ‘extraneous’ is often used with:
<ul><li>the noun information...... <em>The report contained a lot of extraneous information.</em></li><li>the verb need............... <em>We don’t need extraneous information in the report.</em></li></ul>
Here is a link to a free online collocation dictionary:
<a href="http://prowritingaid.com/free-online-collocations-dictionary.aspx" target="_blank">http://prowritingaid.com/free-online-collocations-dictionary.aspx</a>
I'm looking forward to Step 6 and 7 =)
Appreciate your sharing anyway.
Whenever I learn a new word, I am intended to read the context related to this word. Examples in the dictionary is worthy to read and study by all means. That is an alternative to master a word.
Laura...
I'm glad to hear that the collocation website provided good examples for you.
Yes, it's true, I have used the word 'extraneous' a few times, but the good news is that the word will not be in Step 6 or 7 :)
Thank you for your informative comments.
I have tried the Collocations website with the word HOUSE and there were many other words commonly used before or after this word or related to it, very useful! This is a way to increase vocabulary!
Thanks to your entries I will never forget the word "extraneous"!