Increase Your Selling Power by Increasing Your WORD Power
| Category: Copy Writing - sales copy | Date: 2003-05-14 |
Although its painfully obvious that a poor vocabulary wont keep you out of the White House, people do judge you by the words you use -- making assumptions about your intelligence, education, and capabilities.
Having a vast "stable" of words that you are confident in using allows you to choose just the right one when you need it. This can help make your copywriting, client conversations, arguments, and sales presentations incredibly powerful and concise. And it never hurts to appear smarter than you are. ; )
In grade school, we were given vocabulary lessons and quizzes that forced us to learn the meanings of new words. But now, as grown-ups in our increasingly "dumbed-down" society, its not easy to keep learning new words without working at it. The six-oclock news and People magazine wont do much to increase your word power.
So how can you increase your vocab without spending hours studying your dictionary or a book on the subject? Here are a few easy ways that Ive found helpful:
1. Read more publications.
"The New York Times" and even news magazines such as "Time" and "Newsweek" often throw in words that fall above the countrys average 6th grade reading level. (That sounds mighty low, I know, but thats the target for most publications aimed at the general public.) Keep a small dictionary with you, and when you come across words youre not familiar with, look them up. Dont be embarrassed about not knowing then -- just learn them!
2. Get your "Word of the Day."
Dictionary.com offers a daily e-mail that gives you interesting and useful words, along with their definitions, pronunciations, and three examples of their usage. Since its easier to learn in small bits, this is an ideal way to pick up new words you can really use. For example, yesterdays nugget was: "pervicacious \pur-vih-KAY-shus\, adjective: Refusing to change ones ideas, behavior, etc.; stubborn; obstinate." (Im sure we know many people who are pervicacious.)
Sign up at www.dictionary.com. (By the way, bookmark this site, or do what I did and make it your browsers home page. Its wonderfully handy to look up a word by typing it in your keyboard instead of lugging that eight-pound Webster off your bookshelf.)
3. Listen and learn.
If you want to go on a vocabulary crusade whole-hog, order the Verbal Advantage audiotape program, that aims to help you "amass a Harvard Graduates Vocabulary in just 15 minutes a day." I enjoy listening to these tapes on long drives and find that I truly retain what I hear. The great thing about learning by *listening* is that you really learn how to *pronounce* the word. Theres also a quick quiz after every 10 words learned.
The narrator also gives examples of usage and touches on common usage errors to help you avoid embarrassing mistakes in conversation. One example: Many people say the word "unequivocable," but the word is "unequivocal." (One less syllable!)
The company offers a two-tape "trial offer" for less than $30 that gives you many useful words to get started. Check it out at http://www.netofficetoolbox.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=8904 I think youll like it! (Can someone please order it for "Dubya"?)
Now, all you have to do is remember to use what you know! Although you shouldnt try *too* hard to pepper your conversations with words that will stump your colleagues (think of Dennis Miller on Monday Night Football), youll enjoy being able to pull just the right word out of your proverbial hat when you need it.
(c) 2001, Alexandria K. Brown
NOTE: Youre welcome to "reprint" this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the resource box at the end), and you send me a copy or link to your reprint at ali@akbwriting.com. Thanks!
About the Author
Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen," is author of "Boost Business With Your Own E-zine." She offers a biweekly newsletter called "Tips from the E-zine Queen." Learn how to write, publish, and promote a dynamic e-zine that builds customer trust. Subscribe now for FREE at ezine-queen.com.
ali@ezine-queen.com
http://www.ezine-queen.com
Having a vast "stable" of words that you are confident in using allows you to choose just the right one when you need it. This can help make your copywriting, client conversations, arguments, and sales presentations incredibly powerful and concise. And it never hurts to appear smarter than you are. ; )
In grade school, we were given vocabulary lessons and quizzes that forced us to learn the meanings of new words. But now, as grown-ups in our increasingly "dumbed-down" society, its not easy to keep learning new words without working at it. The six-oclock news and People magazine wont do much to increase your word power.
So how can you increase your vocab without spending hours studying your dictionary or a book on the subject? Here are a few easy ways that Ive found helpful:
1. Read more publications.
"The New York Times" and even news magazines such as "Time" and "Newsweek" often throw in words that fall above the countrys average 6th grade reading level. (That sounds mighty low, I know, but thats the target for most publications aimed at the general public.) Keep a small dictionary with you, and when you come across words youre not familiar with, look them up. Dont be embarrassed about not knowing then -- just learn them!
2. Get your "Word of the Day."
Dictionary.com offers a daily e-mail that gives you interesting and useful words, along with their definitions, pronunciations, and three examples of their usage. Since its easier to learn in small bits, this is an ideal way to pick up new words you can really use. For example, yesterdays nugget was: "pervicacious \pur-vih-KAY-shus\, adjective: Refusing to change ones ideas, behavior, etc.; stubborn; obstinate." (Im sure we know many people who are pervicacious.)
Sign up at www.dictionary.com. (By the way, bookmark this site, or do what I did and make it your browsers home page. Its wonderfully handy to look up a word by typing it in your keyboard instead of lugging that eight-pound Webster off your bookshelf.)
3. Listen and learn.
If you want to go on a vocabulary crusade whole-hog, order the Verbal Advantage audiotape program, that aims to help you "amass a Harvard Graduates Vocabulary in just 15 minutes a day." I enjoy listening to these tapes on long drives and find that I truly retain what I hear. The great thing about learning by *listening* is that you really learn how to *pronounce* the word. Theres also a quick quiz after every 10 words learned.
The narrator also gives examples of usage and touches on common usage errors to help you avoid embarrassing mistakes in conversation. One example: Many people say the word "unequivocable," but the word is "unequivocal." (One less syllable!)
The company offers a two-tape "trial offer" for less than $30 that gives you many useful words to get started. Check it out at http://www.netofficetoolbox.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=8904 I think youll like it! (Can someone please order it for "Dubya"?)
Now, all you have to do is remember to use what you know! Although you shouldnt try *too* hard to pepper your conversations with words that will stump your colleagues (think of Dennis Miller on Monday Night Football), youll enjoy being able to pull just the right word out of your proverbial hat when you need it.
(c) 2001, Alexandria K. Brown
NOTE: Youre welcome to "reprint" this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the resource box at the end), and you send me a copy or link to your reprint at ali@akbwriting.com. Thanks!
About the Author
Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen," is author of "Boost Business With Your Own E-zine." She offers a biweekly newsletter called "Tips from the E-zine Queen." Learn how to write, publish, and promote a dynamic e-zine that builds customer trust. Subscribe now for FREE at ezine-queen.com.
ali@ezine-queen.com
http://www.ezine-queen.com
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