Words define and distinguish. Without words our world becomes amorphous and irrelevant. An amorphous and irrelevant world is self-absorbed.

When my son uses an inappropriate expletive I tell him, “Always remember, words define your world.” As a 9th grader, his teachers reveal words to broaden his perspective. He and his friends string phrases that limit, demean, and debase.

Learning new words takes discipline, a love for words, and a balanced wisdom about how to use vocabulary. Adding words to your bag of writing tricks requires all three.

My children use 3X5 cards when learning new words. My daughter walks around the kitchen saying the word aloud. Sometimes, she uses rhythmic patterns or songs to remember words. Silly mnemonics help too (the more bizarre the better).

Students have to be disciplined about learning new words because their teachers quiz and test. Adults must become self-motivated. The range of your vocabulary could determine the height of your success and the level of your income.

When you discover an unknown vocabulary word, write the word in your notebook. If you happen upon an unknown word in a blog, add the word to your Zotero word list. (Zotero captures Internet research, ideas, and resources on-the-spot.)

Write a new word in an original sentence. When you insert that new word into conversation, you may feel awkward at first. Keep augmenting your vocabulary list and you’ll enhance your confidence.

Write the word ten times in a sentence, and say the word aloud (make sure you pronounce the word correctly). Almost every dictionary has an audible so that you may hear the word. Don’t just listen; say the word  aloud. 

Make new words a daily habit. Register your email address for a word-for-the-day. You’ll receive new words daily. Some are too abstract; others will add dimension, professionalism, and the perception that you’re smart.

Here are two word-for-the-day email lists for you:

Webster’s Dictionary Word of the Day

Dictionary.com Word of the Day

Every writer has a trusted dictionary, thesaurus, and etymology resource at their finger tips. The reader and the writer must come to agreement on how a word is used. Once they agree, communication begins because words become terms. Authors confuse readers when their word usage is ambiguous.

Mortimer Adler warns writer and reader about the ambiguity of dictionary definitions. “The dictionary is full of words. They are almost all ambiguous in the sense that they have many meanings. But a word that has several meanings can be used in one sense at at time. When writer and reader somehow manage for a time to use a given word with one and only one meaning, then, during that time of unambiguous usage, they have come to terms.” (Mortimer Adler & Charles Van Doren, How To Read A Book)

Free Dictionary may be the best Internet dictionary.

“Use it or lose it” is the motto for vocabulary. Look for chances to say or write your new word of the day until that word is archived in your brain. When you need a right word, your internal library will load in your dialog.

Three days ago, The Associated Press published Merriam Webster’s “bailout” as the word of the year.
The Associated Press website lists the word of the year since 2003.

Loving words suggests you are curious. Etymologists (folks who study the root meaning of words) love digging down to the root usage of words. They ask, “What did this word mean in the original context?” Reading Shakespeare, and studying Latin and Greek roots helps. Loving words keeps writers from sounding like each other.

Knowing when to be erudite and when to be mundane involves some wisdom. Academic journals are replete with self conscious words to impress colleagues. The rest of us read academic pontification wondering why they just can’t say what they mean with words we all understand.

Jargon is the language of a specific group. When writing about information technology, technobabble wins and impresses. Sit around a gaggle of theologians or seminary students, and you’ll think God only speaks in ecclesiastical terms (listening to theologians could destroy your prayer life and faith).

William Zinsser, On Writing Well, explains how words bail you out.  He writes, ”You’ll never make your mark as a writer unless you develop a respect for words and a curiosity about their shades of meaning that is almost obsessive. The English language is rich in strong and supple words. Take the time to root around and find the ones you want.”

The Merriam Webster choice for the word of the year is “bailout”. And you thought that had something to do with your dinghy filled with sea water.

Mark Twain wrote, “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter–it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” - Letter to George Bainton, 10/15/1888

Finding writers with lightning in their pen gets challenging. Seems like lots of folks want to teach us how to write when probably the only way to learn writing is to just do it. That’s how we “get the bugs out”.

Shortcuts abound from software, private label articles, and ghost writers from elance.com or other places. Awhile ago, I read about a software that gathers the structure of an article from multiple articles on the subject, flips a few paragraphs, changes a few words, and voila! You have an article.

Lots of ebooks about writing abound. Many of the ideas come from other sources. There’s nothing new under the sun, but shift the shadows a bit and you’ll get buyers for $29.00 as long as you add $297 in bonuses.

I’ve wondered where people packaging information get their ideas. On Wednesday, a thought whacked me on the back of my cortex. Always go to the references of an advertisement about writing. For example, let’s say a well-known Internet guru is advertising a copy writing seminar.  My first question: “Who will be there?”

Reading down the list of credits I find a list of names. For one seminar, I learned the list of leading copywriters.  I listed each one, and then went to my local library consortium site and searched for their books. Many get placed on my “to read in the future list” (that the library consortium lets me bookmark in an online account for myself). The ones I want “now” are “requested”. Sometimes I wait for other readers to return the book, but before long an email arrives telling me to stop by the Town library to pick up the book.

Books come from all over Massachusetts, and you could do the same in your community. If I can’t find it in the library, I then look for the book on Amazon under the used book dealer (saves 25% or more).

So, I’ve got a couple of authors for you to discover as you (and I) learn how to write more affectively. If copy writing is your shtick (don’t you love Yiddish words…they have delicious meaning, nearly edible), here is a list of the leading copywriters for you:

Your copy writer list
• Richard Armstrong  or try this link: Richard Armstrong
• Drayton Bird or try this link: Drayton Bird
• Bob Bly
• John Carlton
• David Deutsch
• John Forde
• Michel Fortin
• David Garfinkel
• Scott Haines
• Mark Joyner
• Kharlan Kilstein
• Dan Kennedy
• Daniel Levis
• Clayton Makepeace
• Jim Punkre
• Yanik Silver
• Alan Forrest Smith
• Joe Sugarman
• Joe Vitale
• Timothy Warnock

Many talented people in that list. I know you will find some of their work in the library. If not, go to their site to learn and applaud them by signing up for their newsletter.