WORD SMART - BUILDING AN EDUCATED VOCABULARY

Sep 15, 2026

WORD SMART - BUILDING AN EDUCATED VOCABULARY presents an approach to vocabulary improvement focused on clarity, accurate usage, and practical understanding rather than using impressive-sounding but unfamiliar words. It explains how word choice reflects intelligence and how knowing the right words enables ideas to reach others effectively. The book emphasizes that a strong vocabulary comes from mastering frequently used terms, avoiding common misuse, and learning distinctions among similar words, supporting performance for educated communication.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages392

Reading Time16 h 28 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Chapter 1: Learning New Words

Chapter 2: The Words

Chapter 3: The Final Exam

Chapter 4: The SAT Hit Parade

Chapter 5: The GRE Hit Parade

Chapter 6: Word Roots You Should Know

Chapter 7: Common Usage Errors

Chapter 8: Abbreviations

Chapter 9: The Arts

Chapter 10: Computers and Technology

Chapter 11: Finance

Chapter 12: Foreign Words and Phrases

Chapter 13: Science

Chapter 14: The Answers

About the Author

This book has been optimized for viewing at a monitor setting of 1024 x 768 pixels. WORD SMART BUILDING AN EDUCATED VOCABULARY WORD SMART BUILDING AN EDUCATED VOCABULARY Random House, Inc. New York [www.PrincetonReview.com](www.PrincetonReview.com) The Independent Education Consultants Association recognizes The Princeton Review as a valuable resource for high school and college students applying to college and graduate school. The Princeton Review, Inc. 2315 Broadway New York, NY 10024 [E-mail:](E-mail: booksupport@review.com)[ booksupport@review.com](E-mail: booksupport@review.com) Copyright © 2006 by The Princeton Review, Inc. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by Random House, Inc., New York, and simultaneously in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto. eISBN: 978-0-375-72334-6 Editor: Marissa Pareles Production Editor: Katie O’Neill Production Coordinator: Ryan Tozzi [www.PrincetonReview.com](www.PrincetonReview.com) v1.0 CONTENTS Introduction ...................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1: Learning New Words................................................ 7 Chapter 2: The Words ............................................................... 39 Chapter 3: The Final Exam ....................................................... 255 Chapter 4: The SAT Hit Parade .............................................. 287 Chapter 5: The GRE Hit Parade............................................... 297 Chapter 6: Word Roots You Should Know............................. 305 Chapter 7: Common Usage Errors ......................................... 331 Chapter 8: Abbreviations ......................................................... 339 Chapter 9: The Arts................................................................... 343 Chapter 10: Computers and Technology ................................. 347 Chapter 11: Finance.................................................................... 353 Chapter 12: Foreign Words and Phrases ................................ 359 Chapter 13: Science ................................................................... 365 Chapter 14: The Answers .......................................................... 371 About the Author .................................................................................. 383 INTRODUCTION YOUR VOCABULARY HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT YOU BEHIND YOUR BACK The words you use say a lot about you. Some words say that you are smart, persuasive, and informed. Others say that you don’t know what you are talking about. Knowing which words to use and understanding how to use them are keys to getting the most out of your mind. People often say in frustration,“I know what I mean, but I don’t know how to say it.” If the right words aren’t there, the right ideas can’t get through. Your vocabulary is the foundation of your ability to share your thoughts with other people. When you improve your vocabulary, you improve your ability to bring your intelligence to bear on the world around you. BIGGER ISN’T NECESSARILY BETTER When people say that someone has a “good vocabulary,” they usually mean that he or she uses a lot of important-sounding words—words like jactitation, demulcent, and saxicolous. But a vocabulary consisting of words like these isn’t necessarily a “good” vocabulary. Why? Because almost no one knows what jactitation, demulcent, and saxicolous mean. If you used these words in conversation, the chances are that no one listening to you would know what you were talking about. Big, difficult words have important uses, but improving a vocabulary involves much more than merely decorating your speech or your writing with a few polysyllabic zingers. The goal of communication is clarity. We write and speak in order to make ourselves understood. A good vocabulary is o

FAQs

What is the goal of building an educated vocabulary?

The goal is to convey ideas easily by using words that make communication clear, efficient, and accurate.

Why are “big, difficult words” not always better for vocabulary growth?

Because many people may not understand them, and improving vocabulary requires more than adding hard-to-know, long words to speech or writing.

What kinds of vocabulary mistakes does the book focus on?

It focuses on misuse of common words whose meanings are often confused, as well as misusing words that sound similar or have specific usage distinctions.

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by WPS_1786070896