College Entrance Exams and Science High School Test Prep

Diction and Vocabulary Pointers

• Diction has different levels of usage:
  • Standard English:
    • Formal: used in scholarly articles, official documents, and formal letters
    • Informal (General): used in everyday conversations, books, magazines, and newspapers
    • Colloquial: language used in familiar conversations among educated people
  • Substandard English:
    • Dialectical: words common to a particular region and not used throughout the country
    • Slang: unconventional words used to express an idea without a standard equivalent
    • Illiterate (or Vulgate) or Errors in Idiom: using incorrect idioms or prepositions

Exact Diction

• Choose words that precisely convey the intended meaning
• Use specific words instead of general terms unless there is a good reason to be general
• Make verbs work by choosing specific verbs or verbs that signify a specific action
• Avoid using too explosive verbs or verbs that are too strong for their context
• Use the active voice instead of the passive voice when possible

Effective Diction

• Make diction natural and sincere
• Be direct and concise
• Use fresh and unhackneyed phrases
• Avoid needless technical language
• Avoid pretentious language and strained circumlocutions
• Avoid using jargon and overly technical terms
• Choose words with the exact connotation required by the context

Vocabulary Building

• Start a vocabulary list to write down words that are unknown or unfamiliar
• Review the words regularly to commit them to memory
• Use different resources such as dictionaries, journals, and newspapers to learn new words
• Make reading and using new words a daily habit
• Play dictionary games with family and friends to make learning fun### Thesaurus and Vocabulary Building
• A thesaurus is a reference book that groups words with similar meanings together, unlike a dictionary which alphabetically lists words with their definitions.
• Using a thesaurus can help in discovering the right word to express a thought or idea.
• Online resources like Merriam-Webster's WWWebster Dictionary and Visual Thesaurus provide access to both dictionaries and thesauri.

Learning Roots and Prefixes

• At least half of the words in the English language are derived from Greek and Latin roots.
• Knowing these roots can help in understanding the meaning of words before looking them up in a dictionary.
• Examples of common Greek and Latin roots include:
  • aster, astr (G) - star
  • audi (L) - to hear
  • bene (L) - good, well
  • bio (G) - life
  • dic, dict (L) - to speak

Learning Prefixes

• Prefixes show quantity, negation, time, direction, or position.
• Examples of prefixes include:
  • ante - before
  • non - without, not
  • re - again
  • supra - above, over
  • trans - across, over
  • sub - below, under

Using Suffixes

• Suffixes modify the meaning of a word and determine its function in a sentence.
• Examples of suffixes include:
  • -ence (noun)
  • -ify (verb)
  • -able (adjective)
  • -ly (adverb)
• Suffixes can change the part of speech of a word, such as nation (noun) to national (adjective) to nationalize (verb).

Using a Dictionary

• A dictionary should be a frequently used reference book.
• A good dictionary should contain extensive definitions, word origins, and notes on usage.
• It's also helpful to carry a pocket dictionary with concise definitions.

Effective Vocabulary Usage

• An extensive vocabulary can be a powerful tool for writing and speaking.
• Avoid using complex words unnecessarily, and use simpler words when possible.
• Use the internet to explore reading opportunities and develop vocabulary.
• Understand the nuances of meaning in words and use them efficiently to convey ideas.