For a long time students have been asked to push the limits of their vocabulary and try to expand it. Throughout essays, speeches, homework , and articles students are asked to replace more common language with larger and more descriptive words. Using a more extensive vocabulary can benefit you in more ways than you might know.

One reason, that using better vocabulary can improve your everyday being, is because it helps improve your reading comprehension. This means that you’re more likely to understand what you’re reading without having to read it over and over to understand it. It also helps you be more able to understand novels, textbooks, and other high level texts. Whether it’s knowing the word or using context clues to figure it out, having a good knowledge of vocabulary comes in handy.

A second reason is because it deepens your understanding of the language. It allows the person to think more deeply about the text they are reading. Studies have even shown that developing literacy and language skills at a young age helps the person be more academically and socially more successful. It also helps people describe what they’re trying to explain with better words. This then captures whatever the person is talking about more vividly for the surrounding group of people. Being able to verbally express what you are thinking is one of many upsides to having an immense vocabulary.

Not only does a large vocabulary allow you to understand reading more. It also allows writing to come more easily for you. Once again, with the words easily coming to mind and your knowledge of a large amount of words, it allows you to go into greater depth about the topic. During writing you then are able to use words that are not used in everyday vocabulary. That improves your communication skills over email, text, and speeches.