| What made Shakespeare the greatest writer in | | | | always have the opposite effect, people will |
| English literature? His stories were good, | | | | switch off if they think you are being |
| for sure - but a lot of them were simply | | | | pompous.3. Get your message across more |
| re-workings of historical events or legends. | | | | effectively. Many people believe that the |
| His rhythm and rhyme were good, too - but | | | | word 'synonym' means 'another word for the |
| everyone else was doing the same. What made | | | | same thing'. This is not true. If two words |
| Shakespeare great, and what can make you | | | | meant exactly the same thing, we wouldn't |
| great too, was the size of his...Vocabulary! | | | | need them. Synonyms are similar words, but |
| It is believed that the average person is | | | | not the same. Having a good range of synonyms |
| able to recognise between 10 and 15 thousand | | | | can add not only richness to your speech, but |
| words. Shakespeare used 35,000 words in his | | | | also make you communicate more effectively. |
| plays and sonnets, thus making him the | | | | The nuances that you create in your choice of |
| ultimate communicator in history.What are the | | | | vocabulary will hit the nail on the head as |
| benefits you can derive from improving your | | | | far as your listeners are concerned. They |
| vocabulary?1 Greater understanding means | | | | will go away knowing exactly what the message |
| being better informed. So it's easy to read | | | | was, not just some vague idea.The best way to |
| comic books but a bit more tricky reading | | | | improve your vocabulary is get a thesaurus |
| "the Times". Want the edge on your colleagues | | | | and start adding words to your active |
| or competitors? You must be at ease with your | | | | vocabulary. Using mind maps is great way to |
| language, and have a good understanding. it | | | | organise your ideas: write a word in the |
| can be embarrassing and even destructive to | | | | middle of blank sheet of paper and use colors |
| find yourself in a situation where everyone | | | | and images to build associations. If you've |
| is using a word that you don't know. | | | | never used mind maps before, now's the time |
| Knowledge is power!2 Add spice to your public | | | | to get started. You can see some examples at |
| speaking. Using the same words over and over | | | | my site.Jonathan Lewis teaches English as a |
| gets boring. Having a large vocabulary will | | | | foreign language in the south of France. He |
| always keep your audience keen. Be careful | | | | offers lots of practical advice about |
| though, using long words just to impress will | | | | learning languages on his site. |