“It probably never ends.”

一、 Why vocabulary matters

You can read and look at words, but you need to practice to really put them to use, to develop the strong vocabulary you want.The key is to find a way to turn passive vocabulary into active vocabulary.

Passive被动 vocabulary = words you understand ，but  don't use in your speaking or writing.

Active主动 vocabulary = words you use when you talk and write

In fact, it probably never ends.

二、Eight ways to develop vocabulary

1.Learn categories

Avoid single word memorization  避免单个单词记忆

Think about groups of words  想想词组

例如：

I highly recommend   强烈推荐 

You do this from time to time  时不时. 

You can learn words by their categories种类.

2.Journal & sticky notes    日记和便签

carry a notebook

write down words that seem important

Later，look them up，write sentences using them

use sticky nots as labels

write the word and post the notes around the house  把写的字贴到家里所有地方

3.Collocations  搭配

A collocation is a combination of words that appear together frequently.

搭配是一种组合词，经常出现在一起。

    Lions roar         //狮子吼叫

    Depressed people can commit suicide  //沮丧的人会承诺自杀

Discover collocations dictionaries  //发现搭配词典

Think about word gruops, not individual words.  想想词群，而不是独立的单词。

4.Mnemonics  记忆术

Create your own mnemonics

Example Italian for butterfly :farfalla

    A butterfly flies so high it falls for(far-fall-a)

Consult the Mnemonicdictionary.com

5.speak it,write it

Put a new word to use immediately立即

write it down

use it in a sentence

use it three times in a day

6.Area specific  具体 adj

Learn words related to a particular arera（学习单词的相关区域）,such as job-related or study area related

    words for architects

    words for car mechanics

    words for cooks

Make word tree,charts,wheels,etc

7.observation journal  观察日记

Keep a small notebook or file on your laptop or tablet  笔记本或平板

Go sit somewhere

Name everything you can see

If you don't know the name of something,write it in your native language，or take a picture of it，then look it up later

Go to different places to do this activity-parks，airports，office building ，etc=et cetera 等等

8.spaced repetition  （srs）  间隔记忆

Spaced repetition is a proven memory technique that helps you keep what youve learned strong in your mind.

间隔重复是很有效的记忆技巧，有助于将学过的知识牢牢记在大脑里。

三、Understanding Tone and Diction 语气和措辞

The words you choose can be formal, informal, or colloquial/slang(正式、非正式、口语/俚语). Using slang when you should be writing formally is a big mistake. Similarly, if you are overly formal in a situation(情况) that calls for informality, you risk insulting your reader as well. 

同样，如果你有时候过于正式，例如要求不要拘束的时候，将会有侮辱读者的风险

Errors in diction 发音/措辞

There are two main sources of error in diction.  在措辞上有两个主要错误

1. Choosing the wrong word. This can happen because of confusion between homonyms (words that sound alike but are spelled differently), or because the meaning of the word isn't fully understood.

   因为混淆同音异义词，(单词看起来相同，但拼写不同)，或者因为单词完全不懂

2. Choosing colloquial, or less formal

spoken language when standard or more formal language is called for (or vice versa). In academic writing, formal diction is generally expected.

例如：

1. A lot/lots of

Colloquial: Diana likes her apartment a lot.
Formal: Diana likes her apartment公寓 very much.

Colloquial: There are lots of books in our library.
Formal: There are many books in our library.

2. Among/between    在..之间
(Tip: Among involves 涉及more than two; between involves only two)

Colloquial: Discussions between our group members were often very lively活泼的.

Discussions Formal: Discussions among our group members were often very lively.

3. Around/ about
(Tip:  Don't use around to indicate周围 time, distance距离, or other quantity其他数量.)

Colloquial: The class usually begins around nine. 
Formal: The class usually begins at about nine.

4. Badly
(Tip: "Badly" is not a substitute替代 for "very much.")       suitable合适的

Colloquial: The team wanted to win really badly严重非常.
Formal: The team wanted desperately猛烈的 to win.  这个队伍十分想赢

5. Based off of  基于,以..为基础

Colloquial: Based off of that information,  we can move ahead with the plan. 基于这些信息，我们的计划可以提前
Formal: Based on that information, we can move ahead with the plan.

6. Because 
(Tip: Don't use "because" after " reason.")

Colloquial: The reason for our flight delay is because of bad weather.
Formal: The reason for our flight delay is the bad weather.

7. A bunch/bunches  一束、一群、一帮、一组
(Tip: Use bunch or bunches only for things that are bound or grow together, like bananas and grapes; it is not used for other countable可数 nouns.名词)

Colloquial: A bunch of us are going to the movies tonight. 
Formal: A group of us are going to the movies tonight.
Formal: There are three bunches of bananas on the counter.  柜台上有三串香蕉

8. Each other/one another   彼此/另一个
(Tip: Each other refers to two, one another refers to more than two.)

Colloquial: Everyone at the party wished each other a happy new year.
Formal: Everyone at the party wished one another a happy new year.
Formal: My sister and I wished each other a happy new year.

9. Guys

Colloquial: I hope you guys can join me at the restaurant.
Formal: I hope all of you can join me at the restaurant.

10. In / Into  在里面/从外边到里边，伴随动作
(Tip:  "In" means "within" or "inside", while "into" refers to the motion of going from outside to inside.)

Colloquial: Bill went in the bus station to buy a ticket.
Formal: Bill went into the bus station to buy a ticket.

A connotation is an idea or feeling that a word may hold that is in addition to its main meaning (or denotation). These additional meanings are often cultural or emotional in nature, so they can be hard to understand if you only consult a dictionary.

有些词很难理解，附加文化或者情绪，他们有多重含义

Tone is the emotion of a piece of writing.      语气是一篇文章的情感

Like happy、serious、humorous、sad、formal 、optimistic 、threatening 

Tone is important because it lets the reader know your attitude towards your subject 。 因为语气让你知道作者对主题的态度，所以语气很重要.

Tone is related to the author's intentions. The mood is the attitude the reader has toward the writing.

语气与作者的意图有关。心情是读者对写作的态度。

.........