How do you deal with unfamiliar words?

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SomaKenya
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Re: How do you deal with unfamiliar words?

Post by SomaKenya »

Okey, Dennisk. I see
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Dael Reader
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Post by Dael Reader »

Usually I'll just assume the definition based on context. If I'm perplexed, I might just let it go. My Nook is great for this sort of thing though. Just put your finger on the word, and you can get a definition. So cool!
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Post by Eclectic_novels »

I usually try to figure it out by the context. Otherwise I google. If I don't I will think about it and then later have to go back and figure out the meaning or it will make me crazy.
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Post by bclayton13 »

Usually I try and define the words using the context of the sentence the word appears in. If that doesn't work, I whip out my phone and look it up.
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Post by RichardHaight »

Generally speaking, if I can't figure it out from context, I look them up with an online dictionary.
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Alena_Surya
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Post by Alena_Surya »

I Google them! :)
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Mallory Porshnev
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Post by Mallory Porshnev »

I will usually take a moment to google the definition of an unfamiliar word if I feel I need it to understand that sentence.
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MikleoKrein
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Post by MikleoKrein »

I love unfamiliar words, it's a guilty pleasure of mine.

Whenever I encounter one, I find out what it means online and memorize it. Now, I can belt out these words whenever I'm writing a story.
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Post by DennisK »

MikleoKrein wrote: 03 Jul 2018, 14:01 I love unfamiliar words, it's a guilty pleasure of mine.

Whenever I encounter one, I find out what it means online and memorize it. Now, I can belt out these words whenever I'm writing a story.
I applaud your agile mind, MikleoKrein! I find that I must toil quite a bit to make a new word part of my working vocabulary. But then again, there are some new words that I like, and those are easier to employ. I find that my writing/reading vocabulary is more extensive than my verbal vocabulary.
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Post by Chi_pego »

I look up their meaning then write them and their meanings down.
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Post by ccranston »

I try to use context clues if possible, but one of the many reasons I like reading on my kindle is the fact that I can highlight a word and get the definition. However, if it's a name I'm not sure how to pronounce, I make it up in my head and continue to pronounce it that way.
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Post by Helga_ »

I tend to learn more by looking up words, not necessarily more but rather "deeper". For example, when I'm in the middle of reading a very interesting novel in English, which is a foreign language to me, I don't mind spending my free time using various dictionaries I own or Googling. I just got to know the nuances of certain words, as correctly as possible, as well as the surface meanings. How many new words I've learned doesn't really matter. I'm more concerned about understanding and appreciating the way some particular words are used. I'm sure you can relate, the art form of fiction just makes you dig deep. But, it's a different story when it comes down to studying English.
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Post by Asisha Joseph »

Usually while reading, when I find a new book, I'm too into the moment to go and get a dictionary. So I try to assume the meaning and leave it. If I remember the word after my read, I look it up, otherwise it's lost forever.
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Holzed
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Post by Holzed »

I just Google it :D
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Post by BeatrixPotter »

Usually I try to get the meaning from the context. If I have no clue, and it seems important enough, I look in the dictionary. But it depends on what it is. If it is term referring to medical conditions, or technology, I usually skip over it, because I probably will never see it again, and certainly won't remember it anyway.
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