Every one who desires to become a good speaker or writer must acquire a
knowledge of words; he must possess a large vocabulary, and be master of
the significance and application of the words of which it is composed.
To this end he should read the best authors, converse with the educated,
and use the words he thus acquires in his own conversation. The
dictionary should be in daily use to learn the exact meaning and force
of new words.
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1. Select the words that are familiar to the educated, and that are used
by good writers.
2. Employ words in the sense they are used by the best writers and
speakers. This knowledge is obtained from the dictionary and from
observation in reading the best authors.
3. Use the word that expresses the exact meaning intended to be
conveyed. A knowledge of the distinction of synonyms is best acquired by
keeping a list of words of nearly the same meaning, and carefully
studying the sense in which each is used.