The word journal VocaNum
Explore the indexA little curiosity about language. A clearer understanding of your English.
41 articles to think with, and put into practice.A lasting place to start
Learn what vocabulary-size tests actually count, why different tests give different totals, and how to interpret an English vocabulary estimate without overclaiming.
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Questions, observations, and something to try.
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New questions and lasting ideas. There is more than one way in.
01–10 of 10 articles
Newest firstWhy can you know a word's meaning, feel certain it is in memory, and still fail to say it? Tip-of-the-tongue research reveals where lexical access can break down.
A swear word can mean exactly the same thing in two languages and still feel different. Bilingual emotion research helps explain why.
Ten encounters can build very different vocabulary knowledge. Learn how contextual diversity changes word learning, when repetition in one setting helps, and when varied contexts make a word more flexible.
C1 and C2 vocabulary lists can make advanced English look like a collection of rare words. Here is what CEFR levels actually mean, how native-speaker vocabulary varies, and why even native speakers do not know every advanced English word.
When should you infer an unfamiliar English word from context, and when is checking a dictionary or gloss the better move? Research suggests the best strategy is often to infer first, then verify selectively.
Should you study happy, glad, and cheerful together? Research on semantic clustering suggests that grouping similar new words can create interference — but the full answer depends on timing, context, and what kind of grouping you use.
Reading and listening can both grow your English vocabulary. Here is what the research says about word learning, recall, and multi-word expressions.
Learn what vocabulary-size tests actually count, why different tests give different totals, and how to interpret an English vocabulary estimate without overclaiming.
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Build a research-informed vocabulary practice loop with retrieval, spacing, context, useful word selection, and review that adapts to what you actually forget.
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Understand receptive and productive vocabulary, why cues make recognition easier than recall, and how familiar words become more available for speaking and writing.
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