Note: If you are really serious about improving your vocabulary, we highly recommend you check out the popular Ultimate Vocabulary Builder

Choosing an Adult Vocabulary Builder

There are a lot of vocabulary programs out there, but it can be tough to find an adult vocabulary builder that is really usable. Most vocabulary programs fall into two categories: programs for kids, and boring programs. No adult wants to spend an hour a day playing a colorful word games with cartoon characters. Even if a kiddy vocabulary game is engaging and entertaining, you probably know all the words. Nobody wants to spend forever running through flashcards with their computer either. Sure, you may memorize a bunch of words and definitions, but that isn’t a big help unless you need to be able to automatically spit out definitions. Most adult vocabulary programs don’t help you work out how to really use the words.

The vocabulary program market is fraught with scams and scandals. Most people are familiar with the WordSmart system, due to the widespread infomercials. However, few people are aware of the shoddy business practices, rude customer service representatives, or fraudulent credit card charges associated with the company. Some programs are also associated with systems like the PhotoReading method, which claims to build your vocabulary by allowing you to reading thousands of words per minute. PhotoReading has been scientifically disproved by NASA.

When purchasing an adult vocabulary builder, keep your expectations realistic. You aren’t going to learn every word in the English language. You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on software. You shouldn’t have to sign up for anything that will charge you monthly. Just figure out what you need to know or why you want to expand your vocabulary. Do you need to get a good score on the SAT, GRE, LSAT, or ACT? Do you need to memorize words for a college course? Do you need to improve the level or your writing and speech?

Programs like Vocaboly and WordFlash are great for helping you memorize words for a class or test. These programs basically word like flashcards for your computer. Most advanced programs like Power Vocabulary Builder and Ultimate Vocabulary have more in-depth learning systems. These programs help you learn words well enough that you internalize them. When you add the words to your inner voice and use them when you think, you’ll be able to use them flawlessly in your writing and speech. Choosing a program can be difficult, a good adult vocabulary builder will often cost around $80. This may or may not be a good value, depending on the features offered. Keep an eye on things like the size of the dictionary included with the program. Ultimate Vocabulary may be the best value, as it has in-depth information on literally thousands more words than other similar programs.