Vocabulary in action: Unpicking misconceptions

There are lots of misconceptions about the domain of vocabulary itself, sometimes held by pupils themselves.

Many words have multiple meanings depending on the context in which they are used. For example, the word ​“bank” can refer to a financial institution, a sloping landform, or the act of tilting to one side. This complexity means that for pupils using the dictionary, this can prove tricky and is not the easy solution we may assume.

I’ll never forget Abdullah, Year 3, dashing into my classroom, exclaiming: ​‘Samuel took my ball! I feel absolutely desolate, Miss!’ While synonyms may share similar meanings, they often have nuances that make them appropriate in different contexts. For example, ​“happy” and ​“joyful” are synonyms, but ​“happy” implies a more general sense of contentment, while ​“joyful” suggests a more intense emotion. Understanding these nuances can help you choose the right word for the right context. Did poor Abdullah really feel ​‘desolate’, I wonder