A. Organising words by meaning

Try dividing your notebook into different broad sections, with sections for words for feelings, words to describe places, words for movement, words for thinking, etc.

Charts and tables of various kinds can help you organise your vocabulary. Here is an example for words connected with music:

• Instruments: guitar, cello, piano
• Types of music: classical (not classic), folk (not folkloric), world
• Verbs: play, strum (a guitar), perform
• Related words: practice (n), practise (vb), track, release (an album)

B. Building networks of meaning

A network diagram is useful. It can grow in whatever direction you want it to.

C. Collocations and fixed phrases

It is important to know how a word combines with other words (its collocations). Always record the common collocations of a word as you meet them, e.g.:

• win: prize, award, medal
• earn: money, a high salary
• gain: time, an advantage

Where a word is often used in a fixed phrase, always record the whole phrase, e.g.:

• in a hurry, out of touch, to and fro, now and again

D. Synonyms and antonyms

When you find a synonym (same meaning) or an antonym (opposite meaning) of a word you already have in your book, enter it next to that word with a few notes, e.g.:

• urban ≠ rural
• stop = cease (cease is very formal)

E. Organising by word class

Make a note of the word class of a new word (whether it is a noun, verb, adjective, etc.). Record words from the same word family together, e.g.:

• produce (verb or noun), product (noun), productive (adjective)

F. Stress

Record where the stress falls on a multi-syllable word, especially if the stress changes between word classes, e.g.:

• produce (verb), produce (noun), productive (adjective)