GRE vocab lists will sometimes include example sentences, and those certainly can be useful, but if you find that you’re having trouble making the definition of a word stick, writing your own sentence can help.

The simple fact is, when you force yourself to create a sentence using a new word, you have an easier time remembering the word’s meaning. And since these sentences are just “memorization devices,” they don’t have to be complex or particularly sophisticated in any way. You may find that a word sticks even better when you create a sentence that has some personal meaning to you or somehow relates to your life. You may find that sentences that are funny in some way or sentences that rhyme words help the meaning stick more readily.

You don’t have to create an original sentence for every vocab word you study — doing so would be quite time-consuming. But for words that you tend to confuse or that are more challenging for you to remember, writing your own sentence, and adding it to a flashcard as necessary, is a smart strategy.

Key takeaway: To more easily remember the definitions of words you tend to confuse or feel challenged by, create an original sentence using the vocab word, and add the sentence to the corresponding flashcard if needed.

Happy Studying! ✨

Warmest regards,
Scott