Outside the bounds of your present vocabulary altogether are the words you encounter but do not recognize, except (it may be) dimly and uncertainly.  Some counselors would have you look up all such words in a dictionary.  But the task would be irksome.  Moreover those who prescribe it are loath to perform it themselves.  Your own candid judgment in the matter is the safest guide.  If the word is incidental rather than vital to the meaning of the passage that contains it, and if it gives promise of but rarely crossing your vision again, you should deign it no more than a civil glance.  Plenty of ways will be left you to expend time wisely in the service of your vocabulary.

EXERCISE — Analysis

1.  Make a list of the words in class two of your own vocabulary, and similar lists for classes three and four. (To make a list for class one would be but a waste of time.) Procure if you can for this purpose a loose-leaf notebook, and in the several lists reserve a full page for each letter of the alphabet as used initially.  Do not scamp the lists, though their proper preparation consume many days, many weeks.  Try to make them really exhaustive.  Their value will be in proportion to their accuracy and fulness.

2.  Con the words in each list carefully and repeatedly.  Your task is to transfer these words into a more intimate list—­those in class four into class three, those in three into two, those in two into one.  You are then to promote again the words in the lower classes, except that (if your judgment so dictates) you may leave the new class three wholly or partially intact.  To carry out this exercise properly you must keep these words in mind, make them part and parcel of your daily life. (For a special device for bringing them under subjection, see the next exercise.)

3.  To write a word down helps you to remember it.  That is why the normal way to transfer a word from class four into class two is to put it temporarily into the intermediary class, three; you first see or hear the word, next write it, afterwards speak it.  The mere writing down of your lists has probably done much to bring the words written into the circuit of your memory, where you can more readily lay hold of them.  Also it has fortified your confidence in using them; for to write a word out, letter by letter, makes you surer that you have its right form.  With many of your words you will likely have no more trouble; they will be at hand, anxious for employment, and you may use them according to your need.  But some of your words will still stubbornly withhold themselves from memory.  Weed these out from your lists, make a special list of them, copy it frequently, construct short sentences into which the troublesome words fit.  By dint of writing the words so often you will soon make them more tractable.

4.  Make a fifth list of words—­those you hear or see printed, do not understand the meaning of, but yet feel you should know.  Obtain and confirm a grasp of them by the successive processes used with words in the preceding lists.