Another reason why I like reading digital books (Kindle, for instance) is that I can instantly check word-meanings. In Kindle books, I just have to press the word for a couple of seconds and the associated dictionary immediately tells me the meaning of the word.
I remember people used to comment, “What an ordeal you go through while reading a book, why can’t you simply skip the word?”
The “ordeal” was the massive Oxford dictionary that I used to keep by my side while reading a book. The moment I came across a word I didn’t understand, I would quickly refer to the dictionary and if I had enough time (and a comfortable place to sit) I would jot down the word and the meaning so that I could memorize it later on.
These days, although I have stopped jotting down the meanings, I still prefer to look up them up in case I am unable to understand the word.
I like learning new words and I like using them. Not to impress people, simply because I like that. I also like writing that contains good words even when I have to go to the trouble of looking them up. I don’t subscribe to the opinion that you should make an effort to use simpler words. Actually good writing is like classical music – it might be a bit complicated to an untrained ear, but it is simply magical once you have understood how to appreciate it. The same goes with using words and reading them.
