What are Root Words?

A root word is a basic part of a word that carries the main meaning. It can be defined as the simplest form of any given word and can have prefixes or suffixes added to it in order to create different words with related meanings. For example, the root word “dict” means speak or say, so when you add prefixes such as “pre” or “post”, you get words like predict (pre-dict) and postdate (post-dict). The same goes for adding suffixes such as -ation or -able; dictation and dictable would be two examples of this.

Root words are useful for understanding the general meaning of a sentence without having to look up every single word. Knowing these roots also helps when learning new vocabulary since many English words share common roots from Latin and Greek languages. Furthermore, they provide an easy way to make educated guesses about what unfamiliar terms might mean if you know some basic rules about how they combine with other elements in language formation.

To help remember root words better, there are several techniques that one can use:

1) Use mnemonic devices: Mnemonics involve associating something memorable with a piece of information which makes it easier to recall later on. For example using alliterations like "Frightened Frogs Flinch" for remembering "frigorific", "frenetic" and "flaccid".

2) Create visual cues: Visualizing concepts by drawing diagrams or creating flashcards can help reinforce them in your memory more effectively than just reading alone does. 

3) Practice writing out sentences using each root: Writing out complete sentences containing various forms of each root will help cement its application into everyday usage scenarios where it may come up again soon after being learned initially.  

By following these simple steps regularly over time, anyone should be able to master their knowledge of root words quickly!