# How to keep an English vocabulary notebook A notebook that works records each word with its meaning, an example sentence, and a sentence of your own. A simple way to turn it into a review tool. Author: Aslıgül Aşkın · Published: 2026-10-01 · Updated: 2026-10-12 Page address: https://grammardots.com/en/blog/english-vocabulary-notebook A vocabulary notebook that works records each word with its meaning, an example sentence, and a sentence you made yourself. A plain “word = meaning” list doesn't teach you how to use the word. ## Four columns on every page Word | Meaning | Example sentence | My sentence. For example: borrow | ödünç almak | Can I borrow your pen? | I borrowed a book from my friend. Writing your own sentence ties the word to your life. ## What to write next to each word Four columns are a good start. As you get to know a word, add three small things to its entry: the words it usually goes with, its word family and a short pronunciation note. Partner words show you where the word fits: “give advice”, “ask for advice”. A word family gives you several words in one entry: “decide, decision, decisive”. For pronunciation, skip the dictionary symbols; write the stressed syllable in capitals or cross out a silent letter. Write the Turkish meaning too, but keep it short and pick the meaning used in your sentence. Copying every dictionary meaning fills the page without showing which one to use. ## A filled-in example entry Here is a complete entry for “comfortable”. You only need this much detail for words you will use often; for others, the four columns are enough. Example entry: comfortable | Part | What goes in the notebook | | --- | --- | | Word | comfortable | | Turkish meaning | rahat | | Example sentence | These shoes are really comfortable. | | Partner words | feel comfortable, a comfortable chair, make yourself comfortable | | Word family | comfort, comfortably, uncomfortable | | Pronunciation note | Usually three syllables: KUMF-tuh-bul, stressed on the first. | | My sentence | I can't sleep on this sofa because it isn't comfortable. | The pronunciation note matters for this word, because Turkish speakers often read it as it is spelled, with four syllables. Writing it once reminds you of the right sound every time you open the page. ## Group words by topic Write words by topic rather than in the order you meet them: home, work, food, feelings. Words on the same topic remind you of each other. ## Page layout Start each topic on a new page with its name at the top. Use the first page as a contents list, such as “Food – p. 4” and “Work – p. 10”, so you can find a word without leafing through the whole notebook. Leave two or three empty lines under each entry. When you meet the word again in a series or a text, add that new sentence there, so the entry grows over time. On a phone, use the same layout: one note per topic, with the information in the same order for every word. Type words yourself rather than saving screenshots; typing makes you notice them once more. The advantage of paper is that no notifications pull your attention away. ## Cover the page and test yourself Twice a week, cover the meaning column and try to recall the words. Put a small mark next to the ones you miss and look at those first next time. ## A weekly review routine To keep the notebook alive, add a small weekly routine to covering and testing. Each step takes a few minutes. A week with the notebook | Day | What to do | | --- | --- | | Monday | Write the new words as full entries. | | Wednesday | Cover the English column and recall each word from the Turkish. | | Friday | Read your own sentences aloud. | | Sunday | Make a new sentence with each word you found hard this week. | Test yourself both ways: one day from English to Turkish, another day from Turkish to English. The second is harder, but it is exactly what you need when you speak. ## Write less, but choose well Don't write down every word you hear; write the ones you will really use. A few well-chosen words a day are worth more than long lists you never open. ## Common mistakes The most common mistake is filling pages with “word = Turkish meaning” lists. They look full, but they never show the sentences or partner words a word goes with, so they help little when you speak. Other mistakes are familiar too: opening the notebook only to write, never to review; spending hours on neat copies; and copying example sentences you don't understand. The notebook needs to be readable and orderly, not beautiful. To keep going, see [Why don't new words stick? Five ways to forget less](https://grammardots.com/en/blog/how-to-remember-english-words) and [English reading practice: a 15-minute daily routine](https://grammardots.com/en/blog/english-reading-practice-routine). ## Frequently asked questions ### Should my vocabulary notebook be paper or digital? Either works; what matters is that you open and review it regularly. Choose the format that is easiest for you to carry. ### Is it wrong to write the Turkish meaning? No; it reminds you of the meaning quickly. Adding an example sentence and your own sentence shows you how to use the word. ### When can I review a word less often? When you recall it at once in several reviews and use it easily in your own sentence, put a tick next to it. Ticked words need only an occasional look. ### Should I keep separate notebooks for different sources? No; what matters is the word's topic, not where you found it. If you like, note the source, such as the name of a series, in the corner of the entry.