Finding the right word. Why is it so hard?

....l 've got nothing.

 

I'm an avid reader, and I'm educated (that could be debated). But I don't have what I would call an extensive vocabulary, and when I speak & write I tend to keep it simple and straightforward.

One embarrassing thing for me is there's a difference between knowing how to spell a word and how to pronounce it correctly. Yes, I know most decent dictionaries have pronounciation guides, and there are helpful free sites on the net.