You get better at a sport when you play it often. You get better at piano when you practice. You buy a new car and then you see your make and model everywhere!
Research shows that the same way you build your skills you can heighten your senses. And I say, when you’re a writer, journalist, teacher, communicator or just love language, you automatically heighten your awareness of the words around you. Am I right?
I was driving down the freeway when I found myself stuck behind a transport truck. In big bold letters on the back it read: “Now hiring Temperature Controlled Specialist.” Traffic was backed up, so I had some time to ponder this statement. Are they really looking for an individual who can adjust their body temperature to maintain a certain level? Is it comfort they’re promoting? Or are they maybe looking for a Temperature Control Specialist? That would make more sense to me.
I was scrolling through social media the other day and I came across a story where a personality claimed to be “social mediaing” (social media’ing?). Is this a new term to describe a common pastime? Social mediaing could be one of my favourite pastimes. How fun it is to coin a new word!
Words are all around us and it can be fun to spot the unusual. If you love words, what have you spotted lately?
Writing for you. 