Are you running out of words SERIOUSLY?

Are you running out of words SERIOUSLY?

The number of words in the English language is 1,035,877,300

This is the estimate by the Global Language Monitor for January 1, 2016. The English Language passed the Million Word threshold on June 10, 2009, at 10:22 a.m. (GMT). Currently, there is a new word created every 98 minutes or about14.7 wordsper day, as of June 10, 2016.

It is my understanding that Rick and Vera create 7.7 of these new words every day, but I digress. The point is that there should NOT be a shortage of words for you to use when communicating with others by, blog, letter, emails, phone calls, smoke signals, hand signals and on and on. Now selecting the “right” words, placing them in the correct order, spelling them correctly, watching out for misplaced modifiers or Heaven forbid dangling participles………..well this an entirely different problem.

To verify my belief, I looked at ONE page from each letter of the alphabet in my Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, and by using only the words on these pages, I was able to write 750 words of “copy” about an interesting topic found amongst those pages in about forty-five minutes. I do not know if that should be considered good or mediocre or bad in regards to output. However, I was happy to know that it was and IS possible.

Are you running out of ideas too? Go to an indoor mall, especially when it is as hot as it is today. Purchase a drink of your choice, sit in a comfortable chair and just W.A.T.C.H. Take a note pad with you and as people walk by or you observe write down ONLY one word to describe what you observed. After an hour or however long you find (or do not find) this to be interesting, go home and “think” about the words you have written down and what memories you recall from your mall experience. As the saying goes, there are no guarantees except taxes and death (and we are working on the death thingy)….but I bet you can write from 500 to a thousand words (no time limit) on what you experienced.

Is there a purpose? I think so because writers write. EVERY day I read posts in WA that are AMAZING, mostly written by very modest people who say they wish they could write. So, take heart dear friends, from today forward you know that if you can find a dictionary or a mall……………….you will be able to write a post!

I hope it is cooler where you are today!

All the best,

Steve