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One of the positive things I can share about my mother actually has to do with vocabulary and dictionaries. When I was being taught to read the schools were dropping phonics and starting to teach children sight reading. I was supposed to learn words by seeing them often enough. It was a learning system I was hopeless at. 

When I came home with a report card showing me doing very badly at reading, my mother had a fit. She discovered I was’t being taught phonics (sounding words out) and proceeded to do so. 

She would often have me open the dictionary while she was doing something like ironing and would give me words to look up. Not only did this grow my vocabulary, it improved my spelling. She would have me read the meaning of the word which gave me practice reading. She would also select a word in a meaning to look up next. 

Guess it would not surprise you that I will often start at a dictionary when I come across a word I don’t know. I’ll often use a dictionary to explore the roots or etymology of words. It can be fascinating where words come from and how usage has evolved through the years. 

I’ve recently come across an article from [Merriam-Webster Dictionary](https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/new-words-in-the-dictionary) about the 370 words they have added to their dictionary. That makes it so official, the word is now in the dictionary and you can use it when playing scrabble. Or anything else you have in mind when using words. 

Let’s explore some of the words you can officially add to your vocabulary. Some of them you’ve been using them for ages. Are you glad to know they are official? *I’ve added italics to new words*

Business & Technology 

If you only have a *dumbphone* you may not be able to use it to see what’s happening on the *video doorbell*. Having a smartphone would be a *use case* for how to see what’s happening at your door. 

Global *supply chains* have been the bane of our existence the last couple of years. 

The Virtual World 

Social media has been atwitter about *metaverses* with many influencers posting *sponcon* about how *laggy* some of them are. When they get tired of complaining about that they switch to *virtue signalling* to get more attention. 

The Outer World 

I hear some countries are forming *space forces* and will send them off to distant planets to *terraform* them into places humans can live and destroy like they are on earth. 

The Natural World 

A new *mud season* has been added to the annual seasons we have. In my part of the world that would be the space between the melting of the snow of winter and planting gardens when we get to get covered in mud. I don’t know if my area gets any *atmospheric rivers* adding to the mud. 

Once the ice is off the phones and waterways people can go *magnet fishing* to pull up magnet stuff out of the water. Or maybe *free dive* to explore under water without a mask or flippers to see what you can find. 

Language Can Be Used So Many Ways 

Sometimes I can be really *yeet* at how *janky* some folks can be, they are usually pretty *sus* or maybe they are just *adorkable* and should get the benefit of the doubt. 

*FWIW* or *ICYMI* I did put a link up above to the article so you can explore the 370 words now officially part of our vocabulary. 

Time to *level up* your vocabulary so you can be official when you put *pumpkin spice* into your *oat milk* or add some *mojo* as a topping on your *plant-based* burger. 


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*Shadowspub is a writer from Ontario, Canada. She writes on a variety of subjects as she pursues her passion for learning. She also writes on other platforms and enjoys creating books you use like journals, notebooks, coloring books etc.* 
  
  NOTE: unless otherwise stated, all images are the author’s                                                             
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