The distortion of language doesn't happen by accident.
Language Watch shows how words have changed and what those changes hide.
Discover this week's word ↓In its original meaning: an honest evaluation or judgment of one's own worth, value, and character.
What changed?
Shifted from an earned judgment based on character to an emotional state that should be protected
and given through praise.
Language is not decoration. It is how we name our values, understand one another, and make decisions together. When important words are stretched, blurred, or used carelessly, the ideas behind them become harder to see.
Language watch exists to make them clear to see - one word at a time.
Send us a word or phrase you think deserves a closer look. We use reader suggestions to guide future Language Watch studies.