In many places around the world, people have been feeling economic stress, and unfortunately most of them are part of the group of low- to middle-income wage earners that don’t have a great deal of independent resources to draw on. When taxes are raised, it’s often these people who see the most impact, and when public services are cut, they’re also the ones who tend to suffer the most. Due to this widespread phenomenon, the Oxford Dictionaries editors in both the US and the UK have agreed that the global Word of the Year should be the term that was invented to describe this group of people: squeezed middle. Note: In a dictionary, a two-word phrase like this is treated as a compound word and considered one entry. While it’s not being added to the Oxford English Dictionary immediately, the editors will keep it on the list of possible official English vocabulary and eventually – if the term continues to be used, or has a significant impact over a period of time – it may become part of the official lexicon.

If you’re feeling like you’re definitely part of the squeezed middle, one of the best things that you can do is focus on improving your grammar, spelling, and vocabulary. Most jobs these days have at least one component that requires an employee to be a literate and capable communicator, and the more you hone your skills with the English language, the more you’ll increase your chances of getting a good job and moving up to higher-paying positions. Make it your New Year’s resolution to spend at least 30 minutes each day in an activity that promotes vocabulary improvement: read as much as you can from a variety of sources; keep an eye out for and practice new vocabulary words you come across; play word-based games and puzzles; and make a point of using your newly-learned words in conversations or professional presentations. Squeeze as much vocabulary practice as you can into your day, and you’ll enjoy the benefits for years to come.

Did you not get all of the holiday gifts you wanted? Treat yourself to the Ultimate Vocabulary software system and open up a present that you’ll enjoy for all of 2012!