If you enjoy word games in your spare time (self-employed writing evaluators do have spare time, don’t they?), visit Etymologic.com, where you’ll find “the toughest word game on the web.” Don’t visit the site if you’re working with a deadline, though, because it’s a wee bit addictive!

The creators of the game are not exaggerating when they say it’s tough. The first time I played, I approached it as casually as I would approach the vocabulary quiz in the Reader’s Digest. I haven’t missed a word in the RD quiz in decades, but I quickly discovered that Etymologic was in a completely different league. I missed five of the ten questions before I realized this and started to concentrate. I salvaged my dignity by missing only one out of ten on the second try, but it took a bit of thought.

Word games are an excellent way to sharpen your vocabulary skills– just beware of letting them infringe on your writing, editing, evaluation, and marketing time. Enjoy!