Practical Sales Training™ > Wordplay > Tmesis
What is it?
Tmesis is when you split a word and insert another word inside it to add emphasis or surprise.
It turns a normal word into a small attention-grabber.
Example: un–seriously–believable, to–profit–gether.
How does it work?
Tmesis interrupts the reader’s pattern.
We expect whole words, so when a word is split, the brain pauses to make sense of it.
That tiny pause creates impact, makes the message more memorable and highlights the exact part you want people to notice.
How can you use it?
Use tmesis anywhere you want a clean hit of attention in your sales messaging:
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Headlines: “Make your pitch un–forgettably–clear.”
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Social posts: A single tmesis word in a carousel or hook.
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Emails: Subject lines like “Your message is un–needlessly–confusing.”
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Slides: Visual emphasis by colouring the inserted word differently.
Keep it simple, keep it readable and use it once per message for maximum effect.
