first-word pseudo-element

Would there be any benefit in adding a :first-word pseudo element to format
the first word of a paragraph, to the CSS3 spec?

I would find this useful. 

Is there a way to do this via a style sheet, without tagging the first word
in html.

thanks

Andy Robertson
Technical Author for F&HE, CAPITA Education Services
12 Bedford Street, Exeter, EX1 1LG.  Tel (01392) 495533