JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<div>
	<p>Word1a <span onclick="getThis()">Word1b</span> Word1c</p>
	<p>Word2a <span onclick="getThis()">Word2b</span> Word2c</p>
	<p>Word3a <span onclick="getThis()">Word3b</span> Word3c</p>
</div>

<script>
function getThis(){
    var tagname=event.target;
    
		range=document.createRange();
		range.selectNode(tagname);
		selection=document.getSelection();
		selection.removeAllRanges();
		selection.addRange(range);
}
</script>