EASILY CONFUSED WORDS: ACCEPT VS. EXCEPT

Accept and except are easily confused words. The spell-check application of most word processing software programs would not catch a slip-up of these two words. Spell-check is looking for words that aren’t in its dictionary, and words that resemble words in its dictionary, but are possibly spelled wrong. Spell-check isn’t perfect. It doesn’t know and […]

EASILY CONFUSED WORDS: DON VS. DAWN

Don and dawn are easily confused words. The spell-check application of most word processing software programs would not catch a slip-up of these two words. Spell-check is looking for words that aren’t in its dictionary, and words that resemble words in its dictionary, but are possibly spelled wrong. Spell-check isn’t perfect. It doesn’t know and […]

Easily Confused Words: Flare vs. Flair

Flare and flair are easily confused words. The spell-check application of most word processing software programs would not catch a slip-up of these two words. Spell-check is looking for words that aren’t in its dictionary, and words that resemble words in its dictionary, but are possibly spelled wrong. Spell-check isn’t perfect. It doesn’t know and […]

EASILY CONFUSED WORDS: CONSCIOUS VS. CONSCIENCE

Conscious and conscience are easily confused words. People often use conscious when they mean conscience. The spell-check application of most word processing software programs would not catch a slip-up of these two words. Spell-check is looking for words that aren’t in its dictionary, and words that resemble words in its dictionary, but are possibly spelled […]

Easily CONFUSED WORDS: ROLL VS. ROLE

Roll and role are easily confused words. They are also homophones, meaning words that sound the same, but are spelled differently and mean different things. Homophones are a type of homonym. Click the link for more information on that. The spell-check application of most word processing software programs would not catch a slip-up of these […]

DATES WITH NUMBER ERRORS

Frequently I will see people write numbers and letters combinations like this: 2st, 1th, and similar errors. A lot of numbers end with -th so it’s easy to think they all do. But they don’t. If it’s “first,” then the numbers & letters combination is written as 1st. If it’s “second,”then the numbers & letters […]

The Bird is the Word: Species Names That ALSO Mean Other Things

In honor of naturalist John James Audubon’s birthday today. Here is a list of bird species names that also have other meanings. Grouse: A grouse is a ground dwelling bird. Grouse as a verb means to complain or gripe about one’s problems. Snipe: A snipe is a bird with a long straight bill, round body, […]

EASILY CONFUSED WORDS: STRAIT VS. STRIATE

The spell-check application of most word processing software programs would not catch a slip-up of these two words. Spell-check is looking for words that aren’t in its dictionary, and words that resemble words in its dictionary, but are possibly spelled wrong. Spell-check isn’t perfect. It doesn’t know and can’t guess what word you wanted, or […]

Easily Confused Words: Citron vs. Citrine

Citron and citrine are easily confused words. The spell-check application of most word processing software programs would not catch a slip-up of these two words. Spell-check is looking for words that aren’t in its dictionary, and words that resemble words in its dictionary, but are possibly spelled wrong. Spell-check isn’t perfect. It doesn’t know and […]

Easily Confused Words: Help vs. Held

Help and held are easily confused words. The spell-check application of most word processing software programs would not catch a slip-up of these two words. Spell-check is looking for words that aren’t in its dictionary, and words that resemble words in its dictionary, but are possibly spelled wrong. Spell-check isn’t perfect. It doesn’t know and […]