kathleenwcurry

[kathleenwcurry]

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 can’t guess what word you wanted, or what…

[kathleenwcurry]

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 can’t guess what word you wanted, or what word you…

[kathleenwcurry]

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 can’t guess what word you wanted, or what word…

[kathleenwcurry]

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 wrong. Spell-check isn’t perfect. It…

[kathleenwcurry]

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 two words. Spell-check is looking for words that aren’t…

[kathleenwcurry]

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 combination is written as 2nd. If it’s third, then the numbers & letters combination…

[kathleenwcurry]

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

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, and long legs. It inhabits marshlands or coastlines. At beaches it eats insects, snails, tiny…

[kathleenwcurry]

EASILY CONFUSED WORDS: STRAIT VS. STRIATE

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 what word you meant, it can only judge the words on…

[kathleenwcurry]

Easily Confused Words: Citron vs. Citrine

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 can’t guess what word you wanted, or what…

[kathleenwcurry]

Easily Confused Words: Help vs. Held

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 can’t guess what word you wanted, or what word…

[kathleenwcurry]

Easily Confused Words: Gazpacho vs. Gestapo

Easily Confused Words: Gazpacho vs. Gestapo

Gazpacho and gestapo proved to be easily confused words for a member of Congress. How could I resist? 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…

[kathleenwcurry]

Easily Confused Words: Any More vs. Anymore

Easily Confused Words: Any More vs. Anymore

Any more and anymore are easily confused terms: one is a phrase, the other is one whole word. Any more (pronounced ”enn-ee” (pause) “mohr”) Any can be an adjective, adverb used with other words, or apronoun by itself. More is can also be an adjective or adverb when used with other words, and a noun when used alone. As a combined phrase, “any more” indicates supplies of a tangible item are…

[kathleenwcurry]

Easily Confused Words: Langour vs. Langur

Easily Confused Words: Langour vs. Langur

Langour and langur 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 can’t guess what word you wanted, or what…

[kathleenwcurry]

Easily Misread Words: Reading vs. Reading

Easily Misread Words: Reading vs. Reading

Reading and reading are easily misread words. The issue is not spelling, but how the words are understood by a reader as they scan printed text, or as the words are read aloud. Reading (pronounced ”REED-ihng;” rhymes with bleeding, feeding, seeding) has multiple meanings. As a verb: It can mean the activity of scanning lines of text with one’s eyes or fingertips (as in Braille) and…

[kathleenwcurry]

Easily Confused Words: Braiding vs. Berating

Easily Confused Words: Braiding vs. Berating

Braiding and berating 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 can’t guess what word you wanted, or what…

[kathleenwcurry]

EASILY CONFUSED WORDS: Anyway vs. Any Way

EASILY CONFUSED WORDS: Anyway vs. Any Way

Anyway and any way are easily confused terms. 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 what…

[kathleenwcurry]

EASILY CONFUSED WORDS: YEA vs. YAY

EASILY CONFUSED WORDS: YEA vs. YAY

Yea and yay are easily confused words. They are homophones, they sound the same but are spelled differently and have different uses. 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…