Language Spotlight

Language SpotlightChoosing the right spellingfor the right wordSound-alikesThat may be the term your elementary teacher used when your class first discussed sound-alike words such as to, too, two.Unfortunately, these words still seem to cause a lot of grief for college-age writers.Its OK to use 2 for any of these in sending a text to a friend; as a media writer, though, you must demonstrate your command of these.

HomophonesThats the technical grammar term for words that sound alike, but theyre spelled differently.Thats the case with to, too, two.Its also the case with words used often in writing about state agencies: capital, capitolThink o for office building; the other is the city also used for upper-case letters.Another common homophoneStationery vs. stationaryJust think of the er as referring to paperShe used personalized stationery to write her cover letter.The other denotes a fixed object, such as a stationary bike.Many others are easierYou probably wont have trouble deciding which to use when it comes to flower and flour.Be aware, though, that fast writing can often cause your mind to glaze over and make such errors.Proofread, proofread, proofread.

Sound-similarsWords that sound similar also cause problems.When youre in a beginning math class, you learned addition.When you order a textbook, you want to make sure to get the right edition.Be careful with these!Spellcheck yourselfBut never count on spellcheck software!For fun, check out Ode to a Spell CheckerGrammar-checking software often goes awry, too.But still check out what theyre marking!Whats wrong here?

The colorcomplimentedher unusual skin tone.

Who should I compliment?

The color complemented her unusual skin tone.Complement means to enhance by association.Compliment has the same root, but it refers to courtesy.Whats wrong here?

The motorist wassitedfor reckless driving.

Who has insight here?

The motorist wascitedfor reckless driving.

A police officer certainlysightedthe reckless driving, butsiteis a synonym for location. After the sighting, the officer issued a citation, and the driver was thereforecited.HomonymsSimilar to homophones, homonyms are words that, although spelled the same, have multiple meanings.The price is fair.Lets go to the fair.I checked the fruits weight on a scale.I want to try to scale the climbing wall.

HomographsThese may have the same spelling, but their different pronunciations have different meanings.I hope I can catch a big bass this weekend on the lake.On Sunday, Ill be singing bass in the church choir.The clock tower is close to the building.Close the door if youre the last one out.Common confusionThe teacher said its going to be a great semester.The company delayed its next move until fall.Simple: Use the apostrophe and make it a contraction if you can substitute it is If theres any way it denotes possession, then no apostrophe is needed for its. LEARN THIS!

Common confusionYoure going to have a great time fishing there.Dont forget your bait before you head to the lake.Again, if you can substitute you are, then go with the apostrophe and make it a contraction.Once more, the alternative denotes possession.Common confusionThe same goes for differentiating between the use of:theirtheretheyre

except you have one other word to consider.Also commonly confusedsun, sonsea, seenow, know, noaccept, exceptaffect, effectleased, leastwhether, weathercouncil, counsel Whats wrong here?The principle issue at stake is whether its ever acceptable to lie.The difference is subtleThe principal issue at stake is whether its ever acceptable to lie.

Heres how to differentiateThe word principle derives from the Latin word for beginning. In other words, a principle is an establishing or defining concept.But the issue in question on this example is the primary one. In that case, as an adjective, principal is the correct word.And, of course, I hope you learned in grade school that the principal is your pal.Whats wrong here?

Carefully turning the pages, she poured over the document.Did you pore over the sentence?This is a common error. To pore means to intently gaze, read or study. (If it helps, think of it as wide-eyed attention, perhaps akin to the noun pore, which means passage or opening as in the pores of your skin.The verb pour refers to what you do with a gallon of milk or a pitcher of tea. (Note thats pitcher, not picture.)Whats wrong here?

The doctor assured her patient that she would be discrete about the matter.Use discretion with this pairThe doctor assured her patient that she would be discreet about the matter.

Discrete and discreet both mean separate or distinct, but they have divergent connotations. Discreet refers to something secretive. But discrete infers a categorical separation. Think math. There are a lot more like thishttp://www.diffen.com/difference/Homonym_vs_Homophone

http://www.ragan.com/Main/Articles/46091.aspx#

http://www.stickycommunication.ca/2011/09/words-that-can-make-you-look-stupid/

http://www.spellingcity.com/homophones-and-homonyms.html

AP Stylebook to the rescueMost of the more common sound-alikes and confused pairs are referred to in the AP Stylebook, including:accept, exceptAcceptmeans to receive.Exceptmeans to exclude.adverse, averseAdversemeans unfavorable:He predicted adverse weather. Aversemeans reluctant, opposed:She is averse to change.

More AP Stylebook helpaffect, effectAffect, as a verb, means to influence:The game will affect the standings.Affect, as a noun, is best avoided. It occasionally is used in psychology to describe an emotion, but there is no need for it in everyday language.Effect, as a verb, means to cause:He will effect many changes in the company.Effect, as a noun, means result:The effect was overwhelming.He miscalculated the effect of his actions.It was a law of little effect.

27More AP Stylebook helpaid, aideAidis assistance. Anaideis a person who serves as an assistant.allusion, illusionAllusionmeans an indirect reference:The allusion was to his opponents war record. Illusionmeans an unreal or false impression:The scenic director created the illusion of choppy seas.

More AP Stylebook helpaltar, alterAnaltaris a table-like platform used in a church service. To alteris to change.bizarreUnusual. A fair is abazaar.bloc, blockAblocis a coalition of people, groups or nations with the same purpose or goal. Blockhas more than a dozen definitions, but a political alliance is not one of them.

More AP Stylebook helpblond, blondeUseblondas a noun for males and as an adjective for all applications: She hasblondhair. Useblondeas a noun for females.brunet, brunetteUsebrunetas a noun for males, and as the adjective for both sexes. Usebrunetteas a noun for females.

More AP Stylebook helpcannon, canonAcannonis a weapon. Acanonis a law or rule, particularly of a church.drop out(v.)dropout(n.)dyeing, dyingDyeingrefers to changing colors. Dyingrefers to death.sit down(v.)sit-down(n. and adj.)sit in(v.)sit-in(n. and adj.)

More AP Stylebook helptake off(v.)takeoff(n. and adj.)take out(v.)takeout(n. and adj.)take over(v.)takeover(n. and adj.)their, there, theyreTheiris a possessive pronoun:They went to their house. Thereis an adverb indicating direction:We went there for dinner. Therealso is used with the force of a pronoun for impersonal constructions in which the real subject follows the verb:There is no food on the table. Theyreis a contraction forthey are.

More AP Stylebook helptroop, troops, troupeAtroopis a group of people or animals.Troopsmeans several such groups, particularly groups of soldiers. Usetroupeonly for ensembles of actors, dancers, singers, etc.try out(v.)tryout(n.)tune up(v.)tuneup(n. and adj.) . And many, many more. -30-