2-minute read
When a word ends in a vowel plus “-y,” it’s usually easy to modify it by adding a letter (or letters): adding “-ous,” for example, means “joy” becomes “joyous.” However, when a word ends in a consonant plus “y” things get more complicated, which can make spelling challenging. To ensure...
...in full as two words: Didn’t = Did not Shouldn’t = Should not Isn’t = Is not Some people thus assume the full version of “can’t” is “can not” (two words). But this is a mistake! As noted above, the correct spelling is “cannot” (one word): He cannot be serious!...
...use “cede” by itself to mean “give up” or “yield to.” The three common words that end with “-ceed” are “exceed,” “proceed,” and “succeed.” The only word in English that ends in “-sede” is “supersede.” If you’d like someone to check the spelling in your writing, get in touch today....
...I’ve got no sense of rythm at all. ✘ I’ve got no sense of rhythm at all. ✔︎ This mistake occurs because the first “h” is silent, so it is easy to miss. The correct spelling, though, is always “rhythm.” Note, too, that this word is made up entirely of...
...spellings for words borrowed from Latin, it does suggest using ligatures for Old English and Old French. Thus, if you were following the CMoS guidelines and writing about King Alfred, you would write Ælfred instead. This is to keep the modern version closer to the original spelling. On the stylistic...
...as a “drawers table” or a “bureau.” However, “chester drawers” is always an error and should be corrected. To avoid potentially embarrassing typos like this, though, you can always hire one of our professional proofreaders, who will check your documents to make sure your grammar, spelling, and punctuation is perfect....
Aid and aide are both words that we use when we write about help. But they are used slightly differently. This post will help you understand when to use aid and when to use aide. Aid Aid can be used as a noun (a naming word) and as a verb...
English can be a tricky language to learn, and that’s why we write these blog posts! Spellings can differ between countries that use English as their main language: the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia are among those that have their own quirky little ways. Read on for help...
3-minute read
...spelling errors and tips on how to avoid them. Five Common Spelling Errors Missing silent letters Many common spelling mistakes come from words not being spelled how they’re pronounced. Silent letters (letters that aren’t pronounced) can take credit for many spelling errors. Here are some frequently misspelled words with silent...
...openly shows resistance or disobedience (e.g., “defying” expectations or rules). Spelling Tips for “Definitely” So, how can you avoid this common spelling pitfall? One way is to look at the middle part of the word. For example, you could remember that “definitely” contains the word “finite,” or that it has...
...version aloud, it may sound okay. An automatic spellchecker may not detect the highlighted word, however, because it’s a real word. The issue is still spelling, though, because you’d be using the wrong spelling of the word you need for the sentence to make sense. Right Order, Right Spelling, but...
6-minute read
...many words have more than one spelling depending on how they’re used. And this makes it easy to make mistakes! So to make sure your writing is always error free, check out this list of nine words with more than one spelling in British English. 1. Practice vs. Practise In...