This week’s tip is one I ran across this week during my reading. I hope it helps clear some things up for you.
Main means the most important, chief or principal*. It can also be the largest pipe in a network of connecting pipes.
Mane usually refers to the long, thick hair around the neck of some mammals.
* Next week’s tip will be the difference between principal and principle.
Did you know that most of my Tuesday Tips come straight from my own experience? I keep a list of common mistakes I find when editing or proofreading and those mistakes become tips for each of you. So, without further ado…
Faint can mean to lose consciousness or to lack in strength, clarity or brightness. It is both a noun and a verb.
Feint is a noun referring to a deceptive action or attack.
Here is a mistake I come across frequently.
A vice is a behavior or habit that can be considered immoral or negative.
A vise is a tool used to secure an object to allow work to be performed on it. *
*Vise is the American English way of spelling this word with this particular definition. The British English spelling would be vice. What do you make of that?
This weekend I was reminded how often later and latter are misused. So, this week’s tip is to help you know when each is appropriate.
Use later when referencing time. Later means after, or after some time.
Example: We will read about it later.
Use latter when referring to the second of two persons or things mentioned previously (or the last one or ones of several).
Example: Jane and Cindy are both authors but I’ve only read books by the latter.
This Tuesday Tip is from my personal experience this week. I thought I knew the difference between wail and whale, and I did. Kind of.
Most know that a whale is an animal that lives in the ocean. Most commonly the verb wail means to cry or complain loudly.
But did you also know that an informal meaning of whale is “to beat”?
Now, even though a vocalist in a band may wail a song, the drummer whales on the drums; and lead guitarists when they thrash their instruments wildly, whale on them.
I learned something new this week and I hope you did too.
This post comes straight from my own personal reading experiences. These words may be pronounced the same, but they certainly have different meanings.
The waist is the narrowing of the body between the hips and the ribs.
Waste could mean: 1) to use or expend (something) needlessly, 2) to lose energy, strength, or vitality (usually with away), 3) an act or instance of wasting, and 4) an uncultivated, uninhabited, or devastated area.
Categories