Welcome to this edition of Words For Thought, the blog on wordrefiner.com. Like some of the previous blogs, we are exploring typographical errors. Words that look almost the same, but have different spellings and meanings. To find more of these on Twitter search for the hashtag: #TyposHurtYourWriting.
I understand how important it is to have a manuscript free of spelling errors. With over 40 years of experience, I have found that typos give many writers problems. Less than perfect typing can create hidden mistakes. I find these typos and other spelling slip-ups in 95% of the published books we read.
There are many groups of words that vary by only one letter, such as came, dame, fame, and game. The correctly spelled word in the wrong context will not be flagged by most spell-checkers. The Hyper-Speller at Word Refiner is dedicated to exposing these hidden gaffes and delivering your document free of spelling blunders.

Now, onto today’s episode!

We have 12 different four-letter words that end with -all. That means you have 11 opportunities to create a hidden error that won’t be found by many spell checkers. Let’s look at this list of terrible typos.
​
Ball is a very busy word! Primarily a noun, it refers to a spheroid shaped object used in a game of skill or chance by people usually and is a necessary part of many popular sports including football, soccer, baseball, and basketball. Small metal balls are used as ammunition in black-powder muskets. Anything that is round in shape can be described as a ball, yarn for example. It is the name of a formal social event involving dancing.
Secondarily a verb, it is used to describe the action of molding or squeezing something into a spheroid shape. When angry, a person might squeeze a hand into a fist, balling their hand.                                          Call has so many uses! A bank can call a note when payment is late. A committee chairman can call a new meeting. To guess the outcome of a coin toss. A judge can demand a return to order in the court. A device to imitate the sound of an animal such as a duck call. In computing, it is a command to execute a subroutine. This is by no means an exhaustive list.
Dall is a wild white sheep primarily found in the wilds of Alaska and northern British Columbia.
Fall as a verb describes an uncontrolled descent. When a person loses balance, they can fall down. When a government loses the confidence of the governed it can fall or cease operation. Something that slopes or flows downward is said to fall.
It's also a time of year when the leaves of deciduous trees no longer function and reveal their true color due to the absence of chlorophyll.
Gall is a word that has slowly fallen out of favor. Its primary definition refers to someone or some organization that acts in an impudent, condescending, or disrespectful manner towards other people. It also denotes the bitter-tasting digestive fluid produced by the gall bladder. It is the name of a growth on some plants, especially oak trees, to contain and isolate a burrowing insect, larvae, or fungi.
Hall is a common architectural term identifying space within a building that other rooms open onto. It allows for transit between the rooms and other parts of the building. It also refers to a large enclosed area designed for lectures, theater, and musical events.
Lall is a word used in phonetics. It means to make imperfect l- or r- sounds, or both, often compensating by substituting a w- like sound for either or a y- sound for the l-. My son had problems pronouncing his l-. So, I created an alliteration to help him achieve the proper sound: “Little lambs like lollipops and licorice.” He speaks quite well as an adult. I had my own speech impediment in my formative years also.
Mall is a building or series of buildings full of shops, restaurants, and frequently entertainment venues. From small to very big, they can become small cities when they are open for business.
Pall is a word very rarely heard these days. It has declined dramatically in the last 150 years. It refers to a cloth or fabric that is spread over a coffin, hearse, or tomb. By emotion, it is used to mean something overarching like a cloud of dark smoke that brings a very somber tone to a situation.
Tall can be used to describe some people and others not so much. Tall is also how we describe a story that is wild beyond belief.
Wall has many nuances! It is a vertical part of a structure that can support part or divide the interior. It can be part of a natural feature that is imposing in size or grandeur, like the walls of the Grand Canyon. In anatomy, it is the membrane that separates organs or is the enclosure of an organ like the stomach. In soccer, it is a line of defenders placed to protect their goal from a penalty kick.
Yall is the unpunctuated version y’all which is the abbreviated version of you all. A common colloquialism from the southern United States of America. It has spread well beyond those borders in recent years.

There they are, 12 words with similar sounds and the same last three letters.  If you use the wrong word, the reader could feel like they tripped on an uneven sidewalk and might fall, as they read your book. They may feel like leaving your story because it is too hard to figure out what you are trying to say.  Do everything in your power to prevent that from happening, do not give your reader a reason to close your book. Use Word Refiner, beta readers, critique partners, proofreaders and editors to ensure that your work is error free and as smooth reading as possible.
 
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed this issue of Typos Hurt Your Writing on Words For Thought.  Follow me on twitter: @wordrefiner; for more Hazardous Homophones and Terrible Typos search for #HomophonesHurtYourWriting and #TyposHurtYourWriting on twitter.
Don’t forget the free sample of “proofreading your book” for writers under the “Learn More” tab on http://www.wordrefiner.com/.
I offer another service at a great value, see the “Review Your Book” tab.
​
Remember: Words Have Meaning and Spelling Makes a Difference. 
Copyright © 2017 Mark L Schultz ​ 
​

Welcome to this edition of Words For Thought, the blog on wordrefiner.com. Like some of the previous blogs, we are exploring typographical errors. Words that look almost the same, but have different spellings and meanings. To find more of these on Twitter search for the hashtag: #TyposHurtYourWriting.
I understand how important it is to have a manuscript free of spelling errors. With over 40 years of experience, I have found that typos give many writers problems. Less than perfect typing can create hidden errors. I find typos and other spelling errors in 95% of the published books.
There are many groups of words that vary by only one letter, such as came, dame, fame, and game. The correctly spelled word in the wrong context will not be flagged by most spell-checkers. The Hyper-Speller at Word Refiner is dedicated to exposing all of these hidden errors and delivering your document free of spelling blunders.

Now, onto today’s episode!

We are set with 10 different four letter words that start with Her. That means you have nine opportunities to create a hidden error that won’t be found by many spell checkers. Let’s take a look at this list of terrible typos.
Herb refers to plants with flowers, leaves or seeds used for cooking, folk remedies, perfume, and coloring other materials. In a strict botanical sense, it includes annual plants that are without a woody stem and bear seeds. It also used as a man’s name and was the name of the 31st president of the USA, Herbert Hoover. This word has been in use for hundreds of years.
Herd defines a group of animals that travel as a group for safety and foraging purposes. These can be wild animals or domesticated. Many times a large group of people that are participating in a similar activity such as jogging are jokingly referred to as a herd. This word has both noun and verb uses.
Herf is a word unknown to me previously and I suspect for many of you also, unless you are an aficionado of fine cigars. A lively gathering of people devoted to the appreciation and smoking of quality cigars is known as a herf. Like so many niche groups, they even have their own magazines such as “Cigar Aficionado”, “Cigar Advisor”, and “Cigar Snob” to name only three of what’s available.
Here is a common adverb and exclamatory statement used to draw attention to a spot right here and right now. Perhaps to sign a document, give an item or time. This is where I work or live. An acknowledgment of being in this location for roll call.
Herl is specific to a type of sport fishing, fly fishing to be precise. It is the barb or filament of a feather used to dress a fly.
Herm is not a new term, very archaic, it comes to us from ancient Greece. It refers to a stone pillar, square in shape, which is used as a boundary marker or sign post. Frequently it is topped with a bust of the Greek god Hermes. The god of commerce and trade.
Hero is the main character of a book, movie, or other production that the reader will sympathize with. A person that is idolized and approved for courageous acts and outstanding achievements. A person who overcomes insurmountable odds or dies trying. It is also a generic term for a submarine sandwich. Will the hero who eats your hero still be your hero?
Herp is a mashup of herpetology and reptile. It is used when talking about amphibians and reptiles. It is also slang for a common disease known as herpes.
Herr is a German word meaning sir. It is a title of respect and used to refer to a German man.
Hers indicates that an item or several things belong to a female person or animal.
There they are, ten words with similar sounds and the same first three letters.  If you use the wrong word, the reader could feel like they tripped on a root and might fall down, as they read your book. They may feel like leaving your story because it is too hard to figure out what you are trying to say.  Do everything in your power to prevent that from happening, do not give your reader a reason to close your book. Use Word Refiner, beta readers, critique partners, proofreaders and editors to ensure that your work is spelling error free and as smooth reading as possible.
 
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed this issue of Typos Hurt Your Writing on Words For Thought.  Follow me on twitter: @wordrefiner; for more Hazardous Homophones and Terrible Typos search for #HomophonesHurtYourWriting and #TyposHurtYourWriting on twitter.
Don’t forget the free offer for writers under the “Learn More” tab on http://www.wordrefiner.com/. I offer another service at a great value, see the “Review Your Book” tab.

Welcome to this edition of Words For Thought, the blog on wordrefiner.com. Like some of the previous blogs we are exploring typographical errors. Words that look almost the same, but have different spellings and meanings. To find more of these on Twitter search for the hashtag: #TyposHurtYourWriting.
I understand how important it is to have a manuscript free of spelling errors. With over 40 years of experience, I have found that typos give many writers problems. Less than perfect typing can create hidden errors. There are many groups of words that vary by only one letter, such as came, dame, fame and game. The correctly spelled word in the wrong context will not be flagged by most spell-checkers. The Hyper-Speller at Word Refiner is dedicated to exposing all of these hidden errors and delivering your document free of spelling blunders. I find these spelling errors in 95% of published books.

Now, onto today’s episode!

We have 10 words with the same 3 letters AGE. That is almost half the alphabet and presents many opportunities for an easy typing mistake to bury an invisible error in your book.
Age is a very common word, known and used by all. It is a marker of time, our time on this earth or a reminder of times in history. We all have an age, our personal timeline of existence. We study ages past and we live in the modern age. Age is both a noun and a verb, it is also the suffix for many words such as marriage, acreage, and demurrage. There are close to 100 words that use the suffix –age.
Cage primarily refers to a structure made of wire or bars to contain an animal or bird. It can also be used to refer to a prison or jail. There are batting cages that allow a person to practice swinging a bat without injuring others from an errant ball. Some sports use a cage-like object to record a point won such as soccer and hockey.
Gage has had a long life as an archaic word meaning something offered as a promise, deposit, or a good faith guarantee. That could be the end of it as far as modern times. Except it is also an alternate spelling of gauge and they are pronounced the same with a hard or long “A” sound. In this more recent context, it is all about measuring, dimensions, and quantifying desired sizes.
Hage while more commonly appearing in several foreign languages such as Danish, Japanese, and Norwegian. It is found in modern English as an acronym or texting abbreviation for Have A Good Evening.
Mage is an archaic literary term familiar to people who read and enjoy books in the fantasy genre. It is derived from the Latin term Magus and both mean magician or educated person. While not seeing much use in the 19th century and much of the 20th century, it has seen a rapid increase in usage in the last 40 or 50 years.
Nage is a cooking term for an aromatic soup used to cook shellfish. It has come from France and its popularity has increased dramatically in the last 20 or 25 years.
Page is a very common word with a variety of meanings. In modern terms, it means a single piece of paper among many bound together into a book or magazine. It can also mean to have a person sought out for a particular purpose. Does anyone remember the ubiquitous pagers from the eighties and nineties? The precursor of our cell phones. In verb form, it can mean to go through a book or magazine one page at a time.
Rage means intense feelings, uncontrollable anger as in road rage! As I write this the current rage (a widespread temporary fashion) sweeping the nation is fidget spinners and other toys that require small manipulations. These toys are supposed to aid concentration for people who have ADD or are on the lower end of the autistic spectrum. Many are familiar with rage as a type of party that involves dancing to loud music with strobe lights and frequent drug use.
Sage is an interesting word because it has two very distinct meanings. First, it is an aromatic herb that grows primarily in southern Europe and the Mediterranean region, used for cooking and seasoning food. But wait, there’s more! It is also the name of two North American bushes with silvery-green foliage, and it is short for sagebrush, a common plant growing in arid regions of the western part of the United States of America.
The very different definition refers to a philosopher, thinker, scholar; a person who understands and dispenses wisdom.
Wage has become an important word in the last 100 years or so. It refers to the payment made to someone for work performed, commonly on a per piece or time sensitive framework. We talk about an hourly wage that someone makes such as a carpenter or cashier. We have a minimum wage in Oregon which is $10.25 per hour.
As a verb, it means to carry on or execute a plan or campaign such as a political campaign or war.
 
There they are, ten words with similar sounds and the same last three letters.  If you use the wrong word, the reader could feel like they stumbled on a rock and might fall down, as they read your book. They may feel like leaving your story because it is too hard to figure out what you are saying.  Do everything in your power to prevent that from happening, do not give your reader a reason to close your book. Use Word Refiner, beta readers, critique partners, proofreaders and editors to ensure that your work is error free and as smooth as possible.
 
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed this issue of Typos Hurt Your Writing on Words For Thought.  Follow me on twitter: @wordrefiner; for more Hazardous Homonyms and Terrible Typos search for #HomonymsHurtYourWriting and #TyposHurtYourWriting on twitter.
Don’t forget the free offer for writers under the “Learn More” tab on http://www.wordrefiner.com/  
I offer another service at a great value, see the “Review Your Book” tab.

Remember: Words Have Meaning and Spelling Makes a Difference. 
Copyright © 2017 Mark L Schultz ​

Welcome to this edition of Words For Thought, the blog on wordrefiner.com. Like some of the previous blogs we are exploring typographical errors. Words that look almost the same, but have different spellings and meanings. To find more of these on Twitter search for the hashtag: #TyposHurtYourWriting.
I understand how important it is to have a manuscript free of spelling errors. With over 40 years of experience, I have found that typos give many writers problems. Less than perfect typing can create hidden errors. There are many groups of words that vary by only one letter, such as came, dame, fame and game. The correctly spelled word in the wrong context will not be flagged by most spell-checkers. The Hyper-Speller at Word Refiner is dedicated to exposing all of these hidden errors and providing your document free of spelling booboos that you want and deserve. I find these invisible spelling errors in 95% of published books.

Now, onto today’s episode!

We have 11 4-letter words built on the foundation of a very common word ARE. Sit back and relax as we see how these words stack up.
Bare is a word that has been part of the English vernacular for a long time. While it has many shades of meaning, the essence is being naked or stripped. We talk about the bare deciduous trees in winter, when they lose their leaves. The detective wants the bare facts about the case. It is really hard to write a synopsis of a story because it is so bare. In an election 51% is a bare majority. We use this word primarily as an adjective, but it serves as a verb also.  He proudly bared his chest to show his new tattoo. It also gets misused for the word bear because they are homonyms.
Care serves as a noun much of the time. We use it to describe the concepts of safekeeping, guarding and supervising. We care for a baby. It also has a negative side in terms of neglect and thoughtlessness. He bought a bus ticket for the first bus out of town because he didn’t care where he was going, only where he was from. This word easily transitions to a verb in our language. We consider that we may have concern for someone, or think something is very important to us. We might feel affection towards someone or desire to have a cup of tea. We can accept responsibility for something or someone.
CARE is also an acronym: Cooperative for American Relief Everywhere. Remember CARE packages? CARE is a private organization dedicated to providing emergency and long-term assistance to people in need all over the world.
Dare has been declining in use for many years, unless you are a pre-teen. Think about Ralphie in the popular seasonal movie from 1983 “A Christmas Story”. It is about courage, accepting a challenge, and sometimes foolish choices.
Fare has been in use for a long time. One of the earliest definitions involved a knight traveling: “The knight fared forth in spring.” Travel still constitutes one of the primary definitions, now it is the money paid to travel on public transit. Another archaic meaning revolved around consuming food, “Tavern fare in most villages is simple and somewhat meager.” We still use the word to speak about types of regional foods. As a verb it is more about performance, results and consequences.
Hare is often mistaken for a large rabbit. It has long ears, and very long hind legs. Consequently, it is very fast and lives in open grassy areas and on the edge of wooded areas. The Brits use it as a verb sometimes, “The backfire scared the cat and it hared off for the backyard!” Those who frequent dog races know the hare is an electric device that looks like a rabbit for the dogs to chase around the track.
Mare we have three separate and distinct definitions. Anyone who has spent much time around horses know this refers to an adult female horse or other female member of the equine family.
The Brits use this word to refer to a terrible or unpleasant situation, such as getting stuck in an elevator.
Now we go off-world! Astronomers use this term to refer to a large area of basalt rock on the surface of the moon. It appears dark in contrast to the lighter areas. In this context they are using Latin, it means sea. The dark areas look like a sea from the earth.
Pare is a word of singular mind and usage. It means to trim something, take off the outer edges or covering, make something smaller in size or quantity. I have also seen it mistaken for the words pair and pear as a homonym error.
Rare serves us as an adjective. It describes things that are uncommon or limited in some way. We use it to describe cooking a steak only a little bit, so there is pink or even red inside the cut of meat.
Tare is a word of biblical proportions. (Well kind of.) This word is used in the Holy Bible, Matthew 13, King James Version. The parable of the Wheat and Tares. Where the tares are a weed that displace the wheat in the growing season and provide no benefit at harvest time. In current times, this is a ground cover, known as vetch, used by farmers to provide forage for animals or enrich the soil by plowing back into the ground. It also means the net or tare weight of a product, not including the packaging. It can also create a homonym or typographical error for the word tear.
Ware is a wide ranging word, it has been in use for hundreds of years, it has archaic and modern definitions. First Google says it refers to a particular style of pottery or manufactured items. Sellers will show their merchandise or wares for sale. We also set our tables with silverware and dinnerware. One of the archaic definitions has to do with knowing and knowledge, to be aware of something whether important or trivial. The other definition has to do with danger or a perilous situation, to beware or take great care. This word is also a homonym for wear, where, or weir.
Yare is an archaic word without a modern analogue or common definition. Unless you enjoy sailing small boats! This is a small boat easy to steer, unlike something large like the Titanic or an iceberg.
 
There they are, eleven words with similar sounds and the same last three letters.  If you use the wrong word, the reader could feel like they stumbled on a rock and might fall down, as they read your book. They may feel like leaving your story, because it is too hard to figure out what you are saying.  Do everything in your power to prevent that from happening, do not give your reader a reason to close your book. Use Word Refiner, beta readers, critique partners, proofreaders and editors to ensure that your work is error free and as smooth as possible.
 
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed this issue of Typos Hurt Your Writing on Words For Thought.  Follow me on twitter: @wordrefiner; for more Hazardous Homophones and Terrible Typos search for #HomophonesHurtYourWriting and #TyposHurtYourWriting on twitter.
Don’t forget the free offer for writers under the “Learn More” tab on our website. I offer another service at a great value, see the “Review Your Book” tab.
​
Remember: Words Have Meaning and Spelling makes a difference 
​Copyright © 2016 Mark L Schultz ​

Welcome to this edition of Words For Thought, the blog on wordrefiner.com. Like some of the previous blogs we are exploring typographical errors. Words that look almost the same, but have different spellings and meanings. To find more of these on Twitter search for the hashtag: #TyposHurtYourWriting.
I understand how important it is to have a manuscript free of spelling errors. With over 40 years of experience, I have found that typos give many writers problems. Less than perfect typing can create hidden errors. There are many groups of words that vary by only one letter, such as came, dame, fame and game. The correctly spelled word in the wrong context will not be flagged by most spell-checkers. The Hyper-Speller at Word Refiner is dedicated to exposing all of these hidden errors and providing your document free of spelling boo-boos that you want and deserve. I find these invisible spelling errors in 95% of published books.

Now, onto today’s episode!
​
We have a baker’s dozen of common words, 13 four-letter words that end in –ear. This logophile’s delight will provide some tasty treats for us. Make yourself comfortable.
Bear is a very busy and complex word. Used primarily as a verb, it has many shades of meaning: carry, support, endure, birth, and proceed in a certain direction. Secondarily, it functions as a noun: it can refer to a large carnivorous mammal, or a teddy bear; which is similar and quite different from the animal! It is a nickname for Russia, a phase of the stock market, and astronomers are familiar with the big bear and the little bear.
Dear is not another animal. But this word really works hard, wearing many different hats. First, as a noun it refers to someone who is beloved, it can also be used as an affectionate or comfortable reference to a friend. It is busy as an adjective: we have dear friends, it is part of a polite greeting or introduction, the formal start of a letter, something that exudes sweetness or is captivating can be called dear, like a dear kitten! It can also refer to something that is very expensive. It can also serve as an adverb or part of an exclamation: “Oh dear, I spilled my coffee!”
Fear, as a noun, is an unpleasant emotion. It can serve as a warning that something is wrong or dangerous. In extreme situations it can cause the amygdala to release hormones that cascade over certain parts of the brain, short-circuiting higher mental functions and preparing the body for fight or flight. It can refer to anxiety, a lower level of the same emotion. It is not all bad, holy awe is a mixture of love and fear of God. Fear also serves as a verb: to be afraid of something dangerous or painful, feel anxiety or apprehension, avoid doing something, apologize for something or express regret.
Gear is a toothed wheel that changes mechanical power when it operates. Got that technical definition out of the way. As a noun it can also refer to equipment or clothing designed for a specific purpose. Sailors recognize the word refers to the rigging of a ship.
Hear is a verb. It means to perceive with the ear a sound of some nature. There are many variations on that basic definition, you can be told or informed of something, you must pay attention, the committee will hear your complaint, a judge and jury will hear your case.
Lear is the central figure in a play by William Shakespeare, “King Lear”. Though a figure of legend in Great Britain, he might be real because he was mentioned by an ancient historian Geoffrey of Monmouth.
Near is one of those words that work behind the scenes. It serves as an adverb, adjective, preposition, and a verb. We use it to describe relationships of time and distance, something close to perfection or similar to something else.
Pear is quite the opposite of the previous word. This word has the narrowest of definitions. It refers to a specific type of tree that bears fruit of the same name. There is a lot of variety of pears, I love to eat a juicy, ripe pear.
Rear is another of those dual function words. It works as a noun and a verb, therefore context can be critical for understanding at times. We talk about the back part of something with this word, the back of a building or a line. We can also refer to the south end of a north bound dog. As a verb there are two main definitions, we rear or raise children, farmers grow crops and animals. Secondarily, it means to raise upright such as a ladder or a horse on hind legs.
Sear is a pretty simple word. It means to burn or scorch with a sudden or intense heat. A cook might sear some food to lock in moisture. A fire will prevent plant growth for a period of time. Pain can be described as burning or searing. Emotions can become less sensitive to trauma because of repeated exposure.
Tear is another word with dual definitions and usage within each as a noun and verb. First it means to use force to dismantle something or make a hole. The noun form is that hole. We have imbued the word with slightly different connotations also, people talk about the person who wins almost every contest as being on a tear. The second meaning is very limited but none the less important. When we are full of emotion or pain our eyes might secrete a salty fluid: the tears will flow when we cry; or for the macho guys, when your eyes get sweaty.
Wear mostly serves us as a verb, an action word. First and foremost, we put things on our body for decoration and protection. We might wear a smile on our face all the time to hide emotions. In the maritime industry, a ship will wear or fly a flag. Second, we have the concept of erosion or degrading over time. A timing belt should be replaced before it wears out and breaks. Not always a negative thing, thirdly, we can talk about how well the paint is wearing on the house. Of course, the noun forms refer to the things we put on or the damage of the thing.
Year is the length of time required for a planet to complete one revolution around a sun. Our solar year is comprised of just over 365 days. For business purposes, much of the world uses a 12 month calendar as a year, but other calendars do exist. A group of students in a multi-year program, who started at the same time, can be described as being first year, second year or more.
 
There they are, thirteen words with similar sounds and the same last three letters.  If you use the wrong word, the reader could feel like they tripped on a root and might fall down, as they read your book. They may feel like leaving your story, because it is too hard to figure out what you are saying.  Do everything in your power to prevent that from happening, do not give your reader a reason to close your book. Use Word Refiner, beta readers, critique partners, proofreaders and editors to ensure that your work is error free and as smooth as possible.
 
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed this issue of Typos Hurt Your Writing on Words For Thought.  Follow me on twitter: @wordrefiner; for more Hazardous Homophones and Terrible Typos search for #HomophonesHurtYourWriting and #TyposHurtYourWriting on twitter.
Don’t forget the free offer for writers under the “Learn More” tab on our website. I offer another service at a great value, see the “Review Your Book” tab.

Remember: Words Have Meaning and Spelling Makes a Difference.​​ 
​​Copyright © 2016 Mark L Schultz  

​Welcome to this edition of Words For Thought, the blog on wordrefiner.com. Like some of the previous blogs we are exploring typographical errors. Words that look almost the same, but have different spellings and meanings. To find more on Twitter use the hashtag: #TyposHurtYourWriting.
I understand how important it is to have a manuscript free of spelling errors. With over 40 years of experience, I have found that typos give many writers problems. Less than perfect typing can create hidden errors. There are many groups of words that vary by only one letter, such as came, dame, fame and game. The correctly spelled word in the wrong context will not be flagged by most spell-checkers. The Hyper-Speller at Word Refiner is dedicated to exposing all of these hidden errors and providing your document free of spelling errors that you want and deserve. I find these invisible spelling errors in 95% of published books.

Now, onto today’s episode!

Something nice has been cooked up for us today! We have a dozen four-letter words that end in the same three letters –ain. Are we ready for a tasty treat fellow word-nerds? Grab your favorite hot beverage and settle in.
Cain is word that refers to a murder, particularly someone who has committed fratricide, killing a brother or sister. Cain was the name of Adam and Eve’s first son, he was a farmer and killed his brother in a religious rage. You can find the entire story in the Bible, book of Genesis, chapter 4.
Fain is an archaic word, reaching us from Old English and German. It means that you are happy or well pleased considering the circumstances of the moment. It is a pretty word, with an interesting shade of polite reluctance; and I am sorry it is not in common use.
Gain has been in use for a long time, since the 15th century. It comes to us from Germanic and Old French and used to refer to pirates’ treasure or booty. Now, booty is a word that has really changed! Gain has verb and noun forms and primarily means an increase in wealth, riches or some other factor such as weight; which has a negative connotation for a lot of people.
Kain. I am almost embarrassed to include this word in the list, but my desire to be thorough overrides that feeling. Am I OCD? Not enough to be very dangerous. This word is a variant spelling of Cain. See above, and after all, we are all about spelling at wordrefiner. Thank you for your indulgence.
Lain is the past participle of Lie. If we are told something has lain for a period of time, we know it has not moved or has been in a horizontal position during this period of time.
Main, you know, the primary person, the one with chief importance. Something of paramount size. There are a lot of adjectives that can be used in place of Main. It can also be a noun such as a gas, water or electrical main. Have you heard of the Spanish Main? Historical literature uses the term to refer to open ocean. It can also refer to a sail on a sailing vessel.
Pain ouch! There are two versions of the noun form. First is the effect of an injury or illness that causes physical discomfort or suffering. One of the first words mom teaches a little one is hot, she wants her baby to avoid suffering pain. The second noun form is quite unrelated to the first, it means that great care is taken or great efforts made to achieve a specific result. I take great pains to be sure there are no spelling errors in my blog. How would that look? The hyper-speller is human!?
Rain. Sometimes we can’t get enough of the wet stuff, sometimes we get too much. This word is not just about water falling from the sky, it carries a concept of many things coming down from above. Hot ash can rain down after a volcanic explosion. It can also get personal, such as the boxer rains blows down on his stupefied opponent.
Sain, one of those obscure scrabble words. It is an archaic term that means to make the sign of the cross as a blessing or protection.
Tain, another word only a scrabble nerd would love. I have not played scrabble in years. My friends and family won’t play with me. This word can mean a thin plate, and can refer to the silverfoil used to make a mirror a long time ago.
Vain has been with us for long time, reaching us from Latin and continuing through Old French. It means someone who thinks far more highly of themselves than other people do, such as having an inflated ego. It can also refer to a useless attempt, something with no chance of success. Like asking a two year old to put the toys away.
Wain, another one of those archaic words. It was a word for wagon. Who would have thought?
 
There they are, twelve words with similar sounds and the same last three letters.  If you use the wrong word the reader might feel like they have a flat tire and the drive just got real bumpy as they cruise through your book. They may feel like leaving your story, because it is too hard to figure out what you are saying.  Do everything in your power to prevent that from happening, do not give your reader a reason to close your book. Use Word Refiner, beta readers, critique partners, proofreaders and editors to ensure that your work is error free and as smooth as possible.
 
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed this issue of Typos Hurt Your Writing on Words For Thought.  Follow me on twitter: @wordrefiner; for more Hazardous Homophones and Terrible Typos search for #HomophonesHurtYourWriting and #TyposHurtYourWriting on twitter.
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Remember: Words Have Meaning and Spelling Makes a Difference. 
​Copyright © 2016 Mark L Schultz ​