Blog: Words For Thought |
Blog: Words For Thought |
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 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! These words all have the common root of INK. This word refers to a colored fluid that is permanent and used for art or commercial instruments such as contracts. We sign a contract with ink not pencil, so it cannot be changed. Her pen and ink drawing of the Eiffel Tower is very popular. These other words have very little to do with ink other than the letters. Fink is a person that most people do not like. A person that reveals the identity of wrongdoers to authorities, a snitch or tattletale. It can also mean that a person lacked courage to do the right thing. It is an informal word, not quite slang. It translates from German as a small bird, a finch. It has been around for hundreds of years and has seen steady growth in usage since the early 1800’s. Gink is another informal word. It means a foolish or contemptible person. Someone who is out of step with the style of the day or has unusual mannerisms. It seems to be strictly an American word in origin. Jink is an action term. It refers to a sudden change of direction. It is used frequently in describing air to air combat evasive maneuvers. It comes from Scotland and implies nimble moves. It has not seen common usage for a long time. Kink is a sharp twist or turn, like in a road or path. It can also mean damage to a tube that carries fluids, a constriction. It can also be a problem with a plan or process. It can refer to a quirk in someone’s behavior. It can be a soreness or stiffness in a back or neck. It comes to us from Dutch and Low German several hundred years ago, and has seen ever increasing usage in the last century or so. Link refers to a relationship between two or more things. It can include societal or professional organizations, it can be a means of communication or travel. It can be one part of a chain or series. Associated to the word hypertext it is important for computing and the internet. It has roots in Germanic, Old Norse and Late Middle English. Only within the last 50 years has the usage increased dramatically. Mink is a small carnivorous animal common in North America and the Eurasian continent. It is related to weasels and stoats. It is highly prized by some people for its soft fur. It can also refer to an article of clothing made from the pelts of the animal. It comes from Swedish into Late Middle English, and its popularity peaked around 1950. Oink is the squealing and grunting sound a pig makes. This is an imitative word, meant to represent the vocalizations of a pig. It became popular in the 1940’s. Pink is a word with many different meanings from different eras and fields of endeavors. First, it is a color made by combining red with white pigment. It can refer to a rose` wine. It can be used to describe a person’s health in terms of cheek color. Informally, in the last century, it could mean a person supporting left-wing politics, or a homosexual. It is the name of a small Eurasian plant with sweet smelling flowers that are pink or white. A tailor or seamstress might use pinking shears that create a zigzag edge in material or cloth. To slightly pierce or nick someone with a weapon. A small ship with square sails and a narrow, overhanging stern. Rink is pretty straight forward. It means a building containing a smooth area for ice skating or roller skating. It can also refer to the actual space within the building for these activities and more such as hockey or curling. Sink has several definitions also. It refers to a fixed basin with a water supply and drain. It can also refer to a marshy area of a river where the water slowly disappears. It can mean to submerge or go below the surface. The ship will sink when the torpedo hits. The idea of dropping or descending is included, my head sank into my pillow as I went to sleep. Different concepts have come to us from Germanic, German, Dutch, English, and Old English. After a long decline, it has recently seen more usage. Tink is the sound of gently flowing water as in the tinkling sounds of the fountain were quite relaxing. It is also the nickname of Tinkerbelle. We also have the itinerant tinker of the 19th century, a person traveling from town to town, who could repair many different kinds of durable goods made from metal. Vink is very esoteric. It refers to Kroger-Vink notation. It is a mathematical language used to describe certain aspects of crystals used for electronics. Wink is much easier, children love this. It is to close and open one eye quickly. It implies a secret or joke between two people. It can also be a signal. It can also mean to not notice or observe something purposefully. The foreman winked at the illegal activity. There they are, fourteen words with similar sounds and the same last three letters. If you use the wrong word the reader might feel like they tripped over an invisible string and close your book, 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 or #TyposHurtYourWriting on twitter. Don’t forget the free offer for writers under the “Learn More” tab on our website. We 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
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Welcome to this edition of Words For Thought, the blog on wordrefiner.com. Like many of the previous blogs we are looking at homophones. Words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings.
As the Hyper-Speller at Word Refiner, I understand how important it is to have an error free manuscript. With over 40 years of experience, I have found that homophones give almost every writer fits and difficulties. Because we sound words out in our mind, it is easy to write the wrong word. 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 uprooting 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 todays episode! Sixth in the series about Quadruple Homophones. High score! Three of these four words are in pretty common usage for people. One is used in the names of stores or places. The fourth word is quite limited in use, it has a very specific meaning. They have a common ancestry from Old English and Germanic roots. These words have been with us for a long time. I do not see that changing anytime in the near future. Ware is a word that may not seem familiar at first glance. But it is widely used in different forms, it has three main definitions; so let’s look closer. Pottery ware can be bought at many places, it can be used to contain food or other items. There is also crystal ware, dinnerware, and others. This refers to things of a specific type or use. Items offered for sale are stored in a warehouse. These are noun forms. We are often admonished to be on guard, be aware, or most commonly beware. It means we are to take care and observe what is happening, be careful. Especially when using free Wi-Fi, beware of doing any banking. Ware has an archaic form also. The archaic form has the idea of being cognizant of your surroundings and events. Wear is such a common word, we do not even give it a second thought, but it also has multiple definitions and used as noun and verb, depending on the context. Primarily a verb, having to do with clothing, personal decorations and styles. What are you going to wear to the party? We wear clothing, hats and tattoos. We wear or adopt certain hairstyles. He always wears a scowl, nobody ever sees him smile. The secondary verb form refers to damage or destruction cause by rubbing or erosion of some type. Because the parking brake was left on while driving, there was considerable wear on the brake shoes. It can also be used in a positive sense. The front door mat is wearing well because everyone uses the back door. Functioning as a noun, the things we have or will have on. Business Casual wear is necessary for this lecture and lunch. I think that black suit will be great evening wear for the party. Weir is the most unusual of these homonyms. It has a very limited and specific use. Dam or fence. It is a noun and refers to a low dam to control flowing water, or it is a style of fish trap in the water; it looks like a fence. Where is an adverb. It refers to a position, perspective or point of view. It can be part of a question or a declaration, it is widely used and has been for a long time. Where would we be without adverbs? Where did he get that car? Where do you plan on getting the financing? This is where I live. Sit where I can see you both. Having met his family, I can see where he got his smarts. There they are, four words with identical sounds, unrelated history and definitions. If you choose the wrong word the reader will feel like they hit a spot of turbulence while flying in your book. Do all in your power to preserve the flow of imagination you worked so hard to construct. Do not give your readers a reason to close your book. Use Word Refiner, beta readers, critique partners, proofreaders and editors to be certain your work is error free and as smooth as possible. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed this issue of Homophones Hurt Your Writing on Words For Thought. Follow me on twitter: @wordrefiner, for more alerts about hazardous homophones search for #HomophonesHurtYourWriting on twitter. Don’t forget the free offer for writers under the “Learn More” tab on our website. We offer another service at a great value, see the “Review Your Book” tab. quadruple homophones 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.weebly.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 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 invisible spelling errors in 95% of published books. Now, onto today’s episode! Do not let it Ail you! Wow! We have 17 words that end in AIL! That means you have 16 chances out of 17 to type the wrong word and the spellchecker will miss it. I hope that by focusing our attention on this group of words your writing will never suffer from this typographical error. Ail means to sicken or afflict, make trouble for. Bail is what we use to get out of jail until our day in court. It can also mean to get excess water out of our boat so we don’t sink. Let’s not forget the handle on our bucket is called a bail also. Dail is an obscure word referring to the lower house of Parliament when the Irish Republic was formed in the early 20th century. I wonder if Scrabble would accept it. Fail is the opposite of winning. Some say a second place finish is the first loser. Gail is a name taken from Hebrew that means joy. Hail is frozen rain, it weighs too much to stay in the cumulonimbus clouds in the sky. It also means to call or get attention. You will want to hail a cab if you are in the hail. Jail is a place where most of us would rather not be. That is when we use bail to get out temporarily. Kail is a green leafy vegetable that is very popular in some quarters; okay, you got me, this is an alternate spelling of kale. Mail is something that makes us feel special when we get it. Somebody cared enough to send us something. Unless it is unsolicited advertising or bills. Nail is something used to attach two pieces of wood together. It is also the hard smooth surface on our fingertip. Pail is a bucket. We can use a pail to bail water out of the boat. Rail is a handle to help us go up or down stairs. A pair is necessary for the train to ride on. Sail is used by non-motorized boats to travel on the water. Tail is the south end of a north bound dog. A tail can tell you a lot about what a dog is thinking. Vail is an archaic word that means to take off your hat or crown to show respect. It is also a popular ski town in Colorado. Wail means to cry loudly or with a high pitch, in extreme grief. If you can’t bail your boat fast enough with your pail then you should wail loudly for help! Zail is another old word. It refers to an administrative unit of villages in India during the British rule. There they are, seventeen words with similar sounds and the same last three letters. If you use the wrong word the reader might feel like they tripped over an invisible string and close your book, 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 or #TyposHurtYourWriting on twitter. Don’t forget the free offer for writers under the “Learn More” tab on our website. We 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 looking at typographical errors. Words that look almost the same, but have different spellings and meanings.
We understand how important it is to have a manuscript free of spelling errors. With over 40 years of experience, we 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 vary and very, or must, mist and most. 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! Bar has multiple meanings, it can be a solid piece of something for manufacturing such as a bar of steel. It can also mean a place to drink or eat. It can also mean to fasten something shut with special hardware, to keep something or someone out. Car refers to a vehicle with wheels that carries people or goods. They come in many sizes and shapes. A railroad dining car is different from an automobile. Some think it might be a diminutive or abbreviation of carriage. Ear is the external part of our body that receives sound. Almost every animal has ears to hear with. Far has pretty limited usage, it refers to time and distance. Gar is a freshwater fish found in North America. They are not very pretty. Jar is a food storage container made of glass or pottery, such as a canning jar or my favorite, a cookie jar. Mar is to deface the appearance of something or spoil the quality. Oar is a paddle to propel or steer a boat. Par has two distinct definitions: the first is the expected number of strokes in golf to complete a particular hole; the second refers to the face value of a stock or other security on financial markets. Tar is a resinous material that is used for road building and preserving lumber used outdoors. War is armed conflict, usually resulting when diplomatic efforts have failed. Yar refers to an agile sailboat, easy to handle. There they are, twelve words with similar sounds and the same last two letters. If you use the wrong word the reader might feel like they tripped over an invisible string and close the book because it is too hard to figure out the meaning. Do all in your power to prevent that from happening, do not give your reader a reason to close your book. Use beta readers, critique partners, proofreaders and editors to ensure that your work is error free and as smooth as possible. Thanks for stopping by, we hope you enjoyed this issue of Typos Hurt Your Writing on Words For Thought. Follow us on twitter: @wordrefiner; for more Hazardous Homophones and Terrible Typos search for #HomophonesHurtYourWriting or #TyposHurtYourWriting on twitter. Don’t forget the free offer for writers under the “Learn More” tab on our website. We 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.weebly.com. Like some of the previous blogs we are looking at typographical errors. Words that look almost the same, but have different spellings and meanings.
We understand how important it is to have an error free manuscript. With over 40 years of experience, we have found that typos can 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 vary and very, or must, mist and most. 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 uprooting all of these hidden errors and providing your document free of spelling errors that you want and deserve. Now, onto today’s episode! Did you hear the story about the Princess and the Pea? Well, this is not that story. This is about a group of words that all depend on Pea for existence. Pea is a vegetable that grows in a pod on a vine or bush. A lot of people like them as a side dish or split pea soup. Peag is also known as wampum, it is made of small beads or shells and was used as currency by North American Natives. Peak is the top of a mountain, or a hat. It can also be the greatest point in a series of measurements. Peal, now that is a ringer! The primary definition is a loud ringing of bells, or thunder which can be very loud also. Tintinnabulation is my favorite synonym of Peal. Heck, tintinnabulation is one of my favorite words just for the sound of it. Pear is a wonderful fruit. They come in many varieties, some sweet and some tart. A ripe and juicy Pear is quite wonderful to eat. Peas are more than one Pea. Do not eat your Peas with a knife, my mom said to me. I loved a challenge, and I ate all my peas, what a sneaky mom! Peat is widely known to gardeners as a medium for plant starts and a soil amendment. It has been harvested from bogs, a wet marshy area, for many years. It can also be used as a fuel for fire when dried. There they are, seven words with similar sounds and the same first three letters. If you use the wrong word the reader might think they hit a submerged log while boating in the bayou and lose the momentum you worked so hard to build. Do all in your power to prevent that from happening, do not give your reader a reason to close your book. Use beta readers, critique partners, proofreaders and editors to ensure that your work is error free and as smooth as possible. Thanks for stopping by, we hope you enjoyed this issue of Typos Hurt Your Writing on Words For Thought. Follow us on twitter: @wordrefiner; for more alerts about hazardous homophones and terrible typos search for #HomophonesHurtYourWriting or #TyposHurtYourWriting on twitter. Don’t forget the free offer for writers under the “Learn More” tab on our website. We 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 many of the previous blogs we are looking at homophones. Words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings.
I understand how important it is to have an error free manuscript. With over 40 years of experience, I have found that homophones give almost every writer fits and difficulties. Because we sound words out in our mind, it is easy to write the wrong word. Let’s not forget typographical errors also, a slip of the finger on the keyboard can create a different word that may not be caught by a spell-checker. There are many groups of words that vary by only one letter, such as vary and very, or must, mist and most. The correctly spelled word in the wrong context will not be flagged by most spell-checkers. Word Refiner is dedicated to uprooting all of these hidden errors and providing your document free of spelling errors that you want and deserve. I find these errors in 95% of published books. Now, onto today’s episode! Today’s words are from many different sources, we have Latin, Old French, Greek, Middle English, and English. Two of the words have seen increasing use over the last two centuries, one has been declining. These words have little in common other than being homophones in the English language. Just one of the many things that makes English so much FUN! ;-) Poor is a widely used adjective. It has three primary meanings. First is penniless or indigent, someone who lacks sufficient financial resources to live a standard of life that is less than adequate by common or governmental standards. That family is too poor to afford a car. Second is below acceptable standards. The early models were plagued by poor craftsmanship and below expected sales. Third is someone deserving of pity, please donate now to help the poor refugees flee the natural disaster. Pore is both a noun and a verb. Context determines the usage. As a noun it is a small opening through which a gas or a liquid can pass. Most of us are familiar with skin pores, we all have them. Used as a verb it means dedicating yourself to diligent study. She pored over the text book in preparation for the final exam. It used to mean think intently about or ponder, but that usage is considered archaic today and not commonly used. Pour, a verb, might be the most straight forward word today, but it has many different nuances. The primary definition speaks of something moving from one place or container to another. The rain poured down. People poured in to the stadium for the big match. It can also mean to express thoughts or feelings in a fervent way. She used the editorial to pour out her disgust about the plans for closing the local school. In another sense, she poured herself into the tight red dress. Many uses for a simple word, one that is easily understood. There they are, three words with identical sounds and a remarkably unrelated history. If you use the wrong word the reader might think they hit an invisible speed bump and lose the momentum you worked so hard to build. Do all in your power to prevent that from happening, do not give your reader a reason to close your book. Use beta readers, critique partners, proofreaders and editors to ensure that your work is error free and as smooth as possible. Word Refiner is ready to help as well. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed this issue of Homophones Hurt Your Writing on Words For Thought. Follow us on twitter: @wordrefiner, for more alerts about hazardous homophones search for #HomophonesHurtYourWriting or #TyposHurtYourWriting on twitter. Don’t forget the free offer for writers under the “Learn More” tab on our website. We offer a new service at a great value, see the “Review Your Book” tab elsewhere on the website. Remember: Words Have Meaning and Spelling Makes a Difference. Copyright © 2015 Mark L Schultz |
AuthorAn avid reader and hyper speller. I am a husband, father, and grandfather. Archives
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