Typos Hurt Your Writing: Deal, Geal, Heal, Meal, Peal, Real, Seal, Teal, Weal, and Zeal

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!

We have 10 four letter words that have the last three letters in common: EAL. Eal does not mean anything by itself, it needs one or more letters in front to get the party started. Let’s find out if this party is for weal or for woe!

Deal is a very busy word! It can mean to hand out playing cards to participants, it can refer to selling and buying things, working to overcome an adverse situation such as an economic crisis, or causing damage to something or someone like dealing a blow. It can also refer to a significant but unspecified amount of something, such as the stock market lost a great deal of value.
Geal is a very limited word, unlike Deal. It means to stiffen or freeze. We more commonly see it in another word congeal. That might be a different blog in the future. (Note to self).
Heal is far more common but narrow in scope as well. It means to bring wholeness and health. To make something right and complete. Simple but very important!
Meal is very important if you are hungry! Food served on a regular basis in adequate quantities for sustained nourishment. It is also grains and other foodstuffs ground into a fine powder.
Peal is a loud ringing of one or more bells. It can also refer to laughter or thunder.
Real is something that actually exists, not imagined. Something that is honest and true. In law, it is property that cannot be moved, like land or buildings for example. It is also the national currency of Brazil. 
Seal is another multifaceted word. It can be an adhesive or device to keep things together or something from leaking out. It can also be a bit of wax, lead or some other substance to secure the origin of a document or load of material, with or without a design imprinted in the seal. It can refer to a guarantee or endorsement. To close or secure so nothing can pass. A nonporous coating on a surface. Sear meat or food in hot oil to prevent moisture from escaping. A mammal that spends most of its time in the water. A member of a US Navy elite fighting force.
Teal a small duck or a bluish green color.
Veal is meat from a milk-fed calf.
Weal is a small red mark that is swollen, left on skin from a blow or slap. Alternately, it is something that is in the best interest of someone.
Zeal is great passion in the pursuit of something or someone.

There they are, ten words with similar sounds and the same last three letters.  If you use the wrong word the reader might feel like they tripped over a hidden root as they walk through the forest of 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 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  
​