09.11.09
Posted in The Word at 3:17 pm by Administrator
In my editing life, I’ve run across many a character who says “hum” whenever they are thinking about something, as in “Hum … I think I’ll have the chocolate cake.” But most people don’t actually say “hum” in such a situation; what they really say is “hmm,” with the lips together.
Hum is a verb meaning “to utter a sound like that of the speech sound \m\ prolonged” or “to sing with closed lips.” Hum can also be a noun referring to such a sound or such singing.
He hummed a merry tune.
Hmm (or hm) is an interjection that usually expresses “thoughtful absorption, doubt, or perplexity.”
“Hmm … I’ll have to think about that,” he said.
And putting it all together:
“Hmm … I’ll have to think about that,” he said. Then he hummed a merry tune.
(Definitions from The Merriam-Webster Dictionary and Dictionary.com.)
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07.28.09
Posted in Newsletter, The Word at 2:45 pm by Administrator
One little letter can make a big difference in meaning.
Seam is a noun meaning “the line or junction of two edges, esp. of edges of fabric sewn together” or “a layer of mineral matter.” Seam can also be a verb meaning “to join by or as if by sewing.”
Rusty tore the seam in his pants while he was digging out a seam of coal. He cursed because he didn’t have a needle and thread to seam the edges of the tear.
Seem is a verb meaning “to appear to the observation or understanding” or “to give the impression of being: Appear.”
Suddenly Rusty’s backside seemed awfully cold.
And putting it all together:
Rusty was working on a seam of coal when he realized his backside seemed awfully cold. Upon further investigation, he discovered he had torn the seam in his pants.
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07.02.09
Posted in The Word at 1:37 pm by Administrator
It surprises me how often even experienced writers confuse these words.
Bazaar is a noun meaning “a group of small shops: MARKETPLACE” or “a fair for the sale of articles usu. for charity.”
He went to the town’s Christmas bazaar to buy a gift for his wife.
Bizarre is an adjective meaning “odd, eccentric, fantastic.”
The gift he chose was quite bizarre; his wife wasn’t sure if she should hang it on the wall or feed it to the cat.
And putting it all together:
His wife was not entirely pleased with the bizarre gift he’d bought for her at the town’s Christmas bazaar.
(Definitions from The Merriam-Webster Dictionary.)
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06.06.09
Posted in The Word at 2:37 pm by Administrator
These words sound alike but look and function very differently.
Allowed is the past tense of the verb allow, meaning “to permit” or “to assign as a share or suitable amount” (please consult your dictionary for other meanings).
The dog was allowed to sleep on the bed.
She allowed three hours for the drive to the airport.
Aloud is an adverb meaning “with the speaking voice.”
Please read the poem aloud.
Putting it all together:
She allowed her children to read joke books aloud only after supper.
(Definitions taken from The Merriam-Webster Dictionary.)
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05.05.09
Posted in The Word at 10:39 pm by Administrator
These two words are easy to mix up. I usually look them up every time I use them, just to be sure I’ve got it right.
Hoard is a noun meaning “a supply or fund stored up and often hidden away” or a verb meaning “to lay up a hoard of” or “to keep to oneself.”
I keep of hoard of Twinkies under my desk.
The dragon hoarded gold and jewels in his cave.
Horde is a noun meaning “a teeming crowd or throng.”
A horde of hungry children descended upon the ice cream truck.
And putting it all together:
A horde of valiant knights slew the dragon and plundered his hoard of jewels.
(Definitions taken from The Merriam-Webster Dictionary.)
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03.31.09
Posted in The Word at 4:47 pm by Administrator
Many people are not aware that these are two separate words. The two words are often confused and used interchangeably, or a writer will choose one spelling and stick with it for all uses. Trust me (and Mr. Webster), they are totally different words.
Complement as a noun refers to “something that fills up or completes”; as a verb it means “to be complementary to: fill out.” (Please consult your dictionary for other meanings.)
Her boldness was the perfect complement to his shyness.
That color really complements your eyes.
Compliment is a noun meaning “an expression of approval or admiration” or a verb meaning “to pay a compliment to.”
My compliments to the chef.
He complimented her for her gracious manners.
Putting it all together,
She received many compliments for her green dress, which complemented her eyes beautifully.
(Definitions from The Merriam-Webster Dictionary.)
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03.03.09
Posted in The Word at 9:07 pm by Administrator
Lately I’ve seen quite a few characters who either have a guilty conscious or are not conscience. It seems this is the perfect time to review.
Conscience is a noun meaning “consciousness of the moral right and wrong of one’s own acts or motives.”
That little lie weighed on my conscience.
Conscious is an adjective meaning “aware,” “mentally awake and alert,” or “done with awareness or purpose.” Conscious can also be a noun meaning “the upper level of mental life of which a person is aware: Consciousness.”
After two days in a coma, the patient was fully conscious but still in serious condition. I made a conscious decision not to tell her the truth about the accident … and that little lie weighed on my conscience.
(Definitions from The Merriam-Webster Dictionary.)
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02.05.09
Posted in The Word at 3:19 pm by Administrator
Since we’ve just had a presidential inauguration, I thought this would be the perfect time to review these frequently confused words.
Capital refers to the city that is the seat of government for a country, state, etc. (Please note there are several other meanings as well, but this is the one that seems to cause confusion. Consult your dictionary for a complete definition.)
Washington, D.C., is our nation’s capital.
Capitol refers to the building in which a governing body meets.
Congress meets in the U.S. Capitol building.
Putting it all together,
One of the most famous buildings in our nation’s capital is the U.S. Capitol.
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01.04.09
Posted in The Word at 5:48 pm by Administrator
The confusion over the first two of these words is perfectly understandable, but I’m really disturbed by the number of “12-carrot diamond rings” I’ve read about over the years. So, let’s review.
Carat is a unit of weight for gemstones. A 3-carat diamond.
Karat refers to the purity of gold. A ring of 24-karat (24K) gold.
And a carrot is a delicious root vegetable, usually orange, loved by rabbits.
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11.30.08
Posted in The Word at 4:33 pm by Administrator
These two little words cause many writers to stumble.
It’s is a contraction of “it is.” That little apostrophe is very important; it tells you that something has been left out—in this case the “i” in “is.”
It is a perfect day for bird-watching. Look—it’s a red-bellied woodpecker!
You could also say,
It’s a perfect day for bird-watching. Look—it is a red-bellied woodpecker!
Its (no apostrophe) is an adjective meaning “of or relating to it or itself.”
The bird is grooming its feathers.
You wouldn’t say (at least I hope you wouldn’t),
The bird is grooming it is feathers.
So, putting everything together,
It is a perfect day for bird-watching. Look—it’s a red-bellied woodpecker grooming its feathers!
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