Let’s take a break from homophones and consider the semicolon (;). Semicolons are frequently misused – I generally find that they are either overused (replacing colons and commas) or not used at all. There are three rules to remember when…
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Monthly Archives: April 2013
Homophones III
So, its time to analyse advice and advise. This one is pretty simple. All you have to do is remember that one is a verb and one is a noun. Advice is a noun, ‘guidance or recommendations offered with regard to prudent action’ (OED).…
Tagged with: advice, advise, copy-editing, homophones, practice, practise, proofreading
Posted in Spelling
Posted in Spelling
Homophones II
As promised we will now consider the difference between complement and compliment, two words which are often confused. Complement Verb: ‘to add to something in a way that enhances or improves’ (OED) Noun: ‘an addition that improves something’ (OED) Example: That tie complements your…
Homophones I
In the post entitled ‘Ten Tips for Proofreading’, helpful tip number 8 stated: ‘Watch out for homophones: words that sound the same but have different meanings are commonly confused and may be used incorrectly. Examples of these are discreet/discrete and affect/effect.’ In my…
English Spelling III
Proofreaders and copy-editors have a reputation for being pretty proficient spellers – it’s an essential skill for the role. However, due to the enormity of the English lexicon, which according to AskOxford.com contains at the very least a quarter of a million words,…