In this blog we’ll look at a few of the most common word choice errors. Mistakes our friend spell check won’t find since the words, while spelled correctly, are being used incorrectly.
I love words. They’re powerful - able to inflict pleasure or pain; uplift or diminish; educate, influence and change perspectives.
As a trained journalist and professional writer, I respect words. I try carefully to pick just the right ones for whatever piece I’m writing. But let’s face it, the English language can be confusing. Just ask any non-native speaker.
In this blog we’ll look at a few of the most common word choice errors. Mistakes our friend spell check won’t find since the words, while spelled correctly, are being used incorrectly.
Further and farther
Further is used when describing a nonphysical movement or advancement while farther is used to describe a physical distance.
Example:
We will not be taking this lawsuit any further.
I ran farther than Thomas did today.
Affect and effect
Affect means to cause a change in something, while effect refers to the specific changes.
Example:
Drug addiction usually affects the entire family.
The effects of drug use are damage to the liver, heart, digestive system and an increased risk of cancer.
Less and fewer
Both less and fewer mean a smaller number of things, however fewer should be used with things that can be counted while less is used for things more difficult to measure.
Example:
There is less paper in the printer today than yesterday.
There four fewer items on the menu tonight.
There, their and they’re
There has multiple usages, but most commonly used to mean at, in or near a place. Their is the possessive form of they. They’re is the contraction for they are.
Example:
Sit down over there.
Their cat is missing.
They’re coming over for dinner tonight.
There are so many opportunities for all of us to be published writers. Social media provides an avenue for anyone to write and be read. But with that comes a responsibility to make sure we’re using words correctly. It’s always smart to have a dictionary app or book on hand for a quick check. I use The American Heritage Dictionary https://www.ahdictionary.com/