#ecoedits

Even as an avid writer and editor, certain words, specifically homonyms (two or more words that are spelled the same but have two different meanings OR two or more words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings), can trip me up. Like the dreaded principle vs. principal conundrum or oral vs. aural exams. And, one of my favorites, everyday vs. every day.  My arch nemeses are the homonyms, peak and peek: Peak (noun): the pointed top of a mountain

Peek (verb): to look quickly

For some reason, my gut reaction when writing about someone who is “looking quickly,” is to say “she peaked,” when I really mean “she peeked.” 

Hey, I’m only human.  Good thing I have some simple word associations up my sleeve to remember which word is correct (and to keep my day job).

When someone “peeks,” they are “seeing.” So I remember to use “peek” because of the two e’s in “see.” 

When someone climbs to the “top of a mountain,” they are reaching the “apex.” so I remember to use “peak” because of the “a” in “apex.”   For some this might seem like a complicated way to remember the correct usage of two words, but hey, it works for me. 

Here are some other wonderful homonyms that still trip up even the wordiest of word people (if there are two types of meanings, they are listed respectively): Aid (noun/verb) : a thing that helps/to help or assist. 

Aide (noun) : a living helper or assistant

(*So, an aide can aid a politician.)

Passed (verb) : gone ahead of, approved

Past (adjective/noun) : gone by in time/a former time

(*So the folks in Back to the Future passed the past!) 

Aisle (noun) : a corridor

Isle (noun) : an island

(*So, you walk down a supermarket aisle and walk across the beach on an isle.) 

Bear (noun/verb) : a wild animal/to carry, tolerate, or steer

Bare (adjective) : unconcealed

(*So, people fight for the right to bear arms so they can shoot bears and want to wear midriffs so they can show off their bare bellies.) 

Alter (verb) : to modify or change

Altar (noun) : a pedestal, usually religious

(*So, churches may want to alter their altars to make them look more modern.)

Dual (noun) : double, having two parts

Duel (noun/verb) : a two-sided conflict/to fight

(*So, Alexander Hamilton died in a duel with Aaron Burr and moms can have dual roles, at work and home.)

Faint (verb) : to go unconscious

Feint (verb) : a distracting move meant to throw off an opponent 

(*So, perhaps a person can faint at the sight of blood and a quarterback can feint left then throw right to win the big game.)

Which words still trip you up? It’s okay to admit this. You are not alone. 

Do you have any tricks that help you remember when each word is correct to use? What are they?

There are so many more homonyms out there. Maybe even some you haven’t encountered yet. 

All too often, I hear people talking about how “Jim and me went to the movies” and asking questions like, “After you read that book, can you lend it to Brandon and I?” In fact, I hear it so often, that I think commonplace misuse of the terms “me” and “I” have become socially accepted, kind of like how we’ve embraced the Kardashians or public urination on the subway. For a long time I was confused, thinking I was speaking incorrectly. After all, saying “Jim and me” feels more natural and saying “Brandon and I” sounds proper and fancy, so how could they be incorrect? 

But, in this case, they are.  The Quick Fix: 

A couple weeks ago, I went with a friend to see the movie Bad Words. For those of you who don't partake in bad movies, I will summarize: it is about an adult (played by Jason Bateman, who also directed the movie) who enters the National Spelling Bee to seek revenge. I'll keep mum on the rest in case you decide to see it. What bothered me most about this movie wasn't the bad plot or complete lack of denouement and satisfying resolution, but rather that the elite head mistress of the spelling bee tells the protagonist that she put him up in a hotel further away from the main venue.

Thoughts that ran through my mind: 1) That's not right. 2) I thought that head mistress was supposed to be a genius? 3) Who edited this script?!? 

Being the editorial enthusiast I am, there are some things that really bother me...and one of them in the incorrect use of the words farther and further. The difference is that farther refers to physical distance and further refers to metaphorical or figurative distance. 

A quick and easy way to remember is that the word farther has the word "far" in it, and the word far refers to physical distance. So if you're ever unsure, think, "Am I describing the physical distance from something?" If so, then use farther. If not, use further. 

Keeping these rules in mind, can you tell how different the meanings of the following two sentences are?: "Before we go any further..." vs. "Before we go any farther...". The first sentence could be referring to reading the next chapter in a book, while the second sentence could be referring to driving a few more miles down the road.