7 Common Spelling Mistakes
That’s right, I’m talking about these little, sneaky words that no matter how many times we read and re-read the correct spelling, in the process of writing we often forget and still spell them wrong. But fear not, here are a few of the most common spelling mistakes. Save this, and make sure to consult it when it’s time to edit your work.
Its vs It’s
For me, this is an easy one as it should be for you because there is a quick way to check which form is correct. But first things first:
“Its” is a possessive pronoun. It demonstrates ownership. Example: Its colour is blue.
“It’s” is a contraction of “it is” or “it has.” So, when writing or editing, just ask yourself: can you change “it’s” in the sentence with “it is/it has” and still keep the meaning? If the answer is yes, then go ahead and use “it’s”.
Your vs You’re
Another example of ownership and contraction. In this case “your” is the possessive pronoun and “you’re” is the contraction of “you are”. To know which one is the correct form in your text, just do the same test as above: try to replace “you’re” with “you are” and see if the sentence still makes sense.
There, Their and They’re
Ah, my favourite trio! I suggest you write down this one on a sticky note and place it in your writing area ;) Here’s my simple explanation:
“There” is a place as in “She went there last night.”
“Their” shows ownership as in “It was not their decision to make.”
“They’re” is… wait for it… a contraction! It replaces “they are”. And you already know how to test this one.
Effect vs Affect
As an editor, I’ve seen many writers struggle with this one. So let me explain it as simple as possible:
“Effect” is a noun and means result or the result of a change.
“Affect” is a verb and means to change or impact in some way.
Which vs That
Okay, now we are getting to the more complicated examples but bear with me. The rule here is very simple: in a defining clause, we use “that”. In a non-defining clause, we use “which”. What?! Defining clause?
Let me try again. If you can remove the clause without destroying the message of the sentence, the clause is non-essential and you can use “which”. If the clause is essential (removing it will destroy your sentence), you can - and should - use “that”.
Here are two examples:
The shirt that was ruined rested on the bed. (The emphasis here is on the fact that the shirt was ruined.)
The shirt, which was ruined, rested on the bed. (Here we can still say “The shirt rested on the bed” and it will be clear where the shirt is located.)
Compliment vs Complement
Wait, aren’t these the same? No, they are not. In fact, they have very different meanings :)
“Compliment” is when you say something nice to someone. For example, “You have beautiful eyes.” It could be both a verb and a noun.
“Complement” - here’s a quick tip: think of the word “complete”. A complement is something that completes something else or even makes it perfect.
Fewer vs Less
Do you know one of those annoying people that every time you say “less” they correct you with “you mean fewer”? No? Well, nice to meet you! :D
Let’s see the difference:
We use “less” when the object is unquantifiable, meaning you can’t count it (such as sugar, air, love).
We use “fewer” when the object can be counted (window, dog, idea).
Well, there you have it. I hope this has been useful. Let me know if you struggle with any of these or if you would like to see more posts like this one.
And if you have a manuscript ready to be reviewed, get in touch!
