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Effective Communications Seminars |
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"My Spell Check Tolled Me Sew"
By
Rosalyn Rope
Word processing programs can
be magical. Among their other capabilities they can quickly correct spelling
errors. However, spelling checkers aren’t foolproof. They’ll miss errors when
two words sound alike but are spelled differently and have different meanings.
Unfortunately, many of these sound-alikes are commonly used—and misused—in
everyday business correspondence. Which words do you find most confusing? Test
your skill with this quiz. Which spelling is correct in each of the following
sentences?
Before you check the answers, read the following definitions.
- Capital or Capitol
Capitol has only one
meaning. This spelling is used to refer to the building in which the
state legislature or Congress in
- Principal or Principle
Principle has only one meaning. This spelling is used to refer
to a rule, in the sense of a belief, a moral or a guideline. For
example: We all live by the same principles. For all other meanings use principal,
as in: She listed her principal qualifications on the application.
- Affect or Effect
Affect is the verb spelling used to mean to
influence. (Although psychologists use this spelling for the noun emotion,
that definition is rarely used in business writing.) On the other hand, effect
is the noun spelling used to mean a result. (The only correct
usage for effect as a verb is to mean to bring about, as in: It
is difficult to effect a change in most organizations.)
- Adapt, Adopt, or Adept
Adapt means to adjust, adopt means to take
for one’s own, and adept means expert in or skilled at.
- Ensure, Insure, Assure
Ensure means to make certain, insure means to
guard against loss, and assure means to promise. We always assure
a person.
- Alright, All right
All right is always two separate
words, regardless of meaning. The other spelling has no standard
English meaning.
- Incidence, Incidents
Incidence means a range of occurrence. Avoid making the
common mistake of adding an s in an attempt to make this word plural. For
example: The incidence of rabies in
- Waver, Waiver
Waver means to vacillate. A waiver is a
release.
- Jibe, Gibe
Jibe means to agree. The verb gibe means to
taunt. As a noun, it means a sneer.
- Stationary, Stationery
Stationary means to stand still. Stationery refers
to writing supplies (paper, envelopes, and so on). To remember which spelling
has an e, just think of the e in stationery as standing
for envelope.
Now that you understand the
differences in meaning, here are the answers to the quiz.
1.
2. The (principal, principle) reason
we had the meeting was to discuss sales.
3. Improper testing methods can (affect,
effect) quality assessment.
4. All of our administrative assistants are
(adapt, adopt, adept) typists.
5. We want to (ensure, insure,
assure) that our products meet your needs.
6. Are you feeling (alright, all right)?
7. Several (incidence, incidents) of
vandalism have been reported.
8. You must sign a (waver, waiver)
before you can proceed.
9. The totals should (jibe, gibe).
10. We bought a (stationary,
stationery) bike.
Scoring
9 or 10 correct--Genius
7 or 8 correct--impressive
5 or 6 correct--Good Try
4 or fewer--Oops!
Overview | Letters, Memos & Reports | Proofreading | Notetaking | Interpersonal Telephone Techniques | Oral Communications | Techniques for the Professional Secretary | Bio | Clients & Evaluations
