Spelling
In these posts, we look at issues related to spelling and common spelling errors. Brush up on your proofreading and editing skills with Knowadays.
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Halloween or Hallowe’en?
Halloween or Hallowe’en?
Oct 31, 2023
Boo! Grab your masks, pumpkins, and bowls of candy. It’s that time of the year again! Halloween is celebrated on October 31 in the US and other parts of the world. Though you’re probably familiar with the spelling Halloween, you might have come across an alternative spelling: Hallowe’en. In this post, we’ll talk about where […]
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Word Confusion: Biennial vs. Biannual
Word Confusion: Biennial vs. Biannual
Oct 19, 2023
Do you know when to use biennial vs. biannual? While the two words look and sound similar, there is a meaningful difference. Some similar words are so familiar and so different in meaning that, should a client muddle them up, you will notice them right away. For instance, if an essay refers to Darwin’s theory […]
What Is a Lede in Journalism?
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10 Egg-Cellent Examples of Eggcorns
Apr 08, 2023
We’ve all done it – misheard a common phrase and made it our own. The phenomenon even has its own name: an eggcorn. “But that’s not even a real word!” we hear you cry. Well, that’s exactly the point! Although we can’t give you any chocolate eggs for Easter, we can give you a whole […]
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British vs. American English: -Ise or -Ize?
Feb 20, 2023
The verb endings “-ise” and “-ize” often get confused. Usually, the correct ending depends on which English dialect your client is using. Here’s our guide on using these spellings in British and American English and what you need to consider when proofreading. British vs. American Spelling For the most part, American English uses the spelling […]
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What Is Sensational Spelling?
Feb 11, 2023
As a proofreader or editor, you’re used to spotting and correcting spelling errors. But what if the spelling error is intentional? In today’s blog post, we’re discussing sensational spelling – the deliberate misspelling of a word or term to draw an audience’s attention – and how to use it effectively. Sensational spelling is common in […]
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Common Homophone Errors (and How to Avoid Them)
Oct 17, 2022
It’s time for a flashback to elementary school. Remember the unit on homophones, way back when? Homophones are words with the same pronunciation but different meanings and spellings (e.g., “wait” and “weight”). Many people mistake one term for the other when writing homophones. In this post, we’ll look at some of the most common homophone […]
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5 Tips on How to Write the Perfect Christmas Card
Dec 18, 2021
It’s that time of year again! Christmas is just around the corner, and you’ve got a lot to do – wrapping presents, buying food, writing Christmas cards… the list goes on. It would be easy to let your proofreading standards slip! But to help you avoid this, we’ve come up with five tips on writing […]
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Proofreading Tips: Cacti or Cactuses? A Guide to Irregular Plurals
Dec 11, 2021
As a proofreader (or an aspiring one), you should know not all plurals are formed by adding -s to the end of a singular noun. You’ve probably also learned some irregular plurals by heart. But are there rules you should follow here? And how do they work if so? In this post, we’ll look at […]
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Proofreading Tips: Noun and Verb Spelling Differences
Proofreading Tips: Noun and Verb Spelling Differences
Nov 25, 2021
Correcting spelling mistakes is key for any proofreader. But certain errors are easy to miss! This is especially true when it comes to noun and verb spelling differences, partly because they often vary by dialect. In this post, for example, we’ll be taking a look at three cases where the noun and verb forms of […]
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5 Commonly Confused Words to Look Out for While Proofreading
5 Commonly Confused Words to Look Out for While Proofreading
Aug 28, 2021
If you’re a proofreader, you’ll most likely find it easy to spot common spelling mistakes and typos. But some words might still catch you out from time to time. In this post, then, we’re looking at five commonly confused words that proofreaders should keep an eye out for. Becoming A Proofreader Have you got an […]