The Right Word Isn’t the Almost Right Word
By: Patricia Haddock
Tags: Writing Tips, Writing, Professional Development, Professionalism, Editing

The Right Word Isn’t the Almost Right Word

Photo by krakenimages on Unsplash

I was hired by a client to edit their writing after they had sent out their holiday email with the salutation, “Dear Friends and Colleges.” Seriously, colleges, not colleagues. Needless to say, their friends and “colleges’ never let them forget it.

Using the wrong word is a mistake that many of us will recognize. We write too fast and hit send too soon. It’s common that sometimes things get past us, but when too many errors end up in our writing, people begin to question our professionalism. Here are some common mistakes that are easy to make when we’re writing quickly even when we know the difference. They are words that sound alike or similarly but have different meanings and uses, and they’re not always caught by spell and grammar checks.

Its and It’s: Its — possessive form of it. The dog ate its kibble. It’s — contraction for it is. It’s too late to go shopping for groceries.

Its — possessive form of it. The dog ate its kibble. It’s — contraction for it is. It’s too late to go shopping for groceries. They’re, Their, There: They’re — contraction of they are. They’re late. Their — possessive of them. Their dinner is getting cold. There — to focus attention on something. There is the door.

They’re — contraction of they are. They’re late. Their — possessive of them. Their dinner is getting cold. There — to focus attention on something. There is the door. Your and You’re: Your — possessive of you. Your dog dug up my lawn. You’re — contraction for you are. You’re liable for repairing my lawn.

Your — possessive of you. Your dog dug up my lawn. You’re — contraction for you are. You’re liable for repairing my lawn. Than and Then: Than — comparison. Denis is taller than I am. Then — to create a sequence. Then there were none.

Using the wrong word also can be dangerous since it’s a mistake that can change the meaning of our writing. Using the right word and knowing when it’s wrong is more than just learning definitions; it’s understanding how words are used in sentences. For example, there is a big difference between alternate and alternative even though people us them interchangeably. Here are the differences.

Alternate as a noun means a substitute. The judge assigned three alternate jurors to the case.

Alternate as a verb means to go back and forth. My parents alternate holiday dinners between me and my sister. They visit me in even years, and my sister gets them in odd years.

Alternate as an adjective describes two options. The alternate parking garages allow only 2-hour parking.

Alternative as a noun means one of two or more choices. The alternative to jail is either public service or a fine.

Alternative as an adjective describes another option. Many people choose an alternative lifestyle in their teens.

Every time we produce content, we put our professionalism on stage. Our readers are our reviewers. Mistakes, wrong words, imprecise words all take a toll on how our readers perceive us. Most will forgive an occasional error; many will leave and never return when confronted with mistakes over and over. Our choice of words and how we use them can make or break our success as a writer.