Word Confusion: Alternate versus Alternative
A book club may offer an “alternate selection” as an alternative to the main selection, but this Word Confusion only allows one “Alternate versus Alternative”.
Category: Author Resources
Word Confusion: Eschatology versus Scatology
Even self-editing writers have their own “theology” over the eschatology of the writing process and it coming to an end. It’s when they don’t come in on deadline that the scatology of obscene words is explored in this Word Confusion from KD Did It.
Word Confusion: Formally versus Formerly
Revised as of 22 Jan 2022 Formerly she was a dental hygienist, now Katrina is a writer, formally, a technical writer. Of course, we could reverse this as well: “Formally, Katrina was a dental hygienist; she had formerly been a technical writer”. One trick you can use to remind yourself which is which is to take off the -ly. Formal. Former. Formal manners. Needing a formal for the prom. Formal invitations. All things done in the proper, traditional way. Former is prior, before, previously. And former simply doesn’t care about manners. Word Confusions… …started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noir for you from either end. If you found this post on “Formally versus Formerly” interesting, consider tweeting it to your friends. Subscribe to KD Did It, if you’d like to track this post for future updates. Return to top Formally Formerly 379th Assumption of Command by Tech. Sgt. Jeff Fitzmorris is in the public […]
Word Confusion: Bard versus Barred
Barred from his computer by the blackout, this self-editing bard went to the bar in this Word Confusion from KD Did It.
Word Confusion: Cognomen versus Surname
Revised as of 17 April 2021 You can read the full text of “The Travels of Marco Polo the Venetian here. I know, I know, you’re asking why you’d be interested. Who knows, it might be useful for future reference for a story, but my primary interest right now is that Polo is his surname and the Venetian is his cognomen. The real purpose behind this word confusion post, cognomen versus surname, is to satisfy my own curiosity. I am planning a sci-fi / time travel series in which the first book is set in Ancient Rome. And I have been confused with the Roman naming conventions. Now, I know that nomen is the family or last name, the surname of a Roman while a cognomen is of Roman origin that began as a nickname, which has, sometimes, evolved into a surname. Word Confusions… …started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noir for you from […]
Word Confusion: Actual versus Actually
In actual fact, there is actually a difference between actual and actually in this Word Confusion from KD Did It for the self-editing writer.
Word Confusion: Ethic versus Moral
With a group with stated ethics, there will be individuals with their own sense of morals in this Word Confusion from KD Did It for the self-editing writer.
Word Confusion: Shake versus Sheik
The sheik may shake, but there’ll never be any sheiking in this Word Confusion from KD Did It for the self-editing writer.
Word Confusion: Forth versus Fourth
Sail forth on the Firth of Forth on this sunny fourth day of the month in this Word Confusion from KD Did It for the self-editing writer.
Word Confusion: Lesser versus Lessor
Is a lessor the lesser evil? Or merely a necessity of life in this Word Confusion for the self-editing writer from KD Did It?