Ten top spelling tips

English can be a confusing language. Swapping one word for another that sounds exactly the same (a homophone) can alter the meaning completely. Picking the right one gives your business writing credibility. Here are some commonly confused words clarified, to help you make the right choice every time.

1. Practice and Practise

Practice with a ‘c’ is the noun – so it can mean a ‘rehearsal’, a ‘run-through’ or an office belonging to certain professionals. For example, a doctor’s practice, a lawyer’s practice or the dreaded dentist’s practice.

Practise with an ‘s’ is the verb (in UK English) and means ‘to do’ or ‘to carry out’. So you could say, ‘Tracey practised singing Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” on several occasions. But it didn’t help her get into the Pop Idol final – or, Plan B, the convent.’

Note that US English uses ‘practice’ for both noun and verb.

2. Desert and Dessert

A desert is a wasteland or a wilderness that quite often features sand and a few camels. A dessert is a big fat pudding! Think ss for sugary sweet.

3. Your and You’re

Use ‘your’ when talking about your pen, your file, your desk. Use ‘you’re’ when you mean ‘you are’. For example, ‘You’re going to work today. Because your boss will give you the heave-ho if you take another sick day.’

4. There, They’re and Their

Arranging a night out at a swanky bar with your friends? You can say, ‘Great, I’ll see you there!’ They’re sure to wear their finest cocktail attire.

5. Affect and Effect

A person can be affected by an incident whereas an effect is the result of an incident. For example, ‘Jim was deeply affected by his wife running off with the Australian travel rep. The effects of this were: he had a funny turn whenever “Skippy the Bush Kangaroo” was on TV, and he decided to holiday in Skegness, not Sydney, in future.’

6. Horde and Hoard

Horde can be used to describe a crowd. For example, hordes of people attended the rugby match. Whereas a hoard is a stash of treasure.

7. Stationary and Stationery

Confused about when to use ‘stationery’ or ‘stationary’? When you are writing about paper products or similar, think ‘e’ for exercise book and use ‘stationery’. Or you could think of a stationary car, which rhymes with ‘ar’.

8. Canvass and Canvas

A slimy politician will canvass votes. But canvas is a type of material favoured by artists – or festival-goers pitching their tents.

9. Bare and Bear

When the sun comes out, Britons strip off and bare all in their swimming costumes. But can you bear the sight of all that exposed flesh?

10. Compliment and Complement

To compliment someone is to make an encouraging remark. Complementing them, however, may be more welcome, as it means to support or help.

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Author: Catie Holdridge

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Catie joined Emphasis with an English literature and creative writing degree and a keen interest in what makes language work. Having researched, written, commissioned and edited dozens of articles for the Emphasis blog, she now knows more about the intricacies of effective professional writing than she ever thought possible.

She produced and co-wrote our online training programme, The Complete Business Writer, and these days oversees all the Emphasis marketing efforts. And she keeps office repartee at a suitably literary level.