Avoid these 5 common spelling errors

Whether you’re writing content for your website, a resume, a press release, or you’re typing a chapter for your latest book, being aware of these 5 common spelling errors could mean the difference between looking professional or not.

Below are the spelling errors that I see the most when I’m editing content for a client.

alright versus all right

The correct spelling uses two words—all right. Maybe you’re familiar with words such as altogether or already. For correct editing of written documents, the word is correctly written as all right.

loser versus looser

A loser is someone who has failed at an activity, such as, “He was such a loser at marriage.” Loser can also refer to something that’s of poor quality or performance, such as, “That penquin film was such a loser.”

Looser, however, means that something is unbound, the opposite of tight and restrictive, such as, “His pants look looser today since he lost so much weight.” Or, “Her curly hair looks looser today.”

An easy way to think of the difference between these two spelling errors is that loser (with one “o”) refers to a person.  Looser refers to a condition, such as loose pants, dogs on the loose.

receive versus recieve

Receive is the correct spelling and it goes back to the rule you learned in grade school: i before e except after c. Thus, whenever you try to spell a word that has ie or ei in it, remember that if the word has a c, then ei will follow.

Here are a few more examples:

believe (no c in the word, so the correct spelling is ie)

niece (no c in the word, so the correct spelling is niece, not neice

principal versus principle

For me, once I learned the following rule, I never had to look in the dictionary to spell these two words.

Prinicipal ends with the letters “pal.” A pal is a person, so principal is a noun in this instance. (Even though going to the principal’s office might mean that he’s not your pal at the moment.) However, principal also refers to something of importance, such as, “His principal investment made him millions.” Again, principal defines something of significance.

The word principle defines more of an action, conduct, or truth, such as, “Their merchandising efforts are based on fair-pricing principles.”

Last on the list of our spelling errors is:

It’s and Its 

These are common errors that even your spell checker can miss. The simple version for using the correct spelling is that It’s is a contraction (simplified version) of two combined words: It is. Whereas Its is used to show that it’s a possessive word. Let’s look at two examples to help you better understand.

It’s time for the dog to go outside before dinner. But you probably don’t want to separate him from its favorite rawhide bone.

 What spelling errors are you frustrated with in your writing?

Everybody Hurts and Everybody Cries Sometimes…

This statement reminds me of a song…but much more than that is the song …Have you any dreams you’d like to sell? Or, Thunder only happens when it’s raining. Players only love you when they’re playing…

My gratitudes today are wrapped around moving forward and not looking at the past. For the past is a memory, and the future is a dream. But we are who we are, and in THIS moment, I choose to celebrate all that I am and the paths that I’ve walked through that make me who I am today.

My gratitudes for 12/23/2011:

1. I’m grateful for a wonderful man named John who taught me how to love, embrace life, enjoy music, make time in my life for me, understand that a family can consist of a mom and her three children, and who, at that moment in time embraced my love for waterbeds and taught me how to tie the bows on my tennis shoes, and who loved me for who I was. He was a selfless, happy,  and giving man who never asked anything of me, nor ever critizeced or judged me. He just loved me and gave me the world.

2. I’m grateful for my children who I lived for and gave up everything to fight and preserve their right to grow up in a family with a single mom who did everything she could to provide for their happiness, in spite of others who chose to deceive, steal, and destroy what God had created.

3. I’m grateful that it’s not about how much you own, or the money you have, or where you live, or how big your flat-screen is, for when you reach the age that I am, you understand that it’s ONLY all about family, and those friends who you choose to do life with that matter. For when your life ends, the only thing that you’ll take with you are the relationships with those you’ve loved, and who love you back. Yes, nothing else matters.

So if you have angry feelings or thoughts, or someone has robbed you of your joy, or you’re unsure of what lies ahead of you, just take a deep breath, and know that you still have options and choices. Life is too short to not spend it dancing, laughing, and remembering in your most quiet moments that you are the solitary person who chooses your next steps.

If you’re unsure of the remaining hours of this day, or tomorrow, or what lies ahead for you, why don’t you seek the advice of those generational people around you who wish to impart their wisdom. In the “olden days” children and young adults had mentors. Sometimes those mentors were in the form of mothers, grandmothers, and aunts and uncles. Just because they have gray hair, dress in clothes that you wouldn’t wear, and use odd slang words doesn’t mean that they can’t impart some supernatural wisdom into your life.

Enjoy those elderly people who can impart substanital wisdom into your life. One word of wisdom could change your life.

So…what are YOU grateful for today?

My Daily Gratitudes for 12/22/2011

This is what I’m thankful for today:

1. I’m thankful that a client I do freelance work for thought enough to send me a gift for this Christmas season. (How sweet!)

2. I’m thankful that I live in the country and can hear roosters crowing, and see horses in the fields, yet 7 miles away, I have every big city convenience. (How decadent for me!)

3. I’m thankful for my clean bill of health; so wonderful compared to last year at this time. (Yay!)

4. I’m thankful for a son who takes care of and supports his family. (Such a Godly man; so proud of him!)

5. I’m thankful for a daughter-in-law who is so sweet, such a natural artist with all her creations, and such a perfect mom to my two grandchildren. (I’m so blessed!)

What are you thankful for today?

This is what I’m grateful for today…

1. I’m grateful for a long and peaceful sleep last night without having to think about waking up to work deadlines. =)

2. I’m grateful for the grocery items and toys I purchased at Target that were 50% lower than my local store prices. Yippee!!!

3. I’m grateful for the warm and bright sunshine that’s streaming into my windows and warming up this place even while there’s still frost on the ground.

4. I’m grateful for hearing from friends that I haven’t seen in years.

What are YOU grateful for today? Please share.

I am so amazed at the low prices I found at Target today!

The new Target stores, their offerings, AND their low prices for quality brand name products are amazing! Today I stopped in there to pick up one final Christmas gift. I remembered that I had received a couple of mailers from Target that talked about their fresh produce section and all the groceries they offered.

In the Target grocery section…

Of course, I had my shopping list with me for the food items I needed to purchase for Christmas Eve dinner with the family. In my handbag, I also had brought along the QFC flyer with all their grocery items on sale. So where did I head first? I found Del Monte French Cut Green Beans and Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup, for… 49 cents each. Yes, you read that correctly…49 cents.

That’s when I decided that I might have to do my grocery shopping at Target. Every item I did a price-check on what lower than all the other grocery store advertised holiday prices. So, thank you, Target, you just made me so happy!

Flat-Screen TVs

Just out of curiosity, I strolled through the electronics section looking at the flat-screen TVs. I found a Samsung 32″Class 720p 60hz LCD HDTV for $299.00! Plus, they were including a $30 gift card.

Target Home Holiday Season Clearance thru 12/31/2011

They also have much of their holiday season items on clearance from now until the end of the year.

Thanks, Target! And to all you last-minute shoppers, Merry Christmas!

My daily gratitudes for 12/20/2011

1. I’m grateful that one of my mentored authors, Kenneth Tingle and his book, The Girl in the Italian Bakery (mentored and edited by me) made it to #1 in Amazon Kindle downloads this past week for 2 days in a row, and #4 for 3 days in a row. Curious as to why? Check it out and learn why he’s sold more than 10,000 copies of his book.