editor chat, part 2: spell check, please

Two weeks back, we spent time listening to editor Jane MacKay share her insights on why writers need a good editor. (Full disclosure: Jane is my editor and she is amazing!) Jane has worked as an editor since 2007. She takes on independent clients as well as offers her services to a small press she co-founded, Medusa's Muse.

Today, Jane and I discuss spelling. Fasten your seat belts, this will not be pretty.

Okay, Jane, let's talk spelling. You come from the other side of the world from me. I’m a California girl, and I believe you were born in New Zealand. Could you list some of the most common words you see misspelled in manuscripts or documents that land in your inbox?

You are correct. I grew up in New Zealand and have lived in the U.S. since my early 20s, so I’ve now spent about half my life in each country. New Zealand follows British spelling (e.g., colour, dialogue), so I’ve had to become ambidextrous in that regard, although I edit mostly texts by U.S. authors. I don’t know that I’ve noticed any particularly common spelling mistakes, beyond the ones that are constantly being pointed out in memes: your vs. you’re, its vs. it’s, etc. Those are more accurately called grammatical rather than spelling errors. I think the red wiggly line of spellcheck helps writers correct most of their spelling errors before the MS comes to me.

Yes, I love my spellcheck! So maybe there are particular kinds of words that trip up the average writer.

One thing to watch out for is homonyms – words that sound the same but are spelled differently, e.g., to, too, two. One common error that I do see a lot is confusion between breath and breathe, loath and loathe, and other similar pairs of words where the final “e” affects the sound and the meaning. In most of these cases (I haven’t looked to see if this is a pattern without exceptions), the word with the final “e” is the verb. The “e” also creates the hard “th” sound at the end. Thus:

breath (“breth”) = noun: a breath

breathe (“breeth”) = verb: to breathe

One way to remember this is that you need the extra “e” for energy for action! Verbs are action words.

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I couldn't bear it anymore.

Yes, I know one you have tried to help me with is bear v. bare. My answer was to not use it!

If you have your own questions for Jane or would like to know more about her services, check out her website.


Jane will return soon with more tips on grammar and great online resources. If you have a question now, leave it the comments below.

Thanks,
Write On!

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