a copywriter's guide to: commonly misused (and misspelled) words
TRANSCRIPT
A Copywriter’s Guide to the
(& Tips to Help You Not Mess Up)
@CopywriteMattrs
Most Commonly MisusedMisused
& MisspelledMisspelled Words
As copywriters, our reputationcan rest on our understandingof language.
But at one point or another,you've probably asked yourself...
“Is this the right word to use?”
Fret not!
Here's a quick guideto words that make us
do a double takeduring proofing!
Practise vs Practice
verb nounr q
verb nounr q
“If you practisepractiseyour copywriting,
you repeat the activity until you
improve.”
r
Practise vs Practice
verb nounr q
“If you visityour doctor’s
practicepractice, you go to a place.”
qPractise vs Practice
License vs Licence
verb nounr q
verb nounr q
“licensinglicensing a venue”
r
License vs Licence
verb nounr q
“a physical licencelicence, like a
driver’s licence”
qLicense vs Licence
Advise vs Advice
verb nounr q
verb nounr q
“act of giving adviceadvice”
r
Advise vs Advice
verb nounr q
“helpful opinion”
qAdvise vs Advice
Follow the esses to action!
Soccer practiSe
CWM Tip
Affect vs Effect
verb nounr q
verb nounr q
“If youaffectaffect a situation,
you cause an outcome.”
r
Affect vs Effect
verb nounr q
“That outcome is the effecteffect.”
qAffect vs Effect
If it’s something you’regoing to do, use “affect.”
If it’s something you’vealready done, use “effect.”
CWM Tip
Discrete vs Discreet
“something independent or
distinct”yDiscrete vs Discreet
“being more private than usual
so you don’t cause embarrassment”
z
Discrete vs Discreet
Discreet = Be private andkeep the esses together.
Discrete = The esses are separated because they're independent!
CWM Tip
Complementary vs Complimentary
Complementary vs Complimentary
“when you combine a few
associated objects”
y
Complementary vs Complimentary
“nice thingsyou say to
someone with new duds on”
z
Remember the “i's”!complImentary = nIce
CWM Tip
Stationary vs Stationery
Stationary vs Stationery
“state ofstillness like zen meditation… or a
cabinet”
y
Stationary vs Stationery
“pens, paper & other interesting things you find
at Officeworks”z
Remember the esses!stationEry = EnvElopE
CWM Tip
Enquiry vs Inquiry
Enquiry vs Inquiry
“question”y
Enquiry vs Inquiry
“an official investigation”
z
Enquiry = quEstionINquiry = INvestigation
CWM Tip
Want more practical advice to make you a better writer?
@CopywriteMattrs Belinda Weaver
noun!noun!q
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