Call us: (443) 956-2249
kelle@kc-communications.com
  • Blog
  • Contact
B2B Technology Copywriting – Kellé Campbell PR WriterB2B Technology Copywriting – Kellé Campbell PR WriterB2B Technology Copywriting – Kellé Campbell PR WriterB2B Technology Copywriting – Kellé Campbell PR Writer
  • Home
  • Why Kellé
  • Software & E-learning Writing
  • Content Writing
  • Portfolio
  • Testimonials

Dodging the Homophone Bullet

    Home Resources Dodging the Homophone Bullet
    NextPrevious

    Dodging the Homophone Bullet

    By B2B Tech Writer | Resources | 2 comments | 18 March, 2011 | 0

    Speeding BulletWhile editing a client’s proposal, I noticed that the program’s agenda was described as “complimenting” the public school curriculum. Recently, a friend received a flier from a public relations department offering “complementary” beverages at a special event. I’ve seen these two words misused so often that I occasionally check the dictionary just to keep things clear in my own mind.

    A lot of people won’t catch these errors. In fact, my client proudly told me that a grantor had called her proposal the best that they’d ever received (this was before I had ever seen it, so I can’t take credit).

    So do the little mistakes matter? We don’t know how many other grantors saw the gaffe and how it influenced their perceptions. If you keep writing that the program’s agenda is “praising” (aka complimenting) the curriculum or offer “corresponding” (aka complementary) beverages, eventually someone is going to notice and question your capabilities.

    Homophones are words that sound the same but are spelled differently, and they pose a writing trap that’s hard to avoid. Your spell check program won’t catch these errors, and even when you review your work, your mind might stubbornly translate what you wrote into what you meant to write. Also, some people simply mistake the meaning of the words.

    Common Homophone Traps
    These are just some of the words that are easily confused.

    Principle = rule, belief, attitude
    Principal = Main; chief; presiding officer, especially of a school

    Complementary = corresponding, opposite
    Complimentary = free, flattering

    To = a preposition and adverb used to indicate purpose, direction, proximity, position, etc.
    Too = also, additionally, very, excessively
    Two = pair, second

    Its = possessive form of “it”
    It’s = contraction of “it is”

    If you’re interested in seeing how many words can be mistaken for another, here’s a list of 70 common examples.

    Three Simple Ways to Dodge Homophone Traps
    First, use substitutions if possible. In the case of the proposal, I quietly replaced the offending word with “supplements.” The substitution got rid of the problem but was close enough to the client’s preference to prevent any arguments.

    Second, appoint someone else (preferably someone who writes well) to be your second pair of eyes. If you’re self-editing, take the time to walk away from the copy for a few hours or even days. You’ll catch more errors if you begin the editing process with a fresh perspective.

    Third, write with a dictionary or thesaurus by your side. Don’t let pride get in the way of using these tools. A well-thumbed reference book is a sign of a conscientious writer.

    These safeguards should help you eliminate homophone mistakes and other errors. If you ever do misuse a homophone, simply determine how the mistake happened and make a note to watch out for that trap the next time around.

    No tags.
    Avatar

    B2B Tech Writer

    More posts by B2B Tech Writer

    Related Post

    • Boost Your Business Value – Get Published!

      By admin | Comments are Closed

      Getting articles published is an excellent way to establish yourself as an expert and gain the recognition of peers, customers, and superiors. Organizations love to say they have a published writer/expert on their payroll, andRead more

    • 4 Alternatives to Press Releases

      By admin | Comments are Closed

      Press releases are considered the mainstay of public relations, but that doesn’t mean that other written materials can’t get you media exposure. If you don’t have a subject newsworthy enough  for a release, try sendingRead more

    • 4 Ways to Reduce Writing Time

      By admin | Comments are Closed

      With our hectic schedules, tactics for trimming time off or even getting started on a writing project can be invaluable. Everyone has their own preferred techniques, but here are a few I’ve learned: 1. LetRead more

    • The Case for the Inverted Pyramid

      By B2B Tech Writer | Comments are Closed

      Storytelling techniques have a lot of advocates (including me). However, some storytelling advocates suggest that  the traditional  writing structure of the inverted pyramid  is a thing of the past. In the inverted pyramid format, theRead more

    • Grammar Fix: Repairing Fused Sentences and Comma Splices

      By B2B Tech Writer | Comments are Closed

      You probably remember the terms comma splice (also called a comma fault) and fused sentence (aka a run-on sentence) from some point in English class. For those of you who need a refresher, these terms referRead more

    • Tell Your Story with Case Studies

      By B2B Tech Writer | Comments are Closed

      Case studies provide all the appeal of a good story while sharing solutions for overcoming challenges or achieving objectives. The promise of practical tips draws readers’ interest, and if they can identify with the peopleRead more

    • Solving the “Who” vs. “Whom” Mystery

      By B2B Tech Writer | Comments are Closed

      One major English grammar challenge is figuring out when to use either who or whom. A good number of professional communicators (myself included) have done fairly decent impressions of owls as they glare at their computerRead more

    • 9 Ways to Recycle Articles

      By B2B Tech Writer | Comments are Closed

      Publication articles are great for establishing credibility. If you were mentioned in the article, you’re noteworthy. If you wrote it, you’re an expert. And you can get a lot more exposure if you recycle thatRead more

    • Avatar
      Ryan January 21, 2016 at 4:04 pm

      Good afternoon! This post has nothing to do with your article, but I am hoping to find out where you got the image of the speeding bullet that you used in your article? I am creating a business and would like to include it in my logo, and in order to properly copyright my logo I need to have the permission of the source of that bullet image.

      Thank you very much!

      • Avatar
        administrator January 24, 2016 at 12:55 am

        Thanks for contacting me, Ryan. I hope the information I gave you via email proved handy!

    NextPrevious

    Send Me a Message

      Your Name (required)

      Your Email (required)

      Phone Number

      Website Address

      Message

      Recent Posts

      • 2 January, 2021
        Comments Off on Marketing & PR Tasks for an Awesome New Year

        Marketing & PR Tasks for an Awesome New Year

      • 30 November, 2020
        Comments Off on How to get the most out of your video testimonial

        How to get the most out of your video testimonial

      • 30 September, 2020
        Comments Off on Supercharge Content with Video & Visuals

        Supercharge Content with Video & Visuals

      • 27 July, 2020
        Comments Off on 3 Ways to Write Headlines People Want to Click

        3 Ways to Write Headlines People Want to Click

      • 28 June, 2020
        Comments Off on Skyrocket Sales Funnel Success: Get the Content Right

        Skyrocket Sales Funnel Success: Get the Content Right

      • 20 May, 2020
        Comments Off on Finding an Effective Content Mix

        Finding an Effective Content Mix

      My Work

      • Quick Guide to for Learning Intervention Early Warning Indicators
      • Spartanburg Case Study
      • School Case Study
      • Twitter Backup App
      • Landing Page
      KC Communications
      Kellé Campbell is a public relations writer with more than 15 years of experience performing writing, editing, ghostwriting, and research services for clients in a variety of sectors, specializing in technology.

      Recent Posts

      • Marketing & PR Tasks for an Awesome New Year

        Congratulations, you’re at the start of a brand-new year! Before you zero

        2 January, 2021
      • How to get the most out of your video testimonial

        The most common video testimonial I’ve seen consists of a title card

        30 November, 2020

      Recent Tweets

      Tweets by @kcwriter

      Contact Info

      Phone Number
      (443) 956-2249
      Fax:
      (443) 288-5074
      Email Address
      kelle@kc-communications.com
      Copyright © 2021 KC Communications. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy, Disclaimer and Terms
      • Home
      • Why Kellé
      • Software & E-learning Writing
      • Content Writing
      • Portfolio
      • Testimonials
      • Blog
      • Contact
      B2B Technology Copywriting – Kellé Campbell PR Writer
      We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy