Tactical Tuesday: Advice for Self-Editing


As discussed in previous posts, a self-editing checklist is often a helpful tool for authors. Today, I’d like to share some words that are often confused, and adding these to your checklist will save you time when self-editing:

Acute/chronic: A good way to remember the difference in these words is to think of pain. A chronic pain is unyielding. Acute pain is at its most painful or critical point.

Affluent/effluent: Both words deal with the flow of water. Affluent water flows into; effluent water flows out. Also affluent can deal with an overflowing of riches, etc.

All right/alright: Although increasing in usage, the experts agree. It is never all right to use “alright.”

Calendar/calender: The first is a chart showing the days of the week, month, and year. The second is a machine that is used to glaze of smooth paper or cloth.

Chord/cord: Chord has to do with music; cord is a rope or something that connects (tangible or intangible).

Desert/desert/deserts/dessert: Desert (noun) is a dry wasteland; desert (verb) is to abandon; deserts (noun): a just reward or punishment, such as “She received her just deserts.” A dessert is the sweet dish served as the last course of a meal, or a sweet treat.

Faithful/fateful: Faithful is loyal and dependable; fateful is an event or outcome controlled by fate.

Hanged/hung: One of my favorites: People are hanged and objects are hung. Easy enough.

Hoard/horde: A hoard is a stash or hiding place; a horde is a crowd of people.

Mantel/mantle: These words are confused by many writers. A mantel is the shelf or ledge over a fireplace while a mantle is a cloak or a cover.

From time to time, I’ll bring more information to add to your personal checklists.
Happy editing.

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2 comments:

  1. Anne Baxter Campbell12 March, 2013 11:32

    Doesn't chronic also mean something that is recurring, not always constant? For instance, you suffer from migraines on a recurring basis, so would that be considered chronic?
    ~Anne

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  2. Anonymous13 March, 2013 14:30

    Anne: Yes. Merriam Webster does state that chronic means: "marked by long duration or frequent recurrence: not acute." It also means: always present or encountered...among other things.
    Acute means "characterized by a sharpness or severity...having a sudden onset, sharp rise, and short course, being, providing, or requiring short-term medical care; lasting a short time.
    The difference I think is that chronic conditions don't go away. Acute conditions can be severe, but they can be remedied.
    Good point.

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