Better spelling wonted

Today's fun word that looks like an error but isn't is: Wont!

A wont is a habitual way of doing things. He went to school in the morning, as is his wont. There are also adjective and verb forms. He went to school, as he is wont to do.

Your spellchecker can deceive you. Don't trust it.

Caring Less

If you really don't care at all about something, then you couldn't care less. If you say, "I could care less," then you are saying "I care at least a little."

You can still proscribe drugs

Today's fun word that looks like an error but isn't is: Proscribe!

To proscribe is to condemn or forbid.

Your spellchecker can deceive you. Don't trust it.

Expansive and Expensive

Expansive - very large. Containing a broad expanse.

Expensive - very costly.

Confident and Confidant

"Confident" is an adjective. To be confident is to be certain or sure. It is often used to describe someone who is sure of his ability to handle any situation.

"Confidant" is a noun. A confidant is someone you are willing to tell secrets to, someone you confide in. "Confidant" is masculine. The feminine form is "confidante."

Cant Spell This

Today's fun word that looks like an error but isn't is: Cant!

A cant is a secret language. Examples include Thieves' Cant and Shelta, also known as the Cant, used by Irish Travellers.

Your spellchecker can deceive you. Don't trust it.

Revising and Rewriting

Give your writing a rest before you go back to review it. How long a rest? That depends on what you've written. If it's a paragraph, wait a few minutes. If it's a novel, wait at least several weeks.

It also depends, of course, on whether you face a deadline.

Check your manuscript with a fresh eye. Ideally, leave it alone for a while and then revise it again.

Look at the document macroscopically and check to see if the organization makes sense and the message is clear. Check sentence by sentence and word by word, being picky about grammar, spelling, and word choice. Check every pronoun and ask yourself if it can be misunderstood.

If you have a lot of trouble with spelling and grammar, consider going through the document backwards. This will help you focus on each word and sentence.

If possible, get someone you trust to look over what you've written. Often something that seems perfectly clear to you will be ambiguous or confusing to another reader.

The most important part of revising and rewriting is knowing when to stop. Some writers will literally invest months trying to get the first page perfect, and never move on to the second page. There is a fine line between high standards and thundering idiocy. Be careful not to cross it.