Like many of the previous blogs we are looking at homophones that in this case can also become typographical errors. Words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings.
I understand how important it is to have an error free manuscript. With over 40 years of experience, I have found that homophones give almost every writer problems at one time or another. Because we sound words out in our mind, it is very easy to write the wrong word.
Let’s not forget typographical errors also, a slip of the finger on the keyboard can create a different word that may not be caught by a spell-checker. There are many groups of words that vary by only one letter, such as vary and very, or must, mist and most. Three of the words we are looking at today fit this criteria!
The correctly spelled word in the wrong context will not be flagged by most spell-checkers. Word Refiner is dedicated to uprooting all of these hidden errors and providing your document free of spelling errors that you want and deserve.

Now, onto today’s episode number five in the series of quadruple homophones.

Tew is an archaic word from Middle English, it refers to a process of preparing leather by beating and kneading it. Making the leather softer and more supple.

To is a preposition, it can be used with nouns, pronouns, and verbs.  We go to the stadium to see the football game.  We forgot to bring our blanket, we were cold.

Too is an adverb. It refers to something done in excess of the norm, going beyond the standard or regulation. This word can be used in multiple ways also.  You ate too much ice cream.  I want some ice cream too.  The first example deals with the concept of excess, the second is like saying also.

Two is a number, it can serve as a noun or an adjective. While not often mixed up with to and too, it is subject to typographical errors, as they all are.  An easy way to remember for my numerically challenged friends is the letter “w”.  It is used in other words dealing with numbers like twice, and twenty.

Perhaps this tip will help: when in doubt, try reading the section aloud; unless you are in a library, then reading aloud is not allowed.  Oops, two more homophones.

There they are, four words with identical sounds.  If you use the wrong word the reader might think they hit an invisible tree root and lose the reading momentum you worked so hard to build.  Use every tool available to prevent that from happening, do not give your readers a reason to not finish your story. Use Word Refiner, beta readers, critique partners, proofreaders and editors to ensure that your work is error free and as smooth as possible.
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed this issue of Homophones Hurt Your Writing.  Follow me on twitter: @wordrefiner, for more alerts about hazardous homophones search for  #HomophonesHurtYourWriting or #TyposHurtYourWriting on twitter.
Don’t forget the free offer for writers under the “Learn More” tab on my website. I also offer another service at a great value, a week of multi-website promotion for your book. The details are on my website.
Quadruple homophones

Words Have Meaning and Spelling Makes a difference

Like many of the previous blogs we are looking at homophones. Words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings. 
I understand how important it is to have an error free manuscript. With over 40 years of experience, I have found that homophones give almost every writer problems at one time or another. Because we sound words out in our mind, it is very easy to write the wrong word.
Let’s not forget typographical errors also, a slip of the finger on the keyboard can create a different word that may not be caught by a spell-checker. There are many groups of words that vary by only one letter, such as vary and very, or must, mist and most. Three of the words we are looking at today fit this criteria!
The correctly spelled word in the wrong context will not be flagged by most spell-checkers. Word Refiner is dedicated to uprooting all of these hidden errors and providing your document free of spelling errors that you want and deserve.

Now, onto today’s episode! Fourth in the series about Quadruple Homophones. High score!

Carrot, an edible tuber many grow in a garden and millions of us eat in different forms. Wait, I am not going to go all Bubba on you, as in Forrest Gump; maybe a little, many of us like our carrots raw, some only cooked. I am very partial to carrot cake with walnuts. Some drink their carrots.  Okay, I will stop. I am not Rachel Ray.

Carat, precious jewels are weighed in carats.
      “It is so hot in here, I better take my 2 carat diamond engagement ring off!” She said, disappointed that no one in the office had noticed she was newly engaged.  

Karat, the purity of gold is measured in karats, with the finest commonly found being 24k gold.  It takes a lot of heating in a forge and skimming to remove the impurities in the molten gold.  This process makes the gold very soft, explaining why generations ago people would bite gold to see if it was pure.

Caret, this is an editor’s signal that something needs to be inserted at this point. The Caret looks like a little mountain. We see it on some keyboards, but not on others.

There they are, four words with identical sounds.  If you use the wrong word the reader might think they hit an invisible tree root and lose the reading momentum you worked so hard to build.  Use every tool available to prevent that from happening, do not give your readers a reason to not finish your story. Use Word Refiner, beta readers, critique partners, proofreaders and editors to ensure that your work is error free and as smooth as possible.
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed this issue of Homophones Hurt Your Writing.  Follow me on twitter: @wordrefiner, for more alerts about hazardous homophones search for  #HomophonesHurtYourWriting or #TyposHurtYourWriting on twitter.
Don’t forget the free offer for writers under the “Learn More” tab on my website. I also offer another service at a great value, a week of multi-website promotion for your book. The details are on my website.
Quadruple homophones
Words Have Meaning and Spelling Makes a Difference.