We could also talk about the “splatter” and/or “spatter” on these blocks, but that’s a different discussion.

When it comes to elections, there are so many words people don’t quite use correctly. I’m not even talking about #fakenews. That’s another story—one worth digging into with all of your curiosity and truth-seeking passion. For now, though, I’m looking at you “few” versus “less,” and there are so many more examples.

• How do you spell it when people “canvas” / “canvass” a neighborhood?
• Or when we count the “amount of” vs. “number of” votes?

Yep, I’ve already covered a number of these, but today let’s look at the words “block” vs. “bloc”—another tricky pair that is muddled all of the time. These are two unique words, folks.

As we take the time to better understand the world around us and participate in making it a better place, it’s time to ensure we get this, among so many other things, right.

Remember:

• A “bloc” is not a typo. It is a group, often temporary, acting together for a common purpose. Countries can make up a bloc. Legislators can make up a bloc. Voters can too.
• A “block” has multiple definitions. It is an obstacle, a solid rectangular piece of wood or another building material, or a rectangular section of a city or town surrounded on all sides by interconnected streets. These definitions seem to go on and on, but the one thing a “block” isn’t is that group acting together for a common purpose. If you’re seeing it used in that way, my friends, what you’re looking at is a typo.

When it comes to the history of these words, it won’t help much when it comes to telling them apart. Why? Because they both derive from the same French word, bloc. The difference is when they came into the English language. “Block” came into English in the 1400s, while “bloc” came centuries later in the early 1900s. And their meanings have always been unique.

Confused? Don’t be. “Block” is misused all of the time, when “bloc” is what a writer truly intends. These writers just frequently don’t know the difference. But ignorance isn’t bliss. It’s just messy. We can do better, and that’s what we’re out to do, right? Is there a bloc for that? Let’s make that happen.

Bonus writing tip: For those overly reliant on spellcheck, have confidence if you use the phrase “en bloc,” meaning “as a whole.” Just like usages of “en masse,” a phrase that shares nearly the same meaning, spellcheck will tell you it’s wrong every time, but sometimes a dignified turn of phrase not only elevates your communication, but it also makes you savvier than your software. Go, you.

You can block someone on social media, or you can be a force in a bloc setting out to collaborate, cooperate, and create a better world for us all. We have many options these days. Have at it, folks. Starting with your word choice is always a smart bet.

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This poor fox rues the day that “What Does the Fox Say?” jumped into pop culture history. He liked his ancient mystery.

Maybe you know that Winnie the Pooh’s friend (and Kanga’s kid) is called “Roo,” but when it comes to “Rue” vs. “Roux” you might feel less confident. How do you spell “rue the day”? Or is it “roux the day”? Maybe little Roo’s birthday is “Roo day”? It’s time to get to some answers once and for all.

Remember:

• To “Rue” means to deeply regret or to feel remorse. “Rue” can also be a noun referencing that deep regret, sorrow, or remorse. If you’re looking for the connection here with the French word rue, meaning “street,” there isn’t one. A shared spelling, sure, but the English version of “rue,” dating back to the 1100s, derives from an Old English word, hrēow, which came from Old High German.
• A “Roux” is a thickening agent used in sauces, soups, and stews. It’s commonly a mixture of flour and butter, but almost any cooked mixture of flour and fat will do (whatever might suit your palate). This “roux” does indeed come from French, specifically a shorthand of beurre roux, meaning “brown butter.” “Roux” came into common English usage in the late 1700s.

Thus, the correct expression is “to rue the day,” which means to bitterly regret an event that’s taken place.

You might have a “roux of the day” that a chef is excited about, but otherwise “rue” holds strong.

Bonus “rue” trivia:

“Rue” is also an herb with a storied history. Not only is it commonly referenced in Lithuanian and Ukrainian folk songs and folktales, but it was once used medicinally from ancient Rome to ancient China. Ancient Egyptians claimed rue was a gift from the gods. Having gained the nickname “The Herb of Grace,” rue was ordered to be used in cloister gardens in the 700s so that nuns and priests would keep their chastity (i.e., they used rue so they wouldn’t rue their decisions). Early Celtic traditions claimed that rue would ward off evil magic. Italian artists like Michelangelo and da Vinci were said to chew on rue to enhance their creativity. Gulliver uses it in Gulliver’s Travels as a strong aromatic to overpower offensive smells. The tales go on and on.

More than you ever wanted to know about rue? Do you have a desire to make a “roux” involving “rue” and see what happens? (I’d recommend further research before trying that one.) What little Roo would say about all of this, I don’t know, but you, at least, are fully prepared to tackle the correct spelling of these words. And there’s nothing to rue about that.

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When change is in the air—when you can see it in the clouds, on the streets, or anywhere else—what are you going to do?

Oh, I know, you’ve got this. You’ve mastered “affect” vs. “effect.” You didn’t even need Get a Grip on Your Grammar to teach you the difference between this tricky pair. But then came this moment in your life, and you’re ready to “effect change” in the world (or are you ready to “affect change” in the world)? Uh oh. “Affect Change” or “Effect Change”?

Do you still feel as confident as you did a moment ago?

First, some review: More

So this is my four hundredth writing tip. Cue the confetti shaped like commas? The party horns? The shout-outs about my books and my newsletter, ready for more readers and subscribers? I admittedly thought about it, but I’ll save the hoopla for another day. With so much going on in the world at the moment, this author’s little celebration wrapped up in an explanation of “Past Time” vs. “Pastime” can wait. There are so many bigger causes to focus on.

Perhaps you could say that it’s “past time” that Merriam Webster added a new definition of “racism” to the dictionary, a landmark change that happened this week. Perhaps you could say that closely examining language, how we use it, and how it can empower us all is my favorite “pastime.” Do you see the difference in these two spellings?

Words, in all of their subtleties, matter. But you know that by now, don’t you?

Remember:

• “Past time,” as two words, is often written in a sentence like “It’s past time that…” It’s a reference to something being overdue, to something that should have happened already. “Past time” could also simply be a reference to a “time” in the “past,” as in something historical.
• “Pastime” is a noun, meaning something that one might do regularly in their free time.
• “To pass time” is, of course, different still—because the English language likes to keep you on your toes. “To pass time” means to spend time doing something, anything, while time goes by.

The word “pastime,” as in that hobby, comes from the squishing together of “pass” and “time,” not a squishing together of “past” and “time.” Sure “squishing together” isn’t the technical phrase. You can see where the same transformation happened in “nowadays” and “troubleshoot.” We could talk truncation or near-portmanteau’s but I feel you falling asleep just as I’m jotting down this very sentence. As always, knowing the jargon is far less important than knowing how to use language properly.

“Pastime” has been used since the 15^th century—that’s the 1400s, everybody. And I can only imagine how pastimes have changed since that time. So much in the world has changed since then. So much is still changing day by day in our present reality.

Am I dating this language tip like I never do in any others? That would be an affirmative. Why is this important? Because this is Writing Tip #400. Because language is important. What words and phrases mean, how they are understood, and how we discuss them are all ideas that are important. The language that trickles out of our mouths needs to be thoughtful and intentional. Ignorance is no excuse. It’s true with grammar, and it’s true with so much else.

Happy 400^th writing tip, all—eight years in the making. Now get out there and use your words well. See where they might take both you and the world!

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Sometimes this writing stuff is serious business. And sometimes, it’s finally realizing that yes, there is a difference between “emoji” vs. “emoticon.” One of these words somehow even feels a bit “old school” already. Weird, huh?

Is this a writing rule that your past grammar teachers would have been strict about? Probably not. Depending on your age, these words might not have even existed when you had grammar teachers, but with Y2K as my witness, it’s time to get this right. More