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Authors on Editing: Interview with Sadeqa Johnson

When people think of writers, they don’t always think of the work ethic that it requires to sit down and make a creative project come to be. There is more than just imagination required. There is dedication, determination, and a seemingly endless drive that separates a hobbyist from a professional.

Talking with a wordsmith like Sadeqa Johnson reminds me of this creative truth. Many have a literary calling, but not everyone moves from a dream to a reality, from black page to ink-covered manuscript, and from rough draft to polished final project ready to share with the world. A masterful storyteller, teacher, and inspirational speaker, Sadeqa is a writer to pay attention to. I’m honored to present you with the following interview.

Sadeqa Johnson editing interview

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Writing Tip 331: “Lighted” vs. “Lit”

"Lighted" vs. "Lit"If your buddy is “lit,” he’s either drunk or he’s wearing a light-up Christmas sweater. If he’s “lighted,” I suppose you know intoxication is out of the question, but is there a difference otherwise? Should you be worried about flares of flame?

The difference between “lighted” and “lit” is a question that comes up fairly frequently, and people are always looking for the simple answer.

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Writing Tip 330: “Satire” vs. “Satyr”

“Satire” vs. “Satyr” in the woods
When you see these woods, what do you imagine? Is a mythological creature about to step out from behind a tree? Is it a place of exile for political types who need to rediscover nature, authenticity, and themselves? This is the difference between “satyr” and “satire.”

Witty satire can be many things—ridiculous, hilarious, poignant, and even brutal—but the one thing it’s not is a part-man, part-goat creature of the wood.

There is no alternate spelling of “satire” that makes it cleverer or more in line with its roots. You might be able to spell “theater” as “theatre” in the English language, but “satire” is never the same thing as “satyr.”

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Writing Tip 329: “Pleaded” vs. “Pled”

"Pleaded" vs. "Pled"Are you guilty of this communication faux pas? Well, before you take any plea deals, let’s chat about “plead” vs. “pled.” Do you know which one is correct?

Yesterday, perhaps, you pleaded or pled guilty to not knowing the answer. Today, though, it’s time for that to change.

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Trivia: Finding the “Terror” in “Terrific”

Terrific Terror TriviaJust when you think people’s casual uses of “awesome” are too far from this word’s origin linked with “awe” of the miraculous, let me turn you to another word that’s wandered even further from its starting point.

When you think that something’s “terrific,” that something doesn’t terrify you, does it? It doesn’t put you into a state of terror, right?

Well, your answers to these questions would be different if you lived only a few centuries ago. Each of these words–terrific, terrify, and terror–comes from the same Latin root, terrēre, meaning to frighten. And we can’t forget “terrible,” which also should be included in this bunch. When they entered the English language in the late 1600s, each spoke of fear so great it made you tremble.

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Writing Tip 328: “Oldest” vs. “Eldest”

"Oldest" vs. "Eldest"You know you’ve wondered about this. What on earth is the difference between “oldest” and “eldest”? Don’t they mean the same thing? Is this some ye old colonial spelling—like “ye” instead of “the”–that for some grammar-forsaken reason just refuses to fade into the linguistic history books?

The answer is simpler than you realize.

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Writing Tip 327: “Hank” vs. “Hunk”

“Hank” vs. “Hunk”
Oh no, a hank or a hunk? This one always seems to confuse!

Just when you think I’m going to be writing this tip about a guy named Hank who may or may not be a dreamy hunk, think again.

There are two words that mean a section of something, and these two words are “hank” and “hunk”; however, there’s a big difference between their two meanings. And it has nothing to do with their dreaminess factor.

For example, if you had a tangle of yarn, you’d have a hank of yarn, not a hunk of yarn. Do you know why?

  • A “hank” is a coil, knot, or loop, often of a definite length. You can have a hank of yarn or a hank of hair.
  • A “hunk” is a piece or portion. You can have a hunk of cheese or a hunk of clay.

If it resembles threads, cords, or twine, use “hank.” If it’s a big chunk of something that’s not stringy, use “hunk.”

Of course,

  • “Hank” is also a male name, often a shortened form of “Henry.”
  • A “hunk” is also a studmuffin.

A Hank may be a hunk, but that’s beside the point of this reminder.

Happy writing, folks!

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Writing Tip 326: “Now a Days” vs. “Nowadays” vs. “Nowdays”

“now a days” vs. “nowadays” - dumbfounded monkeys
You might be dumbfounded to learn you can just mash words together like this and call it correct, but it’s as true with “nowadays” as it is with the word “dumbfounded.”

Sometimes, when it comes to spelling, we might feel like we’re in a daze, especially when it comes to words that we hear said more than we see written.

If you were writing this phrase in the fourteenth century—if you were lucky enough to know how to read or write in that era—you would have been using a multiple word form, but language has evolved since then.

Nowadays, the correct spelling is “nowadays”—all one word. No hyphens or spaces needed.

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