Blog - Page 8 of 54 - Kris Spisak

Writing Tip 405: “Bloc” vs. “Block”

Splatter or splatter on “Bloc” vs. “Block”? — 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.

“Snoot” vs. “Snout” of a dog — What would you say? Is this a “snoot” or “snout”? Is this a “dog”? A “pupper”? A “doggo”? There are so many language options.

Sometimes, we need to delve deep into heavy issues and be our best possible selves, especially in the words we use. We need to effect change. Other times, we just need to figure out the difference between “snoot” vs. “snout” because there’s got to be a difference. There wouldn’t be two words if there wasn’t a difference hiding in there somewhere, right?

Right. Definitely. And it’s time to dig into these answers. (Whether you’re digging with your snout or snoot leading the way is up to you.)

“Rue” vs. “Roux” - Fox — 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.

“Affect Change” or “Effect Change” — 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:

“Cut and Dry” vs. “Cut and Dried” - peppers — Are these peppers cut and dried? Yep.

If only the English language was cut and dry—or is it “cut and dried”? Oh no. It’s another expression that you probably felt really confident about until I raised the question. And now it’s ping-ponging back and forth in your mind. “Cut and Dry” vs. “Cut and Dried” vs. “Cut-and-Dry” vs. “Cut-and-Dried.” What is the standard version?

If you’re having a moment of embarrassment, nervous you’ve always said this one wrong, you might feel better because you’ve hardly been alone in this confusion.

Writing Tip 400: “Past Time” vs. “Pastime” (A Time Capsule)

“Past Time” vs. “Pastime” vs. "Pass Time" 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.

Write It Down – A Call to Action (video)

Every single day of our lives, we are surrounded by stories, stories that empower us or devastate us, stories true, stories manipulated, and stories that are absolute fabrications. It’s true now, and it has been as long as there have been listeners captivated by a good tale.

But you know what? You can claim your stories. Capture every piece of them, from the moments of fear to the moments of awakening to the moments that drive you to action to the moments that send you back to your family and friends, hugging them tighter than ever.

Eleanor Roosevelt, Frederick Douglass, Anne Frank… so many before us have told their stories and changed the world. It’s your turn.

Write It Down – Journal Prompt #9 (video)

When we talk about a day-to-day accounting of your life, writing down the moments, capturing your world, your relationships, and your activities, sometimes we don’t take the time to process how it all feels. Take a moment and acknowledge that. How are you doing?

What have been the stages of your emotions through this whole time period? Disbelief? Annoyance? Impatience? Anger? Grief? Determination?

Have you been writing it down, allowing yourself to process the new truths of your life and this moment? Writing anything down gives you time to absorb it, understand it, question it, and spark new ideas.

For journal prompt #9, let’s focus on you.

Writing Tip 399: “Emoji” vs. “Emoticon”

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.

Write It Down – Journal Prompt #8 (video)

So much has happened over the past months. So much was going to happen, perhaps, but didn’t. What happened with those plans? Were they cancelled? Were they transformed?

Write it down. People adapt. It’s what we do. It’s one of humanity’s strongest traits. We find ways to keep going, even when those ways are something we never would have guessed possible a short time ago.

Prompt #8: Start with today’s date. Then pick something that was supposed to happen in one way during this time but that had to change dramatically. What was the original plan? What did the change look like? This is your excuse to capture a moment in your life like a time capsule. You’re living through history. Be bold enough to preserve everything about it. This is a moment where we can all be historians. Let’s embrace it.