On Words: Writing Tips

Writing Tip 359: “Ye/You” vs. “Thee/Thou” (and the endless pursuit of a plural “you”)

Where I grew up, “y’all” is as everyday as the Appalachian Mountains that surround you like an embrace, but I now have family and friends who cringe a bit at that word. A few even occasionally use “yous,” and I try my best not to shudder, though I realize my own regionalisms probably have the same effect on their ears.

“Ye/You” vs. “Thee/Thou” (and the search for a plural "you") Honestly, it all comes down to the same problem: When you’re talking to a group of people, what’s the best word to use to make it clear you’re talking to a whole bunch of people? You’re not just talking to Rebecca. You’re talking to her entire department or her entire family.

Maybe you have the Goonies in the back of your head, with Sloth saying “Hey, you guys…” And, again, while it offers an answer, “you guys,” is still not quite right. While many utilize “guys” as a gender-neutral word, it still has a male connotation that doesn’t always sit well.

Writing Tip 358: “Bring” vs. “Take”

"Bring" vs. "Take" Bring it on. See what I’m saying here? I’m inviting you to deliver a challenge my way, and I’m ready for it. Today, that challenge just happens to be the usage of “bring” vs. “take.”

If you need to deliver a book to your neighbor’s, should you “take it next-door” or “bring it next-door”? There is a right answer, whether you’re aware of it or not.

Writing Tip 357: Peter Piper Picked a What?

Peter Piper picked a peck of hot peppers? Peter Piper didn’t pick a “pack” of pickled peppers. Peter Piper picked a “peck” of pickled peppers. But have you ever wondered what the heck a peck was?

It’s a bafflement of generations. We practice the tongue twister, never teasing the meaning from the lines. But it’s time to elevate our comprehension.

"If I was" vs. "if I were" - wishing — Make a wish. Imagine the impossible. Just make sure you get your verbs straight.

If I were a rich man… If I were a boy… Whether you want to start this “if I was” vs. “if I were” conversation with Fiddler on the Roof or Beyoncé, it’s a conversation we need to have.

Let’s talk unreal conditionals and the subjunctive mood. Actually, no, let’s not. That doesn’t sound very exciting.

Let’s talk music and musicians who get grammar. More exciting? Almost. But bear with me.

Writing Tip 355: “Inflamed” vs. “Enflamed”

"Inflamed" vs. "Enflamed" When the discussion gets heated, are tempers “inflamed” or “enflamed”? Is there a difference? Which one should you use? Some days, it might feel hard to keep yourself in check, but before passions flare (or is it “flair”?), let’s settle this once and for all.

“Heroine” vs. “Heroin” — Don’t give your heroine the short shrift by calling her the wrong name (and while you’re at it, don’t give her a “short shift” by mixing your words)

Oh, I see you, letter E, making your big difference between these two words. The question is, does everyone else see you too?

When I stumble upon a writing blog or a Twitter post, where someone is talking about the “heroin” of their novel, I just want to chime in. Not because I’m an editor. No, I’m sure it’s not a typo. I’m sure that wordsmith just feels like writing is such a drug, an addition, something for better or worse you just can’t shake, something that gets into your blood stream and makes you buzz sometimes, makes you giddy and exhilarated, something that makes you hallucinate and hear voices of characters when reality tells you they just aren’t there…

“Right” or “Rite” of Passage — Should you take a right? Or is the journey itself a rite? I could write an entire story about the muddle of these words—right, rite, write?—but I’ll stop here.

Discussions of “Rights” are sometimes tricky. Discussions of “Rites” are often equally complicated. Discussions of why I capitalized both of those words might be intimidating. But discussing the differences between “rights” and “rites” shouldn’t be a matter that mystifies us.

"Work in Progress" vs. "Work in Process" painted hands - love — We as a society, as a nation, as people on this earth are works in progress, no? And, wow, do we need to get to work.

What does the ever-popular #wip stand for? Or maybe I should ask, what does it stand for to you?

This is a tricky answer, because it depends on when in the past two hundred years you’re curious about, which side of the Atlantic you’re on, or if you’re in the manufacturing or finance industries.

Yes, these responses matter.

“Soul of Discretion" vs. "Sole Discretion" — Neither these soles nor these souls seem very discreet. Just saying.

A sole is a type of fish that discreetly hides in the sand of the ocean floor, but it isn’t the origin of either of these phrases.

Your fingers might have the “sole” vs. “soul” debate as they dance across the keyboard, aiming for the correct spelling, but, really, it comes down to that little word “of.”

Writing Tip 350: “Marinade” vs. “Marinate”

Foodies can be a fascinating and feisty bunch. Don’t get them started on the layers of flavor in their last bite or the barm on their craft beer, and for the love of your taste buds, please don’t slip up in your usage of “marinade” vs. “marinate” when you’re sharing your own recipe (or pictures of it) with this oftentimes punctilious crowd.

Of course, correct word usage shouldn’t only be for the connoisseurs among us. Yes, even you with your love of peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwiches can get this spelling correct.