On Words: Writing Tips

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.

"Bachelors” or “Bachelor’s” degree? (Is there an apostrophe?) — Are those graduation caps hanging up there like apostrophes? Yes? No? Maybe?

There’s nothing like the pride of earning that diploma after years of hard work, but there can be little more embarrassing than making a mistake when talking about your well earned degree.

Is it a “bachelors degree” or a “bachelor’s degree”?

Is it a “masters degree” or a “master’s degree”?

Since the youngest of your school days, punctuation has been out to get you hasn’t it? Just kidding. That punctuation can do you no more harm than an angry emoticon (different from an emoji … more on that soon), but not knowing your punctuation marks can be a roadblock when it appears on your resume.

Writing Tip 397: “Carrots,” “Karats,” “Carats,” or “Carets”?

“Carrots,” “Karats,” “Carats,” or “Carets” It’s widely understood that carrots can keep your eyesight healthy, but as an editor, I’d argue that carets can help your eyes see better too (or they can at least help you notice things you might not have seen before). As for karats and carats, I suppose a certain amount of bling can make anything sparkle brighter.

Right? No? Well… are you at least with me when it comes to the definitions of these four words? “Carrots,” “Karats,” “Carats,” or “Carets.” Only one of them is something that you can grow in your garden.

Writing Tip 396: “Acknowledgments” or “Acknowledgements”?

Recognizing and thanking those who have helped you out along the way is always a good thing—whether in your essay research, your book writing journey, or in everyday life—but wait, how do you spell that word? “Acknowledgments” or “Acknowledgements”?

Spellcheck won’t help you. Again. Darn spellcheck.

The answer doesn’t harken back to a complex etymology story. Nope, it’s quite simple:

Writing Tip 395: “Daylight Savings Time” or “Daylight Saving Time”?

"Daylight Savings Time" or "Daylight Saving Time" You know what’s weird? “Daylight Savings Time” is not the correct name for when we shift our clocks an hour back or forward, but it feels like it’s more commonly said than than the correct version, which is “Daylight Saving Time” (DST).

Did you catch the difference? It should be “Saving,” not “Savings.”

"Succession" vs. "Secession" cat — Planning a secession? Next in line in the succession? The world might not be ready for this guy’s next move either way.

Whether you’re creating your succession plan or your secession plan, it’s good to think it through—yes, even with your spelling.

Even the best of ideas can fall through without the right attention to detail. Maybe you’ve learned that the hard way. Maybe you’ve learned it by a typo hitting you in the face. (This is absolutely one that can do that.)

Writing Tip 393: “Maze” vs. “Labyrinth”

“Maze” vs. “Labyrinth” David Bowie might have steered us wrong on this one, folks. And I suppose “steering” is a part of the problem. When distinguishing between “maze” vs. “labyrinth,” some sources argue that these words are synonyms, but it’s important to note that many others do not.

Yep, some word comparisons are simpler than others, and this is one where there remains some disagreement. Or if not “disagreement,” we can frame this as “everyday use” vs. “pro-level word savvy.”

“Sick” vs. “Sic” (or “Sick ‘Em” vs. “Sic ‘Em”) dog — Will she listen if you say, “sick ’em” or “sic ’em”? Maybe neither, the adorable thing, but you need to at least know the difference.

I have dreams of someday someone opening up my grammar book and saying, “dude, that’s sick,” with “sick” meaning awesome. If they said, “it’s [sic],” I’d be super bummed. So bummed I would “sick” or “sic” a dog after them? No. That seems a bit over the top, don’t you think? But I needed to see how else to get these words into the story.

You probably never realized how complicated “sick” vs. “sic” could be.

Writing Tip 391: “Manila” vs. “Vanilla” Folders

"Manila" vs. "Vanilla" Folders I find it fascinating when typos are so common that online stores consider them and can redirect these mistakes to what you actually need. Maybe home improvement stores do this with spigots already when someone searches for a “spicket,” but what’s gotten my attention lately is the mistake of “manila” vs. “vanilla” folders.

Do you know what they are actually called?

"Piecemeal" vs. "Piecemail" vs. "Peacemeal" — If you have a full dandelion, can you make its wishes in piecemeal? I’m guessing not, but who knows how wishes work?

If a “happy meal” once made you excited as a kid, would a “peace meal” make you excited as a grown up? “Happy” is good, but “peace” is a larger group undertaking. I know it’s not that simple, but I like the idea of a “peace meal,” even if this isn’t the actual spelling of the word.

What are we actually talking about?

To do something bit by bit. To do it in pieces.