Eek! That’s the sound of me squealing either because I’m scared to death of ostriches or because spellcheck once again was not your friend.
If you’re writing about “eeking” out a living, maybe it would make sense if you’ve totally nailed the horror movie scream and are constantly cast in roles in this genre. Or maybe if you’re tending ostriches and those giant freaky birds are good at sneaking up on you. However, the expression in its correct form is to “eke out a living.”
There are in fact two words here, folks.
- To “eke” means to manage or make happen with difficulty. It’s most commonly phrased “to eke out” something, such as a living, a win, or a success over spellcheck…
- “Eek” is an exclamation of fear or surprise.
Are you now the one saying “eek,” realizing that you’ve been writing this one wrong for years? Take heart in that it’s a common typo, but now you know.
And you also now know I’m terrified of ostriches. (Though, if you’re a longtime reader of my blog, you might be aware of my bird-phobia already.)
Happy writing, everyone!
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