Spelling errors are never a good thing in written communication, especially if you writing an essay, marketing a product or sending a potential employer a covering letter with your resume. Unintended mistakes can lessen the value of your work, which is why it is vital to check and re-check your spelling.
Computer programs these days have spell-check and grammar-check functions that can help to make life a little easier and they can certainly save us from some very embarrassing errors before we post that letter or report or hand over a document to a printing company, or hit the Send button and forward that important email to a customer.
However, there is a problem with spell-checkers. They are not, as yet, so advanced that they can differentiate between correctly spelled words that have been used in the wrong context – for example, words that look alike but can have a completely different meaning. There are a few words in English that are the worst culprits in this regard, so in order to help you be more aware of the potential mistakes and pitfalls, here is a list of the most common misspelt words (in pairs) with their meanings, plus some examples of how to use them correctly in sentences.
Compliment: to praise, congratulate, give admiration -“He complimented her on her successful presentation…”
Complement: to complete or accompany, the full number of. – “the full complement of boats…”, “The choice of wine complemented the food perfectly…”
Principal: the first/highest/foremost/primary “the principal cause of ill health in men is…”
Principle: A rule, law, doctrine or personal belief “the principles of science / She was a woman of principle”
Stationary: non-moving/immobile/static “the traffic was stationary…”
Stationery: letters, notepads or envelopes (any sort of writing material) “the stationery department in the office”
Diffuse: to pour out, make less radiant, widely spread around or scatter – “The ideas were diffused widely in the nineteenth century.”
Defuse: to remove a fuse from a bomb to prevent explosion; make a situation less dangerous: “The bomb squad defused the mines…’ ‘The diplomat’s intervention defused a tense situation…’
Proceed: to begin, continue, move or go forward – “The manager told them to proceed inside the building”
Precede: to go before, as in order, place, time, rank, or importance – “Read the information preceding the first chapter.”
Affect: make a difference to, have an effect on – “how hard you work will affect your exam grades…”
Effect: a change that is the result or consequence of an action or other cause – “the lethal effects of taking drugs…” “Exercise has a positive effect on our health.”
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