Friday, November 09, 2007

I've Seen This So Many Times

The quantity of consonants in the English language is constant. If omitted in one place, they turn up in another. When a Bostonian "pahks" his "cah," the lost r's migrate southwest, causing a Texan to "warsh" his car and invest in "erl wells." ~Author Unknown

Most recently seen on a publishers blog...

Something to the effect of: "Take a peak inside."

NONONONONO!!!

Dear heavens.

**sigh**

For future reference, one and all, please note the following:

PEAK = The pointed top of something, the highest point, the maximum point, degree, or volume of anything.

PEEK = to look or glance quickly or furtively, esp. through a small opening or from a concealed location; peep; peer. A quick or furtive look or glance; peep.

Edited to add: Thanks to Sarita for pointing out another misuse of "peak" (as in "It really peaked my interest"):

PIQUE = to arouse an emotion or provoke to action.

Please, for the love of all that's holy, do not mix them up anymore. This little problem has been my first impression of more than one writer. Usually, this means it will also be my last.

Edited to Add: In light of the above, I do have to admit to a few grammatical failings. Mostly spelling issues, to be exact. I have these blocks against certain words and I sent one to a friend just now.

Devastated is one. I most frequently spell it devEstated, and I did in that email (are you laughing, Jen?).

I also struggle with marriage and carriage (I tend to invert the ai/ia thing), independent (I like to spell it "independAnt", but then I remember in "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" when Herbie the elf says, "We're In-Dee-Pen-Dent." and I can spell it correctly).

The thing is, even though I know I struggle with these words, I just can't remember what the correct spelling is, despite years of trying. I always have to look them up.

Do you have words you can never spell?

======================

Time to write... I've gotten about 200 words done, but I need another 1800 words. Wish me luck!

======================

Your Travel Personality Is: Easygoing

When you travel, you're looking for a lot of downtime. Vacations are your chance to recoup.
All you need is a scenic spot and plenty of time on your hands. You'll figure out the rest.
You're not one to make lots of plans when you travel. You just follow whatever path seems right.

11 comments:

Dru said...

Good luck with your word count today.

My Travel Personality Is: The Adventurer

For you, travel is how you learn about the world. And you like to learn the stuff that's not in guidebooks.
You truly have wanderlust. When you're not traveling, you're dreaming about where you'll go next.
And your travels are truly legendary - they leave you with stories you'll be telling for the rest of your life!

Ceri Hebert said...

I have many of the same problem words that you do. Another that I always spell wrong the first time is piece. I'm constantly spelling it peice.

Good luck on the word count. Wish me the same. I'll need it!!

Sarita Leone said...

One of my personal, hate-to-see, tooth-grinding words is "pique"...when it's not used.

Example: (one I saw just this week, but I won't say where)

"The blurb really peaked my interest."

GRR...

Just my own pet peeve. :)

Melissa Blue said...

My exhaustion level dictates my spelling. More often than not I'll interchange "there" with "their" or "done" with "down" or the other million words that sound alike, but are spelling different and have different meanings.

anno said...

My word abuse is definitely deteriorating with age, but one constant has been weird, the weird exception to the i before e except after c rule. Gets me every time.

Jen said...

On a publisher's site??? SERIOUSLY??? Sheesh.

2300 words today, YEAH, Baby!

groovyoldlady said...

aquaintance. Aquaintence? Akquaintentance? awkwardededness? Aquiredness? Acquanittainance?

stupid word.

I have so much trouble with it that I can't even look it up!!!

Melissa McClone said...

Good luck with the writing. I'm flailing big time when it comes to Nano.

As for words I'm always mixing up the words but try to catch them during revisions and read-thrus.

Anonymous said...

That whole peak/peek/pique thing bugs the heck out of me, too! And I'm always finding stuff to nitpick about on our local news. They can't spell worth beans. They can't read either. *g*

I always have trouble with "separated". In fact, I spelled it wrong the first time I typed it here. *g*

I'm an Easygoing traveler, too.

Brandy said...

I spelled restaraunt wrong for a long time.
Peak/peek/pique why do people have preblems with the definition and use of these?!

Have a great day!

Allie Boniface said...

Hey, good luck with your writing! And I'm a spelling freak, so luckily I've never had a major problem with remembering how to spell words. (Except sometimes whether or not words like "judgement" and "knowledgeable" get to keep their silent "e.")