Spelling Archives

A picture of an antique bathtub on a wooden floor with a blue wall and a caption: "bathe or bath"

Knowing When to Use Bath vs. Bathe

“Bath” and “bathe” are similar in spelling and meaning, but there are critical differences in how they are used. “Bath” will always be used as a noun. If you are taking a bath, you are washing yourself with water, typically in a tub (although avid… continue reading

Is it Benefitted or Benefited?

There’s no doubt that spelling can be tricky in the English language, especially when more than one option is considered correct. In the case of “benefited” or “benefitted,” how do you know which version is correct? Why do some people use one T and others… continue reading

Man standing in front of a sign pointing both right and left, pondering. Text reads "all together or altogether?

What Is The Difference Between “All Together” And “Altogether?”

To answer the question quickly, altogether is a term that usually means “as a whole” or “completely.” In contrast, all together usually means “everyone/everything together at once.” These terms don’t necessarily equate to “the sum of its parts.” In other words, these two phrases aren’t mutually exclusive and should… continue reading

A yellow and white background with the words advisor vs adviser

What Do “Adviser” And “Advisor” Mean?

Homophones are very tricky in English. One of the more difficult homophone pairs to remember is “adviser” and “advisor.” This is true because both words have very similar spelling and pronunciation and usually mean the same thing. Luckily, if you get these two mixed up, it will… continue reading

a two-tone background with the words affective vs. effective

What’s The Difference Between “Affective” And “Effective?”

One of the largest points of confusion in the English language is found in “affective” vs. “effective.” Even though these are two common words we use in our daily lives, it seems as if many people are confused about their differences. Many people simply use them interchangeably… continue reading

a background of clothes on a rack with the words cloths vs. clothes

Cloths vs. Clothes: A Closer Look

Let’s have a look at cloths vs. clothes. These two words look very similar. In fact, many people mix them up and accidentally use the wrong word! Let’s review the differences between cloths and clothes so you can avoid making a mistake. Definition of Cloths… continue reading

A multi-colour background with the words color vs. colour

Spelling

Should You Use Colour or Color?

You may have seen two different versions of color: it might be color, or it could be colour. Isn’t there some sort of rule on how this word should be spelled? The good news is that both spellings are correct, and there is no difference… continue reading

graphic showing 2 options for shortening the word "continued:" "cont." and "cont'd"

How Do You Abbreviate “Continued”?

Most abbreviations are easy to figure out. It’s much more common to say “Mr.” instead of “Mister,” and writing “4 km” is a lot easier than “4 kilometers.” For some abbreviations, however, finding the right way to shorten them isn’t so easy. In fact, there… continue reading

Should You Use “Fared” Or “Faired?”

Is it faired or fared? Here is another pair of pesky homophones that often leave writers scratching their heads. It’s fair to say that some fare better than others! Here is a quick rule of thumb: Most of the time, “fared” is the correct choice. Let’s have… continue reading

A chalk board with the words "Practice or Practise"

Spelling

Are “Practice” And “Practise” The Same Thing?

While reading a document, you may see words like “practice” and “practise” thrown around interchangeably. You may have wondered if “practise” is even a word or if both words mean the same thing. This isn’t the only example, however, as many words end in “-ise” and “-ice” which can confuse English learners. … continue reading