The fixes index
Common fixes, alphabetical.
Every fix is a single swap: the wrong form, the right form, and the one reason you're most likely to forget. Type the wrong word after /fixes/ and you land on its fix page. Looking for the underlying rule? Try Entries, Quick answers, or Spelling.
- 01accidently accidentallyComes from 'accidental' + '-ly'. The full root keeps both 'a' vowels — drop neither.Misspellings→
- 02accomodate accommodate'Accommodate' has two c's AND two m's. It's the only way.Misspellings→
- 03accross acrossACROSS is the standard spelling. ACCROSS is a common slip.Misspellings→
- 04acheive achieve'Achieve' follows i-before-e, not after c.Misspellings→
- 05achievment achievementACHIEVE keeps its E when -MENT is added — ACHIEVE + MENT = ACHIEVEMENT.Misspellings→
- 06added bonus bonusA bonus is already something added. 'Added bonus' repeats.Redundancies→
- 07adress addressADDRESS is the standard spelling. ADRESS is a common slip.Misspellings→
- 08advance planning planningAll planning is done in advance. 'Advance planning' doubles the idea.Redundancies→
- 09adverse averse'Averse' describes a person's reluctance or opposition. 'Adverse' describes conditions or effects (adverse weather).Confused pairs→
- 10affect effectAs a noun meaning 'the result', you want 'effect'. 'Affect' as a noun exists only in psychology.Confused pairs→
- 11aint isn't / am not'Ain't' is a nonstandard contraction. In formal writing, use 'isn't', 'aren't', or 'am not' as appropriate.Grammar→
- 12all in all all in allCorrect as written but often a filler. 'All in all, it was a good year' often loses nothing if you delete 'all in all.'Redundancies→
- 13allowed aloud'Aloud' = spoken out loud. 'Allowed' = permitted.Homophones→
- 14allusion illusion'Illusion' = a false perception. 'Allusion' = an indirect reference.Confused pairs→
- 15alot a lot'Alot' is not a word. It should always be written as two words: 'a lot'.Misspellings→
- 16aloud allowed'Allowed' = permitted. 'Aloud' = spoken.Homophones→
- 17alright all rightIn formal writing, 'all right' (two words) is standard. 'Alright' is common but still flagged.Misspellings→
- 18amount of people number of peopleFor countable nouns (people, books), use 'number of'. For mass nouns (water, sugar), use 'amount of'.Grammar→
- 19another thing coming another think comingTraditional form: 'If you think X, you've got another think coming.' 'Thing' is now widely used but breaks the wordplay.Idiom errors→
- 20anxious eager'Anxious' carries worry or dread. For positive anticipation, 'eager' is cleaner.Confused pairs→
- 21anyways anywayANYWAYS is informal; ANYWAY is the standard adverb. Acceptable in speech, flagged in edited writing.Grammar→
- 22apart a part'A part of' (two words) means a piece of something. 'Apart' (one word) means separated.Misspellings→
- 23apparant apparentAPPARENT ends in -ENT, not -ANT — the same pattern as INDEPENDENT, DIFFERENT.Misspellings→
- 24arguement argument'Argue' loses its silent 'e' before '-ment'. One of the few common words where the e drops.Misspellings→
- 25armed gunman gunmanA gunman carries a gun. 'Armed gunman' doubles the point.Redundancies→
- 26athiest atheistATHEIST is the standard spelling. ATHIEST is a common slip.Misspellings→
- 27atm machine ATMATM already stands for Automated Teller Machine. 'ATM machine' = 'machine machine'.Redundancies→
- 28averse adverse'Adverse' describes conditions, effects, or outcomes. 'Averse' describes a person's feelings.Confused pairs→
- 29baited breath bated breath'Bated' = abated, held back. 'Baited' means with bait, like fishing.Idiom errors→
- 30bare bear'Bear' = to endure or carry. 'Bare' = to uncover or expose. You bear a burden; you bare your skin.Homophones→
- 31bare with me bear with meBEAR WITH ME = endure with me (verb BEAR = tolerate). BARE WITH ME = strip naked together — almost certainly not what you meant.Idiom errors→
- 32beckon call beck and callThe phrase is 'at someone's beck and call' — from 'beck' (a beckoning gesture) + 'call'.Idiom errors→
- 33begining beginning'Begin' doubles the final n before '-ing' because the stress falls on the last syllable. Same rule as 'occurred'.Misspellings→
- 34begs questions raises questionsMany writers say 'this begs questions' meaning 'this prompts further questions.' Strict editors prefer 'raises questions' or 'invites questions.'Grammar→
- 35begs the question raises the questionBEG THE QUESTION (strict) = to assume the conclusion in the premise (a logical fallacy). Loose usage = 'this prompts the question.' Most editors still prefer 'raises the question' for the second meaning.Grammar→
- 36beleive believe'Believe' follows i-before-e. 'Lie' is inside it.Misspellings→
- 37bemused amused'Bemused' = puzzled, not entertained. 'Amused' = entertained or finding funny.Confused pairs→
- 38between you and i between you and meAfter a preposition (between), pronouns take the object form. 'Me', not 'I'.Grammar→
- 39biennial biannual'Biannual' = twice a year. 'Biennial' = every two years. Easy to swap — and often misused.Confused pairs→
- 40bizzare bizarreFrom the French 'bizarre' — one z, two r's. The mirror is a common slip.Misspellings→
- 41bold faced lie bald-faced lieThe American form is 'bald-faced' — a lie told with no attempt at disguise, the face 'bald' of shame. British English sometimes prefers 'bare-faced.' 'Bold-faced' exists but traditionally means 'printed in bold type.'Idiom errors→
- 42bold-faced lie bald-faced lieBALD-FACED = bare-faced — open, brazen. BOLD-FACED is the eggcorn. Both forms are now widely accepted; bald-faced is the original.Idiom errors→
- 43boundry boundaryBOUNDARY is the standard spelling. BOUNDRY is a common slip.Misspellings→
- 44brake break'Break' = to fracture, or a pause. 'Brake' = the pedal that stops a car.Homophones→
- 45break brakeThe pedal is 'brake'. 'Break' means to fracture or to pause.Homophones→
- 46broadcasted broadcast'Broadcast' is an irregular verb — its past tense is 'broadcast', not 'broadcasted'. Like cut, put, set.Grammar→
- 47buisness businessBUSINESS is the standard spelling. BUISNESS is a common slip.Misspellings→
- 48calender calendar'Calendar' ends in -ar, not -er.Misspellings→