A single letter can change a word. In the case of “climatic” and “climactic,” the extra “c” changes the meaning of the two words utterly.
Write Right
Write Right: The Editor’s Manifesto
How to Be a Better Writer: Show Some Restraint
One of the tricks to good writing is knowing when to be quiet. Either some details don’t need to be shared at all – the well-known concept of the iceberg – or they need to be released incrementally. The flood gates need not be opened wide; a trickle is sufficient.
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Write Right: Use, Usage, and Utilize
The words use, usage, and utilize suffer from a malady: they share common etymological roots. Those roots do not make the word synonyms; it only means that they are related in much the same way that cousins are related. The way to determining when to use one of the words is entirely dependent on their definitions and the surrounding context.
Write Right: Allusion versus Illusion
Allusion and illusion differ by only one vowel, but a single vowel is all it takes. The two words could not be more different from one another.
Write Right: So What?
“So” is a word commonly used to mean “very” or “really.” For example, “he was so late.” The word is a vague intensifier and should either be cut from the sentence or accompanied by an explanation.