Accept and except are another pair of words that often are mistaken for each other. The root cause is the sound; their similarity in sound sometimes leads to what can only be called an identity crisis. The one’s exchanged for the other and has no idea what to do in the sentence because it isn’t the right word nor is it equipped to handle whatever responsibilities the sentence is trying to place on it.
word usage
Write Right: Of versus Have
I confess: I stopped reading a blog post the other day because the author wrote “could of” instead of “could have.” It’s one of those errors that stops me in my tracks. The part of me that is an ultra-critical editor comes to the fore. It begins to nitpick other small errors in a post. I usually decide I have had enough of my critical sensibilities and leave a post before I can become unreasonably irate.
Write Right: Assure, Ensure, and Insure
I’ve surely used too many words with the “sure” sound. I know; bad joke. It helps to make a Write Right post easier to bear, though, doesn’t it?
Write Right: Enquire versus Inquire
One of my readers has asked about the difference between enquire and inquire as well as enquiry and inquiry. The answer: no difference exists. “Enquire” and “enquiry” are both variants of “inquire.” In general, “inquire” is the more commonly accepted and used word. It’s only the neighbors across the pond who take exception with the generality.