Tuesday Tricksters, Mantel-Martial

What doesn't change is writers everywhere using one (won) word when (wen) they might (mite) have (halve) meant another. The words that are the toughest are what we call homophones, tough-to-remember words that sound alike but don't mean the same thing and are spelled differently. If we only believe our ears, we might miswrite one of them.

These Tuesday Tricksters posts are meant to remind all of us that English has a lot of ways to trip up even the best writers. And spellcheck cannot help us with these words. They're spelled correctly, but often not used correctly.

So, writers -- stay sharp!

Mantel (n.): an ornamental facing around a fireplace; the protruding shelf over a fireplace

Mantle (n.): a loose sleeveless coat worn over outer garments; a cloak; something that covers, envelops, or conceals; (v.): to cover with or as with a mantle; envelop; cloak; conceal; also the last name of a U.S. baseball player, Micky Mantle (1931-1995)

Marc (n.): refuse of grapes, seeds, other fruits, etc., after pressing; a brandy distilled from it, especially from grape residue

Mark (n.): a sign, symbol, indication or a stain; (v.): to put an indication or symbol on something in order to identify it

Marque (n.): a license to pass the limits of a jurisdiction, or boundary of a country, for the purpose of making reprisals; a letter of marque; a brand of a manufactured product, especially a model of motor car

Mare (n.): a adult, female horse, donkey, burro, or mule; (from the Latin for sea) any of the large dark areas on the moon, Mars, or other planets

Mayor (n.): a title of the elected or appointed head of a municipal government, usually the chief administrative official

Marquee (n.): a sign outside or above a theatre that is often lighted

Marquis (n.): a European nobleman below a duke and above an earl or count

Marshal (n.): a high ranking official or military officer in certain countries; a person in charge of a parade or ceremony; (v.): to arrange an methodical fashion

Martial (adj.): of, relating to, or suggestive of war

Were any of these new to you?

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For more on these or any English word you're not sure of, go to www.YourDictionary.com, a terrific resource that shows words and their definitions in several dictionaries.

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