By Communication Consultant Carolyn Reagan (Undeclared, ’23)

When it comes to writing, there are a number of prevalent mistakes that undermine effectiveness, clarity, and cohesiveness. This piece is part of our ongoing series about common writing errors.

A common error in English is to  interchange words despite their different definitions, largely because of similar spellings or pronunciations. These words are referred to as homophones. When we write, we need to be cognizant of these words in order to ensure the high degree of quality and comprehension. Small details such as the difference between whether and weather are an important part of strong grammar and syntax. Below, we highlight some frequently mistaken homophones, both from our own experience and from feedback from Professors.

Our first example is perhaps one of the most commonly-mistaken homophone pairs: the difference between affect and effect. Affect is a verb, typically meaning to influence, and effect is a noun, meaning the result of something. For example: “It is important to consider the effect of global warming on everyday life. Massive storms affect our daily lives.” Another example is the difference between further and farther. Farther is related to tangible, literal distances, while further is related to advancing or adding to. For example: “Wegmans is much farther from my house than Walgreens,” and “He is working to further his goal of being a doctor by enrolling in the internship.” Another note: Further can also be used to add an additional thought, similar to the words also or additionally. You may use it to say: “Further, I do not think the company needs to pursue this deal, especially because it will be incredibly costly.”

Two other words with similar spellings that are frequently misused are compliment and complement. A compliment is typically an expression of admiration, while complement describes adding value to something else. Consider: “So many people complimented my cooking today; I definitely think using cumin added a stronger flavor” and “The blue of your sweatshirt really complements your eyes!” Similarly, ensure and insure are not the same word, despite both being verbs. Insure is far more technical, referring to protecting assets. Ensure refers to verifying or safeguarding something. For example, “I use Geico to insure my car,” and “Our diligent work ensured that we will finish the PowerPoint by Friday.” A final example is the difference between perspective and prospective. A perspective is an opinion or attitude, such as thoughts shared during a conversation. For instance, “I would love to hear your perspective on our plans for the new house.”  Prospective, on the other hand, is treated as an adjective to describe a person or thing that has the potential to happen. Consider: “She is a prospective Integrated Business and Engineering student at Lehigh.”

The above examples are important words to look out for, but they are by no means an exhaustive representation of common homophones. You can find many guides to commonly confused words online.  If you have any other questions relating to homophones or any concern about communication, feel free to send us an email at: inrcbc@lehigh.edu or schedule a quick Zoom consultation with us to discuss more!

Get information and resources about our center at The Philip Rauch Center for Business Communication.

By Communication Consultant Carolyn Reagan (Undeclared, ’23)

When it comes to writing, there are a number of mistakes that are prevalent and greatly undermine effectiveness, clarity, and cohesiveness. This piece is part of our ongoing series about common writing errors.

One way to ensure your readers understand your ideas is to prioritize clarity in your pronoun use. We use pronouns to refer to a recently-mentioned noun (a person, place, thing, or concept). Pronouns help limit repetition in writing. They are an important component of speech in both English and other romance languages. Some common pronouns are “I,” “her,” “you,” “we,” “they,” and “him.” 

For instance: “Melinda and I are working together on a marketing project. She is responsible for designing the Powerpoint.”

In the case of this simple sentence, it is clear that the pronoun “she” is referring to Melinda. The use of “she” also helps prevent the unnecessary repetition of Melinda’s name. Most frequently, pronouns referring to a particular person or group of people are used in a very similar capacity. However, not all pronoun usage is as straightforward. The pronouns “this,” “it,” “that,” or “they” are susceptible to being used in an erroneous manner. If they are used incorrectly or not clarified, they can become incredibly confusing. 

For example: “Wordsworth greatly revered the natural world, writing about the way that the sublime and individualism manifest themselves in daffodils, clouds, and landscapes. This made him one of the most important poets of the Romantic era.”

As a general rule, the pronoun “this” should almost always be followed by a noun that clarifies what you are referring to  (i.e.: This “case,” “decision,” or “approach”). The above sentence is confusing in large part because of the pronoun “this.” It is near impossible to understand what “this” refers to; is it describing Wordsworth reverence of the natural world, his choice to write about the sublime and individualism, or his actual writing? The subject could easily be clarified by instead writing “This focus…” A similar shortcoming is present in the following example. 

For example: “When Camus writes about Meursault’s rejection of the Chaplain’s request, it means that he does not believe in religion.”

The above sentence has two examples of ambiguous pronoun usage. It is unclear what the word “it” is referring to in the antecedent of the sentence. Additionally, the word “he” could potentially be referring to Albert Camus, the author, or Meursault, the book’s main character. Though the sample sentence presents an intriguing point, its confusing pronouns undercut its comprehensibility. Complex sentences (like the sample) that have a combination of both independent and dependent clauses can add important variety to an essay, but can simultaneously present grammatical difficulties.

When it comes to pronouns, the easiest rule to follow is this: A pronoun logically refers to the most recent noun that matches in number and gender. 

In general, the best way to avoid unclear pronoun usage is by thoroughly reviewing and rereading your work prior to submitting it for a grade. Also, consider asking a friend or peer to double check your work. Of course, the RCBC Communication Consultants can look over your writing with you to help identify any issues with pronouns. Clear pronoun use will ensure your readers can fully understand your thoughts and ideas while writing.

Get information and resources about our center at The Philip Rauch Center for Business Communication.