The long-sleeved garment used to bind a person’s arms tightly against the body is a straitjacket. The spelling derives from a little-used, mostly archaic definition of strait—i.e., tightly fitting. It is commonly misspelled in a number of ways, including straightjacket, strait-jacket, straight-jacket, strait jacket, and straight jacket. [Read more...]
Ton vs. tonne
In American English, a ton is a unit of measurement equaling 2,000 pounds. In non-U.S. measurements, a ton equals 2,240 pounds. A tonne, also known as a metric ton, is a unit of mass equaling 1,000 kilograms. [Read more...]
Rumor vs. rumour
Rumor is the American English spelling of the noun meaning a piece of unverified information of uncertain origin. Rumour is the preferred spelling in all other major varieties of English. [Read more...]
Analyse vs. analyze
Analyze is preferred in American and Canadian English. Analyse is the preferred spelling outside North America. There are no other differences between analyze and analyse. The s/z distinction extends to the participles, analyse/analyze and analysing/analyzing, as well as to other derivatives such as analyser/analyzer and analysable/analyzable. All varieties of English use analysis as the corresponding noun. [Read more...]
Subtle vs. subtil
Subtle is the standard spelling of the adjective meaning (1) so slight as to be difficult to detect, (2) difficult to understand, (3) able to make fine distinctions, and (4) characterized by skill or ingenuity. Subtil is an archaic spelling of subtle. It is no longer used in any variety of English (though it is a modern word in French and German). [Read more...]
Linchpin vs. lynchpin
Linchpin is the standard spelling of the noun meaning (1) a central cohesive element, or (2) a locking pin inserted in the end of a shaft to prevent a wheel from slipping off. The word derives from the Middle English linspin, which in turn derives from Old English elements. Although lynchpin is an accepted variant spelling, it should be avoided due to the negative meaning of the unrelated verb lynch. [Read more...]
Forty vs. fourty
The number 40 is spelled forty. Fourty is a surprisingly common misspelling that appears most often in the spelling of compound numbers such as 41, 42, and so on—for example: [Read more...]
Ageing vs. aging
For the past participle and gerund corresponding to the verb age, American and Canadian writers use aging. Ageing is the preferred spelling outside North America. The dropping of the e in American and Canadian English does not extend to ageism (meaning discrimination based on age), which is the preferred spelling everywhere. [Read more...]
Remunerate vs. renumerate
Remunerate means to pay a suitable equivalent in return for goods provided, services rendered, or losses incurred. Its root is related to money (hence the mune), not number.1 Renumerate is a common misspelling. At least one dictionary lists the latter as a legitimate word meaning to recount, but as far as we’ve seen, renumerate only appears as a misspelling of remunerate.2 [Read more...]
Mayonnaise vs. mayonaise
Mayonnaise, denoting the condiment made of egg yolk, oil, and lemon juice or vinegar, is commonly misspelled. Mayonaise, mayonnaisse, mayonaisse, and mahonnaise (the French spelling) are listed in none of the dozen or so dictionaries we checked.
