Yes—you found the bonus part of the DIY Editing Checklist—great job! This page will be updated from time to time to include other problematic words in each of the different categories covered in the DIY Editing Checklist. If you’d like to see a word added to this list, contact me. If you’d like to download the DIY Editing Checklist, you can do so here.
Commonly misspelled words
| INCORRECT | CORRECT |
|---|---|
| alot asper calender definately entreprenuer fatloss get’s hardwork incase infact its’ licence longterm lot’s maintainance per say seperate weldone or welldone weightloss wierd | a lot as per calendar definitely entrepreneur fat loss gets hard work in case in fact it’s or its license long-term lots maintenance per se separate well done weight loss weird |
Compound words
| COMPOUND WORD | TWO-WORD VERSION |
|---|---|
| anymore anytime apart backup breakdown checkout everything everytime grandparent into login logout lookout makeup mixup oftentimes onboard optin setup signup sometime workout workup | any more any time a part back up break down check out every thing every time grand parent in to log in log out look out make up mix up often times on board opt in set up sign up some time work out work up |
Homophones
| . | . |
|---|---|
| affect complement foreword it’s peak principal sight stationary than there wary who’s you’re | effect compliment forward its peek (especially with the phrase “sneak peek”) principle site stationery then their or they’re weary (not a true homophone!) whose your |
Words that need an apostrophe
| INCORRECT | CORRECT |
|---|---|
| aint cant dont Im mans, mens thats whats womans, womens | ain’t (use only very informally) can’t (contraction of cannot; also, cant is an actual word, but it’s not heavily in use these days) don’t (contraction of do not) I’m (contraction of I am) man’s, men’s (possessives) that’s (contraction of that is) what’s (contraction of what is or what has) woman’s and women’s (possessives) |
Contractions to add to your copy
| USE | INSTEAD OF |
|---|---|
| can't doesn't don't I'll I'm I've isn't it's that's they'll they're wasn't we'll won't you'd you'll you're you've | cannot does not do not I will I am I have is not it is or it has that is or that has they will they are was not we will will not you would you will you are you have |