‘Defiantly’ is not the only misspelling of ‘definitely’. However, it is the one that I read most often – spellcheckers don’t point it out with a helpful wiggly red line.
Definitely means without doubt or in a clear (definite) manner.
Defiantly means to do something in a way that shows resistance or rebellion.
Lightening is often used when the word should be lightning. It is a mistake that is easy to skim over when checking your own writing.
Lightning is a flash of light in the sky caused by electrical discharge. (It can also be used to mean fast and sudden.)
Lightening is the -ing form of lighten. Lighten has two meanings as a verb:
It is possible that some confusion arises because lighten can be used to mean to flash when referring to lightning (but I think this is rare).
Of course, this should be derring-do. But the misspelling is understandable given the meaning of the word and its origins.
Derring-do is pleasantly archaic and often used humorously in modern writing.* It means actions showing heroic courage or feats of daring.
The word originated from the late Middle English dorryng do (meaning ‘daring to do’) being misprinted as derrynge do in the 16th-century editions of John Lydgate’s Chronicle of Troy.
The modern usage and spelling is usually most associated with Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe.
*I would love to proofread a story where derring-do doesn’t look out of place. I am imagining pirates. Or an old-fashioned superhero.
These two words have very different meanings. 
Often ‘grizzly’ is used when ‘grisly’ would be correct.
You could probably give your readers a little bit of an upset if you used ‘interred’ when you meant ‘interned’. Unless they really don’t like the character you are writing about – they might just be disappointed when they realise the mistake.
These are words to keep in mind if you tend to accidentally hit the wrong keys as you type – the spellchecker won’t object to them and the difference (n/r) is easy to skim over when you check your writing.
This is my latest book recommendation. I consult this book regularly and it rarely lets me down. Respected and authoritative, it is a book with a sensible and measured approach to the English language.
The 7,500 entries are displayed in an A–Z fashion (like a dictionary, as per its name) with clear explanations and examples. It covers grammar, syntax, spelling, word choices and meanings, punctuation, and differences in English usage around the world. Fowler’s is my favourite source for identifying myths and ‘rules’ that are unnecessary and that damage good writing.
I referred to it in my previous post on ending a sentence with a preposition, and I have directed clients to it when discussing preferred forms of words. I even flick through it occasionally just to see what interesting entries I stumble across.
My hardback copy of the latest edition has 928 pages – you probably won’t want to carry it around with you! But it is an excellent publication to add to your collection. And (to my chagrin) it seems to be a lot cheaper to buy now than it was when I bought it.
I am here to save you from the potential embarrassment of asking someone to ‘please bare with’ you. You don’t want that. Probably.
So, in this context:
Both words have alternative meanings. Bare may mean ‘basic and simple’ or ‘plain’, or it can mean ‘the least possible amount’. The word bear (past tense bore) has so many other uses (mostly related to the concept of carrying) that I have listed them below:
I won’t patronise you by explaining bear as a noun.*
*… Apart from the usage in finance as it is a new one to me. A bear is a person who sells shares when they expect prices to fall and then buys them back (or hopes to buy them back) at the lower price.
Make of that what you will.
If you are writing an academic or formal piece, it is important to understand what ‘refute’ and ‘rebut’ actually mean.
They are often confused with or used instead of ‘deny’, ‘reject’ and ‘repudiate’*. These words mean to dispute something without providing an argument or proof.
‘Refute’ and ‘rebut’ mean to disprove by argument or evidence but in slightly different ways:
These distinctions may not matter too much in everyday discourse, but it does matter when you want your audience to take you seriously.
*This is a decidedly ugly word, right?
These two words may be pronounced the same but they have different meanings.
Discreet means ‘tactful, careful, prudent and trustworthy’ (in regards to people) and ‘unlikely to attract attention’ (in regards to actions).
Discrete means ‘separate’ or ‘individually distinct’.
I originally titled this post ‘Just ‘desserts” but I decided it would seem like I was trying to be clever.
Anyway, I expect that the misuse of either of these words is down to not knowing how many s’s to spell it with. The meanings are as follows:
Dessert: The sweet course of a meal, or
a pudding.
Desert: Wastelands or a barren area of land; to abandon somebody or something (including military duties without leave); or to get what you deserve/be treated as you deserve (e.g. ‘just deserts’).
If it is a sweet food then use two s’s. If it is any of the other options, just use the one s.
Sources:
Hannah McCall 