Common Errors Starting with R
rack vs wrack
If you are racked with pain or you feel nerve-racked, you are feeling asif you were being stretched on that Medieval instrument of torture, therack. You rack your brains when you stretch them vigorou…
Read Moreraise vs raze
<p>Raise is to cause to rise, bring up and grow.</p><pre>"The raise in the rates is alarming!"</pre><p>Raze is to demolish and level with the ground either by fire or other destructive elements.</p><…
Read Morerampart vs rampant
“Rampant” is an adjective which originally meant a posture seen in animals on coats of arms: rearing up on their hind legs, but in modern times it mainly means “wild” or “very widespread.” Some peopl…
Read Moreran vs run
<p>Run means to move forwards quickly upon two feet by alternately making a short jump off of either foot. It is more like walking at a fast pace.</p><pre>"I had to run so I could I catch the bus."</…
Read Morerate of speed vs rate, speed
Lots of people like to say things like “traveling at a high rate of speed.” This is a redundancy. Say instead “traveling at a high rate” or “traveling at high speed.”
Read Morerational vs rationale
“Rational” is an adjective meaning “reasonable” or “logical”: “Ivan made a rational decision to sell his old car when he moved to New York.” “Rational” rhymes with “national.”“Rationale” is a noun wh…
Read Morerationale vs rationalization
When you’re explaining the reasoning behind your position, you’representing your rationale. But if you’re just making up some lame excuseto make your position appear better—whether to yourself orothe…
Read Moreravaging vs ravishing vs ravenous
<p>Ravaging is the present participle of ravage which means to devastate, destroy, damage and lay waste to something.</p><pre>"The storm kept ravaging during the night, it ended up capsizing the ship…
Read Morerbi vs rbis
Some people reason that since “RBI” stands for “runs batted in,” there is no need for an additional “S” to indicate a plural, and speak of “120 RBI.” However, though somewhat illogical, it is standar…
Read Morereactionary vs reactive
Many people incorrectly use “reactionary” to mean “acting in response to some outside stimulus.” That’s reactive. “Reactionary” actually has a very narrow meaning; it is a noun or adjective describin…
Read Morereadably vs readily
<p>‘Readably’ is an adverb that is almost never used these days. It means ‘in a way that is readable.’ “He wrote quickly but readably.” Nowadays we would most likely use ‘legibly’ instead.</p><p>‘Rea…
Read Morereal vs really
The correct adverbial form is “really” rather than “real”; but even that form is generally confined to casual speech, as in “When you complimented me on my speech I felt really great!” To say “real g…
Read Morerealize vs realise
“Realize” is the dominant spelling in the US, and “realise” in the UK. Spelling checkers often try to enforce these patterns by labeling the other spelling as an error; but it is good to know that mo…
Read Morereap what you sew vs reap what you sow
When you plant seeds you sow them. Galatians 6:7 says “A man reaps what he sows” (harvests what he plants, gets what he deserves). This agricultural metaphor gets mangled frequently into “you reap wh…
Read Morereason because
We often hear people say things like, “the reason there’s a hole in thescreen door is because I tripped over the cat on my way out.” The phrase“is because” should be “is that.” If you wanted to use “…
Read Morerebelling vs revolting
Even though “rebel” and “revolt” mean more or less the same thing, people who are revolting are disgusting, not taking up arms against the government.
Read Morerebut vs refute
When you rebut someone’s argument you argue against it. To refute someone’s argument is to prove it incorrect. Unless you are certain you have achieved success, use “rebut.”
Read Morerecent vs resent
<p>Recent requires to the timeline of an occurrence, having happened shortly or a while ago - not long either ways.</p><pre>"The paw imprints is recent, the animal is still around here."</pre><p>Rese…
Read Morerecreate vs reinvent
The expression “no need to reinvent the wheel” loses much of its witwhen “recreate” is substituted for the original verb. While we’re at it,"recreate” does not mean “to engage in recreation.” If you …
Read Morerediculous vs ridiculous
<p>Ridiculous means something or someone worthy/deserving of ridicule as they are or it is silly, frivolous and unreasonable.</p><p>"Stop being ridiculous and get back to your dorm, its late already.…
Read Moreredo it over vs redo it, do it over
“Redo it over“ is redundant; say either “redo it” or “do it over.” The only time this phrase makes sense is in the phrase “redo it over and over again.”
Read Moreredundancies
There are many examples of redundancies in these pages: phrases which say twice what needs to be said only once, like “past history."Advertisers are particularly liable to redundancy in hyping theiro…
Read Morereeking havoc vs wreaking havoc
<p>To reek means to stink or smell unpleasantly while havoc means violence, destruction, devastation and mayhem. Therefore, the phrase 'reeking havoc' is inappropriate and incorrect to be utilized in…
Read Morerefrain vs restrain
“Restrain” is a transitive verb: it needs an object. Although “refrain” was once a synonym for “restrain” it is now an intransitive verb: it should not have an object. Here are examples of correct mo…
Read Morerefridgerator vs refrigerator
Although “fridge” is short for “refrigerator,” there is no “D” in the longer word.
Read Morerefute vs reject
To refute someone’s argument is to prove it incorrect. If you attempt no such proof but simply disagree with an argument the word you want is “reject.”
Read Moreregard vs regards
Business English is deadly enough without scrambling it. “As regards your downsizing plan . . .” is acceptable, if stiff. “In regard to” “and “with regard to” are also correct. But “in regards to” is…
Read Moreregime vs regimen vs regiment
Some people insist that “regime” should be used only in reference togovernments, and that people who say they are following a dietary regimeshould instead use “regimen”; but “regime” has been a synon…
Read Moreregretfully vs regrettably
<p>Regretfully means something expressing regret or an act of a person feeling regret.</p><pre>"I reminisced on my past decisions regretfully."</pre> <p>Regrettably is used to express something that…
Read Morereign vs rein
A king or queen reigns, but you rein in a horse. The expression “to give rein” means to give in to an impulse as a spirited horse gives in to its impulse to gallop when you slacken the reins. Similar…
Read Morereknown vs renown
When you won the national spelling bee you achieved great renown (fame). Now you are a renowned speller (notice the -ed ending on the adjectival form). Many people mistakenly suppose that because “re…
Read Morereligion believes vs religion teaches
People often write things like “Buddhism believes” when they mean to say"Buddhism teaches,” or “Buddhists believe.” Religions do not believe,they are the objects of belief.
Read Morereligiosity vs piety
The main modern use of “religiosity” is to describe exaggerated or ostentatious showing off of one’s religiousness. A better word to label the quality of being truly religious is “piety.”
Read Morereluctant vs reticent
“Reticent” denotes only reluctance to speak; do not use it for any other form of reluctance.
Read Moreremotely close
“Not even remotely close” is a fine example of an oxymoron. An idea can be “not even remotely correct,” but closeness and remoteness are opposites; and it doesn’t make sense to have one modify the ot…
Read Morerouge vs rogue
You can create an artificial blush by using rouge; but a scoundrel who deserves to be called a rogue is unlikely to blush naturally. Many people write about “rouge software” when they mean “rogue sof…
Read Moreremuneration vs renumeration
<p>Remuneration means something given in exchange of goods and services rendered. Like a payment of work done in form of salaries and wages.</p><p>Remuneration is money paid for work or a service. </…
Read Morereoccurring vs recurring
<p>Reoccurring is when an event or situation is simply happening again, at least once but not necessarily more than that.</p><pre>"We would have arrived sooner but the car's problem reoccurred."</pre…
Read Morerepel vs repulse
<p>Repel means to ward off a malignant influence or attack. It also means to turn someone away from a right, privilege, job etc. It is to reject and put off a request or demand.</p><pre>"The boss rep…
Read Morereplete vs complete
“Replete” usually means “stuffed,” “full to overflowing.” After eating a complete ten-course meal, you are replete.Although it has been used as a simple synonym for “complete,” this is now an unusual…
Read Morereply back vs reply
“Reply back” is redundant because “reply” already conveys the idea of getting back to someone. The same is true of “answer back” except in the rather old-fashioned use of the phrase to describe the b…
Read Morereport into vs report on
You can conduct an investigation into a matter, like a scandal or a crime; but the result is a report on or of your findings. You don’t make a report into anything. You could eliminate “into” altoget…
Read Morerepungent vs repugnant, pungent
“Repungent” is an amusing mash-up of “repugnant” (disgusting) and “pungent” (strong, especially used of smells). It is used for repulsive smells; and though it is vivid, it’s not standard English and…
Read Morerequest vs ask
If you want something you can request it or you can ask for it. Many people like “request” because it sounds more formal, more elegant; but to other people it just sounds pretentious. There are many …
Read Moreresign vs re-sign
<p>‘Resign’ is a verb that means to quit a job or position. </p><pre>“The mayor resigned because of a scandal involving his finances.”</pre><p> ‘Re-sign’ means to sign again, to rehire someone by hav…
Read Moreresignate vs resonate
<p>Resonate is to vibrate or sound especially in response to another vibration or sound. It is to have an effect on or impact and provide influence for or against. </p><p>Resignate is an incorrect wo…
Read Moreresister vs resistor
A resistor is part of an electrical circuit; a person who resistssomething is a “resister."
Read Morerespiratory
Even health professionals tend to mispronounce this word by smooshing the second and third syllables into one. This word has several possible pronunciations, but “resp-uh-tory” is not one of them. Ho…
Read Morerespond back vs respond, reply
It’s possible that some people think they have to write “respond back” to distinguish a reply from other kinds of responses, like groaning and cursing, or chucking a request in the wastebasket; but m…
Read Morerestauranter vs restaurateur
In standard English, the title for the owner of a restaurant is “restaurateur” (note: no N).
Read Moreretch vs wretch
If you vomit, you retch; if you behave in a wretched manner or fall intowretched circumstances, you are a wretch.
Read Morereticent vs hesitant
<p>Hesitant is used to express nervousness while attempting an action.</p><pre>"He was hesitant to ride the bicycle."</pre><p>Reticent is meanwhile used to express reluctance to do or in most cases s…
Read Moreretrospective vs retroactive
<p>Retrospective can be described as affecting or influencing past grievances by looking backwards and contemplating about the past.</p><pre>"Really! What a retrospective method of thought."</pre><p>…
Read Morereturn back vs return
A redundancy. Use just “return,” unless you mean to say instead “turnback."
Read Morerevelant vs relevant
<p>Relevant means something or someone remains current and updated about a pertinent topic or issue. It is to be germane in all ramifications.</p><p>"The decision to change our plan at any time remai…
Read Moreringer vs wringer
<p>A ringer is a person or a device that makes something ring. You have a ringer on your phone, and a person can be a bell-ringer. </p><p>Wringer is a device that removes water from wet clothes or ot…
Read Morering its neck vs wring its neck
Wring the chicken’s neck; and after you’ve cooked it, ring the dinner bell.
Read Morerio grande river vs rio grande
Rio is Spanish for “river,” so “Rio Grande River” is a redundancy. Justwrite “Rio Grande.” Non-Hispanic Americans have traditionally failed topronounce the final “E” in “Grande”, but they’ve learned …
Read Morerisky vs risqué
People unfamiliar with the French-derived word “risqué” (‘slightlyindecent”) often write “risky” by mistake. Bungee-jumping is risky, butnude bungee-jumping is risqué.
Read Moreroad to hoe vs row to hoe
Out in the cotton patch you have a tough row to hoe. This saying hasnothing to do with road construction.
Read Morerob vs steal
When you rob a bank, you steal its money. You can’t rob the money itself. The stuff taken in a robbery is always stolen, not “robbed.”
Read Morerod iron, rot iron vs wrought iron
Wrought iron has been worked (wrought) by hammering and bending, often into elaborate shapes. It is distinguished from cast iron, where the iron takes on the shape of the mold the molten metal was po…
Read Morerole vs roll
An actor plays a role. Bill Gates is the entrepreneur’s role model. But you eat a sausage on a roll and roll out the barrel. To take attendance, you call the roll.
Read Morerollover vs roll over
A rollover used to be only a serious highway accident, but in the computer world this spelling has also been used to label a feature on a Web page which reacts in some way when you roll the ball insi…
Read Morerondezvous vs rendezvous
The first syllable of “rendezvous” rhymes with “pond” but is not spelled like it. It comes from a word related to English “render” and is hyphenated in French: “rendez-vous.” In English the two eleme…
Read Moreroot vs rout vs route
<p>A root is the part of the plant or tree in the soil. </p><pre>“The roots of this trees have grown under the sidewalk.”</pre><p> It can also be used as an adjective for the category or vegetables l…
Read Morerpms vs rpm
“RPM” means “revolutions per minute,” so it is redundant to add an S at the end of the abbreviation—it’s already plural. Adding the S is so common among people working with engines that it’s not like…
Read Morerueben vs reuben
Diner owners who put “Rueben sandwiches” on their menus may rue the day they did so when they encounter a customer who cares about the correct spelling of this classic American concoction of corned b…
Read Moreruff vs rough
<p>Ruff is an extension of a starched frill, worn round the neck. It could also mean the colored rings of hairs or feathers round the neck of a mammal or bird.</p><pre>A. "I eventually bought the Jac…
Read Morerye vs wry
“Wry” means “bent, twisted.” Even if you don’t have a wry sense of humor you may crack a wry smile. No rye is involved.
Read Morerevert vs reply
The most common meaning of “revert” is “to return to an earlier condition, time, or subject.” When Dr. Jekyll drank the potion he reverted to the brutish behavior of Mr. Hyde. But some pretentious pe…
Read Morerevert back vs revert
Since “revert” means “go back,” many people feel that “revert back” is a pointless redundancy. “Revert” all by itself is better.
Read Moreridged vs rigid
<p>Rigid refers to things or ideas which are stiff and naturally uneasy to achieve.</p><pre>"The school policy is very rigid on matters of indecency."</pre><p>Ridged is a long narrow elevation of lan…
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