Since and because. These are two little conjunctions that cause problems for some folks and represent yet another gray area in terms of accepted usage. Merriam-Webster lists because as a synonym for since and vice versa, but there are subtle differences.

Since is used in a temporal sense.

Since the weather changed, my allergies have improved. 

An easy way to test if since is appropriate is to substitute “from the time when.”

Since she was a toddler, music has been an important part of Cheryl’s life.

We have visited nearly every hobby shop in San Francisco since we moved to California.

When talking about cause and effect, use because. This leaves very little room for confusion, as the word itself spells out its purpose.               

Because of the new medication, my allergies have improved.

Also correct: Since I discovered this new medication, my allergies have improved.

Because we were missing so many ingredients, we had to find a new recipe.

Unfortunately, this does not clear things up completely.

According to more than one dictionary, since can also be used to mean because:

Since he emphasized how important it was, I ran right out and mailed it.

(I mailed something because it was important.)

Some folks insist that this is incorrect; and while it does lend itself to confusion (because would have made it more clear that this is a cause-and-effect situation), it is not necessarily incorrect. Some style guides insist on sticking to since for time-related usage, which helpfully removes any doubt. In most areas of creative writing, though, people have been happily using this construction for years and are unlikely to stop just because they’re told it’s wrong.

When a sentence contains repeated words, most spell-checking programs will highlight the extra word. It’s a fairly common form of typo. But there are also times when a sentence has been deliberately constructed with double words:

I assured them that that wouldn’t happen.

The spell-checker flags this as a mistake but is it incorrect?

Another example: They were instructed to give her her job back.

Both of our examples are grammatically correct, but some may find them a bit awkward. A simple rewrite can often eliminate the problem.

I assured them that it wouldn’t happen.
They were instructed to reinstate her job.

One other source of confusion is the construction of “had.”

They had had some trouble with their neighbors long before this lawsuit.
If I had had an extra pencil, I would have finished the exam in time.

These are examples of the correct usage of the past perfect form of “have” when it refers back to an earlier past time.

A more troublesome usage of double words involves “is,” as in, The trouble is is that you are from out of town. Or The fact is is that the weather won’t cooperate.

This is incorrect, as well as awkward, and should be rewritten. The trouble is that you are from out of town. The subjects of the sentences are “the trouble” and “the fact,” which require only one verb—“is.”

Sometimes writers try to fix the problem by adding a comma. The question is, is the man going to stick around? The general construction of these “the problem is, the question is” sentences is inherently ungainly and should probably be avoided.

So, do not be unnecessarily troubled by doubled words. If you are unhappy with them, reword your sentence.

As soon as I wrote it, it started to make sense.

Mantel or Mantle?

Use “mantel” when referring to the shelf above a fireplace. Use “mantle” to refer to a cloak or loose garment worn over other clothes. “Mantle” can also be used as a verb, as in to cover with (or as if with) a mantle.

Lose or Loose?

Use “lose” as a verb. You can lose a bet, lose the game, or lose your mind, but you can’t “loose” any of your faculties or possessions. “Loose” can be used as a verb too, as in “Use the hook to loosen the knot,” but, for the most part, use “loose” as an adjective. You can have a loose tooth, a loose screw, and loose change; you can have loose pants and loose morals, but don’t worry, it won’t make you a “looser.” 

For example…i.e. or e.g.?

The abbreviation e.g. stands for the Latin exempli gratia, which means “for example.” It must be followed by one or more examples. However, using e.g. does not mean that the list is a complete one.

We have several breeds of puppies available; e.g., Hounds, Labs, and Poodles, and there are several mixed breeds as well.

The abbreviation i.e. stands for the Latin id est, meaning “that is.” It should be followed by an explanation rather than a list of examples.

Don’t forget to attend the greatest match of all times. Come support the pride of Utah; i.e., the Howlin’ Huskies, on Saturday afternoon.

• Don’t forget to use a period after each letter; both are abbreviations.

• Use a comma after i.e. or e.g.

• You may use either abbreviation at the beginning of a sentence or in a parenthetical statement.

• If either abbreviation is used within the body of the sentence, use a semicolon before the expression and a comma afterward.

Hopefully (adverb)
 
 1) in a hopeful manner
 2) it is hoped; I hope; we hope
 
Hopefully, this drought will end soon.
 
According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary:
 
In the 1960s the second usage of hopefully underwent a surge in popularity and was then followed by a flood of criticism. But the word in question belongs to a class of adverbs called “disjuncts,” which serve as a means by which the author or speaker can comment directly to the reader—usually on the content of the sentence to which they are attached. Many other adverbs are used in a similar fashion, such as frankly, luckily, unfortunately, but “are so ordinary as to excite no comment or interest whatsoever.” The second usage of hopefully is considered to be standard.

The use of “only.”

Here is another bone of contention among writers. The correct placement of “only” in a sentence depends largely on what part of the sentence is to be stressed.

According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary:

“After 200 years of preachment the following observations may be made: the position of only in standard spoken English is not fixed, since ambiguity is avoided through sentence stress; in casual prose that keeps close to the rhythms of speech only is often placed where it would be in speech; and in edited and more formal prose, only tends to be placed immediately before the word or words it modifies.”

Examples:

Those kids respond to only one teacher; the rest seem to have little influence.
Only two kids responded to the invitation.

One Newsflash reader asked about a couple of other gray areas:

Is it bite-size or bite-sized? Farmer’s market, farmers market, or farmers’ market?

Again, according to Merriam-Webster, it is correct to use either “size.” The more common usage listed is “bite-size” or “king-size,” but under variant usage “bite-sized” and “king-sized” are listed.

The same goes for those farmers’/farmers/farmer’s markets. As our reader noted, “Sheesh! How many ways can you find this expressed on any given day?”

It would make more sense to use “farmers’ market,” as it indicates a market where there is usually more than one farmer selling their wares, but a Google search yields no consistent usage or hard-and-fast rule.

Oh, and one more thing:

Use “bated” breath, not “baited” breath. The word “bated” is the abbreviated form of “abated,” which means to subside or put an end to.

Previously, we wrote about the importance of using gender-free language in our writing—not only to avoid excluding groups of people, but also to let the reader concentrate on what we’re saying, not how we’re saying it. There are many ways to offend people—whether it’s women, people with health issues, or entire races—and it’s important to be aware of the language we use in our writing to avoid being insensitive.

Gender Bias and the Singular “They”

If you are talking about a population of people of both sexes, do not alienate one gender by using pronouns that are either male or female. When we know the gender of a group, it’s easy:

            The Girl Scouts convened at noon, and each girl had her speech ready.

But if the gender of the group isn’t quite so clear, things get a little tricky. Consider the following variations: 

1. When the volunteers showed up, each felt their heart sink at the terrible sight.
2. When the volunteers showed up, each felt his or her heart sink at the terrible sight.
3. When they arrived the volunteers felt heartsick at the terrible sight.

Sentence #1 is technically incorrect, as “their” is plural yet refers to a singular indefinite pronoun (“each”). This is common in speech, but the written word comes under closer scrutiny, and many grammarians insist that this usage is not only incorrect, but unacceptable. Using the singular “they/their” has, however, become more commonplace in modern literature and is not unheard of in historical literature—and many predict that this practice will one day be considered correct and standard form.

Sentence #2 is correct, but, if overused, this technique becomes tiresome very quickly.

Sentence #3 is also correct and eliminates the gender issue altogether.

If you’re serious about writing with sensitivity, avoid loaded words such as mankind, postman, and fireman, and watch out for occupational stereotypes, such as assuming that all kindergarten teachers are women or all police officers are men.

For specific examples of how to fix gender-biased sentences, see The Use of Gender-Neutral Language in Your Writing from our previous blog post.

Other Sensitive Areas:

Country of Origin and/or Race

It is extremely offensive to make sweeping generalities about an entire race or nationality, so be careful how you describe your characters, and avoid stereotypes of any kind.

Sexual Orientation

A person’s sexual orientation should be brought to attention only if it is a relevant part of your story. If your poem is about the prejudice faced by a gay couple, then certainly their sexual orientation is relevant. Saying “The man who took our order was obviously a homosexual” could be construed as offensive if the man’s sexuality has nothing at all to do with the story.

Religion

This can be a very sensitive area. If you view a particular religion as fanatical or cultlike, refrain from describing it as such. Your readers could be mightily offended—and rightly so.

Knock It Off with the Fat Jokes

Not much else to say. Just don’t participate.

There is an exception to all of this. If you are trying to show what a donkey’s behind your character is, feel free to employ all these methods and offend away—as long as it’s clear your character is the insensitive lunkhead, not you.

A collective noun refers to a group of people or things, such as “family” or “flock.” It can be confusing to determine if the noun should function as singular or plural when trying to match a verb with it, so let’s break it down.

SINGULAR COLLECTIVE NOUNS:
 
Mathematics is my favorite subject.
The mob was rounding the corner.
A pair of scissors is on the kitchen counter.         

PLURAL COLLECTIVE NOUNS:
         
Where are my scissors?
The headquarters are located in Boise, Idaho.
         
EITHER WAY:

Many collective nouns can either be singular or plural, depending on their context, and here is where the confusion often lies. For example:

The jury have mixed feelings about the prosecutor’s cross-examination. (Where the individual members have differing emotions.)

The jury is sequestered. (Where the jury is a single entity.)

The staff is waiting in the conference room. (Single entity.)

The staff have special qualifications for this project. (Referring to individual members of the staff.)

My family is very dysfunctional. (Referring to the family as a unit.)

My family have always been proud of me. (Referring to the family members individually.)

Reverend Smith’s flock is very devout. (Single entity.)

Reverend Smith’s flock are always competing with each other. (Individual members are competing with each other.)

The distinctions between singular and plural usage can be pretty subtle. Your job is to decide if you want to focus on the individual or the whole, and match your verbs accordingly. As always, once you’ve made your decision, stay consistent.

When the protagonist of your story pauses to think something, you need to set it apart somehow from the regular text and dialogue. There are a few different ways of setting characters' thoughts.

The most straightforward way to do this is to paraphrase the characters' thoughts into the narrative. For example:

When the brothers climbed up the riverbank, their school clothes coated with mud and filth, it occurred to them for the first time that their mom would be furious. Why hadn't they gone home first to change into play clothes? Oh well, they were already in trouble for being late for dinner, and they might as well get it over with. The trio trudged home reluctantly.

Another useful technique is to use italics, which is an effective tool when both thoughts and spoken dialogue are interspersed. This technique is becoming standard practice among publishers—and for good reason. The different type style makes it quite clear when a person is thinking versus speaking aloud:                                   

When the brothers climbed up the riverbank, their school clothes coated with mud and filth, it occurred to them for the first time that their mom would be furious. Why didn't we go home first to change into play clothes? Roger thought. "We're already in trouble for being late for dinner, so we might as well get it over with," he told his brothers, and the trio trudged home reluctantly.

This style is also popular with science fiction and horror writers, who use italics to show telepathic communication between characters. Some writers use quotation marks to set off thoughts, but this can get complicated, especially when thoughts and spoken dialogue are mixed. 

When the brothers climbed up the riverbank, their school clothes coated with mud and filth, it occurred to them for the first time that their mom would be furious. "Why didn't we go home first to change into play clothes?" Roger thought. "We're already in trouble for being late for dinner, so we might as well get it over with," he told his brothers, and the trio trudged home reluctantly.

There is nothing to differentiate between the spoken sentence and the thought. This can be avoided by using single quotation marks around the thought, but this is an awkward fix, and we don't recommend it.

When the brothers climbed up the riverbank, their school clothes coated with mud and filth, it occurred to them for the first time that their mom would be furious. 'Why didn't we go home first to change into play clothes?' Roger thought. "We're already in trouble for being late for dinner, so we might as well get it over with," he told his brothers, and the trio trudged home reluctantly.

If your character is thinking something to himself, it is redundant to say so.
 
Wow, that sure is a small car, the large man thought to himself.

But if he is thinking out loud, tell this to your reader. 

"Wow, that sure is a small car," the large man thought aloud. 

Finally, whichever style you choose to follow, make sure it stays consistent throughout your work, and make it easy for your reader to follow what your characters are thinking, as well as saying.

Toward or Towards?

Simply put, Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary states that "toward" and "towards" are both correct and interchangeable, although it lists "towards" as a variant spelling. Mostly likely, this is because "towards" is more often seen in British English spelling. In the United States we gravitate toward spelling shortcuts and usually lop off the "s" on words like towards, backwards, and forwards.

Note: In British English, when backward is used as an adjective, it is normally spelled without the s-ending, as in "Please excuse our cousin's backward manners. He doesn't get out much."

Regarding Anyways...

Most people agree that this is a word better spelled without the "s." It's a word that has its place in character dialogue—picture a gum-chewing teenage girl or perhaps a garage mechanic—but it's probably best to leave anyways out of all other prose. It makes a good number of readers cringe.

Personal Pronouns: We and Us

We is a personal pronoun in the subjective (subject) case.

The kids and I made a cake.
We made a cake.

Us is a personal pronoun in the objective (object) case.

The kids baked a cake for Sam and me.
The kids baked a cake for us.

Tricky Words du Jour:

Auger vs Augur
Auger (n) is a tool used for boring holes.
Augur (n) is someone who foretells the future or (v) to foretell, especially from omens.

Grizzly vs Grisly
Grizzly (n) is a bear, while grisly (adj) means gruesome.

Past vs Passed
Past means (adj) ago, (n) time gone by, or (adv) beyond.
Passed is the past tense of the verb "to pass."

We’ve been told not to split infinitives (or to not split them!) ever since grade school, and the reason goes way back. In Latin the infinitive form of a verb is one word, and as 19th-century grammarians were big Latin fans, they decided that the rules of English should conform to those of Latin. Hence, splitting an infinitive would be akin to splitting a word in half. But in modern times, when we are not translating Latin, splitting an infinitive is not necessarily bad grammar.

For example:

Before it careened out of sight, the car managed to just make the corner.

In this sentence the infinitive is "to make," and inserting "just" between the infinitive puts the emphasis on the fact that it was a near thing.

Another example:

Our goal is to further cement relations between the two countries. Here the infinitive is split to emphasize "further."

The more "correct" form changes the meaning of the sentence: Our goal is to cement further relations between the two countries.

Or: Our goal is further to cement relations between the two countries. In this case, not splitting the infinitive leads to awkward phrasing and a clumsier sentence.

Another example is the famous Star Trek title sequence: To boldly go where no man has gone before!

Again, this phrase loses strength when the infinitive is not split. To go boldly where no man has gone before just doesn’t pack the same punch.

Most writers strive to keep their infinitives cozily joined together out of fear of looking ignorant of basic grammar. And it’s true that, most of the time, the infinitive functions best as a whole unit. However, the writer should always err on the side of comprehension and flow rather than the conventions of 19th-century Latin afficionados. George Bernard Shaw said it best when he wrote to The London Times:

"There is a busybody on your staff who devotes a lot of time to chasing split infinitives: I call for the immediate dismissal of this pedant. It is of no consequence whether he decides to go quickly or to quickly go or quickly to go. The important thing is that he should go at once."

The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, a compact, two-volume version of the 20-volume set, was recently released, and it has caused a small stir among those who care about such things: the SOED editors have done away with the hyphen in approximately 16,000 words, throwing a wrench into the works of hyphen-addicted old-schoolers. Shortly afterward, The New York Times printed an article about it, along with a graphic of a gravestone inscribed with: Here Lies The Nearly-Departed, Seldom-Understood, Soon-To-Be-Forgotten Hyphen. It was a fitting epitaph. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/07/weekinreview/07mcgrath.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

The hyphen has long been a misunderstood creature, and there are no hard and fast rules about its usage. In general, it is used to provide breaks in lines, and in the spelling of certain words, such as father-in-law or anti-American. Hyphens are also used as "suspension hyphens" to indicate a stand-in word (four-, five-, and six-gallon containers) and to link compound adjectives that precede a noun (We gave the six-foot man a wide berth). Hyphens can also be used to avoid confusion as in 30-odd people. Without the hyphen, we might be looking at 30 strange people wandering around rather than approximately 30 folks. We have also traditionally used hyphens to set off prefixes such as "self" and "ex," and when two vowels need separation as in "pre-eminent," although, today you'll find "preeminent" in most standard dictionaries.

If you're a little uncertain about the use of hyphens, don't despair—you're not alone. The English language is terribly unregulated, and your hyphen decisions should be based on common sense and consistency. If in doubt, look it up. At Writer's Relief we use Merriam-Webster's dictionary as the final authority, and the no-hyphen trend has been spotted there as well.

The SOED has provided us with thousands of newly de-hyphenated words that, according to editor Angus Stevenson, are "only reflecting widespread everyday use." So, now we have bumblebee, airstream, leapfrog, and ice cream (instead of ice-cream). The editors at SOED have been tracking trends for many years and report that the hyphen seems to be falling by the wayside. It is not, however, in any danger of disappearing for good. Otherwise we may get confused and go searching for a good looking date—you know, a date who is good at looking—or a fine tooth comb with which to comb our teeth.

The following guidelines can help you determine when to use capital letters (and when not to).

Capitalize the first word of a sentence, including the first word of a quoted sentence.

It wasn't easy to ignore him when he yelled, "Get a life, you weasel!"

Capitalize proper nouns.

Lake Michigan, State Street, Williams Welding Company, Jupiter, Pacific Ocean

Capitalize titles that precede the name. Do not capitalize if the title is a description that follows the person's name.

The best course was taught by Professor Leo Smith.

Leo Smith, one of the college's professors, edited the literary magazine.

Capitalize titles when used in address.

The stand is yours, Officer Higgins.

Is it possible, Doctor, that you made a mistake?

Capitalize family relationships only when used as proper names.

I went to visit Uncle Frank, but my other uncles couldn't go with me. I was able to convince Father to come with me, but my mother didn't feel well.

Do not capitalize directions unless they are part of a proper name or refer to a specific region.

Each week I travel a few miles south to West Yorkshire.

They're packing up and heading for the Southwest.

Capitalize the names of God, religious figures, and holy books. Do not capitalize the nonspecific use of the word "god."

She covered her all her bases and sent up prayers to God, Buddha, and the Virgin Mary.

In some cultures, the worship of many gods is more common than monotheism.

Capitalize the days of the week, months, and holidays. Do not capitalize the seasons unless the season has been personified—and even then it's optional and sometimes considered old-fashioned.

We celebrate Thanksgiving in November, just as fall begins its transition into winter.

Suddenly, the icy breath of Winter chilled our skin.

Capitalize periods and events. Do not capitalize century numbers.

Great Depression

twentieth century

Capitalize political, social, military, and athletic groups.

Seattle Mariners

Republicans

Native Americans

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy

And one final tip. In creative writing, it's tempting to capitalize words that are important to your sentence, such as "love" or "justice." This is generally frowned upon.

Advent vs. In The Event

Advent: coming into being or use, as in "the advent of winter" or "the advent of electricity"

In the event: if, as in "In the event that Grandma shows up, we should have some coffee available."

Uppermost vs. Uttermost

Uppermost: adverb or adjective meaning in or into the highest or most prominent position, as in "the uppermost layer" or "her illness was uppermost in their minds"

Uttermost (or Utmost): adjective meaning situated at the farthest or most distant point, as in "the utmost peak of the mountain" or of the highest degree, quantity, number, or amount, as in "a matter of utmost concern"

The past tense is fairly easy to comprehend. When we talk to our friends we use past, present, and future tenses with ease, but as writers we use other tenses to enhance our work and help explain the sequence of events to our readers. One of these is the past perfect tense, which is, in essence, a little more past than past. When used correctly, this tense tells the reader that we’re going back in time, even beyond the usual past tense that is employed in most fiction. Technically speaking, it is used to refer to a noncontinuous action in the past that was already completed by the time another action in the past took place.

The past perfect can be very useful in fiction writing because you can go back to a previous event without confusing your reader.

She had worried about her sister’s drug problem when their mother died and had taken steps to find a suitable rehab program. But her sister continued to push her away over the years, and eventually, Joann decided to step back from the problem and stay available should her sister need her. She knew how stubborn and independent Julie could be.

It can also be annoying if overdone. Once you’ve established that you’re going back in time, you can revert back to the simple past tense. In the above example, we reverted back to the past tense after "rehab program." The flashback had already been established, and there was no need to continue with the past perfect.

The past tense becomes the past perfect with the addition of the verb "to have."

Past: I wrote that poem.

Past perfect: I had written that poem.

The past perfect tense implies that I wrote that poem before something else happened, as in "I had written that poem before experiencing a broken heart." Another example:

Past: I wanted to learn more about Italy, so I called my friend Stephanie, who lived in Florence.

Stephanie was probably still in Florence at the time of the call.

Past perfect: I wanted to learn more about Italy, so I called my friend Stephanie, who had lived in Florence for several years.

Stephanie no longer lives in Florence.

If you’d like to test your skills, take a crack at our little quiz.

Thomas Edison invented/had invented the lightbulb.

They never owned/had never owned a dog before Samson padded into their lives.

By the time Mr. Johnson got home, his family ate/had already eaten dinner.

As soon as he spotted the guard, he ran/had run off.

When the music started, the teenagers started/had started to dance.

Andrew couldn’t open the door because he forgot/had forgotten his key.

Bobby has never been/had never been to a baseball game before that night.

If I knew/had known, I would have come by yesterday.

The women fell ill a short while after they ate/had eaten the crab salad.

My son already read/had already read that book before the movie came out.

Answers:

invented

had never owned

had already eaten

ran

started

had forgotten

had never been

had known

had eaten

had already read

In this article we'll focus on the use of commas after introductory words or phrases. There are a few rules, mostly to indicate a natural pause in the sentence and to avoid sentence confusion. In many cases it is the writer's choice. Here are a few guidelines to follow.

DO use a comma:

--After introductory exclamatories and after expressions of affirmation or negation.

Well, it's about time. Oh, you shouldn't have! Yes, I'd love to.

--After an introductory clause.

As I told you, the principal won't be back until Monday.

--After an introductory prepositional phrase of more than four words.

After driving for more than eight fun-filled hours, we finally arrived at the motel.

--After an introductory verbal phrase, appositive phrase, or absolute phrase.

Having formed an instant bond, the boy and the puppy quickly became inseparable.

In order to give a good estimate, the plumber spent over an hour investigating the leaky pipes.

A lawyer from Texas, John Stetson is an expert in copyright law.

--After introductory transitional words.

However, I never said I would actually attend the party.

Of course, I wasn't actually invited...

Do not use a comma when a gerund or an infinitive is used as a subject.

Watering the lawn is a good way to attract birds.

To tackle the subject without any research would be foolish.

NOTE: As with many elements of creative writing, comma usage generates much debate. Many experts recommend separating all introductory elements with a comma. It makes for a natural break or pause, and it contributes to better comprehension. Others argue that if the sentence is clear without the comma, and the introductory element is short, the comma is unnecessary; ultimately, it comes down to personal preference and what works best for the reader.

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Author’s Submission Service Since 1994

Than versus Then

"Than" is a conjunction and is used in making comparisons:

I would rather eat a banana than a kiwi.

"Then" is an adverb relating to time:

We'll catch the train, then meet at the library downtown.

Let's versus Lets

"Let's" is a contraction for "let us," and "lets" is a verb, meaning to allow or permit:

Let's hope he lets us bring our notes.

If versus Whether

"If" refers to one possibility; "whether" refers to more than one possibility.

I don't know if he wants to go with us. He'll have to decide whether he wants to get a ride or meet there later.

Infer versus Imply

"Infer" means to draw a conclusion.

The readers inferred that the article was meant to draw attention to the refugees' plight.

"Imply" means to suggest or hint.

The article implied that aloe vera can decrease scarring due to burns.

Compared To versus Compared With

"Compared to" is used when pointing out similarities:

My tuna casserole was compared to a science fair experiment gone bad.

"Compared with" is used to point out differences:

My casserole was delicious compared with the slop the others brought.

http://www.writersrelief.com/
Author’s Submission Service Since 1994

by D.B. Pacini of www.astarrynightproductions.com, Writer's Relief Client

I serve as a writing mentor for teens and young adults. Fairly frequently, with the desire to be unique, a young person will intentionally spell a word differently than the generally accepted spelling. This is fine in special cases, but I feel it is unwise in most.  For example, if a character is portrayed as a street thug, I don't have a problem with him speaking in slang. If a character is portrayed as a country-folk person, "I'm gittin' ready to fix supper" works.

Recently a young writer wished to spell “skillfully” as “skilfully,” and I advised against it. She provided no reason for the spelling to her reader. She told me that it is an accepted spelling in the dictionary, so she wanted to use it. Although skilfully is indeed an accepted spelling alternate, it is not commonly used in literature, medical, or scholarly text. I believe that most readers will think skilfully is a misspelling and book editors will mark it as a misspelling. Unless this young writer has a specific reason for the unusual spelling, that is obvious to her reader, I think she should use the standard spelling.

When I intentionally use an unusual word, unique expression, or atypical spelling, I make sure that the reason is obvious. An excellent case in point is the current trendy expression: My bad. It is slang and is used to apologize for a mistake. Example: “Sorry, my bad! I forgot to tell you he called and left a message.” This relatively new expression is enjoying huge popularity. Consequently, it is used in a number of TV commercials and TV shows. Actors as young as kindergartners and as old as great-grandparents are saying it to the cameras.

Bottom-line point: We may use any words, expressions, and unusual spellings we wish if we do so wisely and if our readers can easily understand our reasons and our intentions.