Common spelling mistakes in the construction industry
The range of documents that need to be written in the construction industry includes:
- Technical and design reports.
- Legal documents (appointments, contracts, warranties and so on).
- Marketing documents (websites, case studies, brochures and books).
- Bid and tender documents.
The spell-check function on computers means that many common problems with spelling have been eliminated. However, some words remain troublesome, some have confusing homophones (words which sound the same but have different meanings) and some have US spelling variants. Spelling mistakes can create a negative impression of a company and undermine other work that has been done.
A number of the most common difficulties are listed below.
- affect: means to influence something, effect is to bring about change, or the result of change (to affect the environment, the effect of water damage).
- and: write in full, avoid using & and + unless it forms part of a company name.
- annex: verb (to annex), the noun has an extra e (we added an annexe to the building).
- artefact: not artifact.
- brownfield, greenfield and greenbelt: not brown field, green field, green belt.
- capitalise not capitalize: realise not realize, customise not customize, keep the ‘s’ in UK text.
- compliment and complement: to compliment is to offer praise, to complement means to complete, to create harmony or compatibility. The client complimented our work. The colour of the seats complemented the natural wood of the ceiling.
- discreet, discrete: discreet means to be tactful or prudent; discrete means separate.
- disinterested, uninterested: disinterested means impartial, uninterested means lacking in interest.
- effectively: not affectively.
- ensure, insure: ensure is to make sure of something, insure is related to insurance.
- everyday and every day: an everyday occurrence, we do this every day.
- focused, focusing: not focussed and focussing.
- forward, foreword: to travel forward, a foreword is introductory text in a book.
- fulfil: not fulfill. But infill, not infil.
- greywater: not grey water, also blackwater, rainwater.
- inquiry: this relates to an event such as a public inquiry. An enquiry is something you make when you ask a question/enquire.
- less and fewer: less applies to quantities such as volume, mass or area, fewer relates to numbers. Generally you can’t count/numerate less, but you can fewer - less water, fewer apples. Note that less/fewer are comparatives and usually require qualification; less or fewer than what?
- licence and license. Licence is a noun, wheras license is a verb.
- maybe, may be: maybe we should consider an alternative, this may be it.
- none: a commonly used abbreviation of ‘not one’ which is treated as a singular.
- pavilion: not pavillion.
- practice and practise: practice (with c) is a noun, such as an architectural practice. Practise (with s) is a verb or doing word, such as to practise. You can hear the difference with a similar word - to advise and to offer advice.
- principle and principal: a principle is a general rule, a principal is a senior manager or the main thing.
- rainwater or rain: not rain water.
- receive, conceive, deceive: - i before e except after c.
- recommend: not recomend.
- separate: not seperate.
- stationery, stationary: stationery is papers and pens, stationary is to stop still.
- until: not ‘til or till.
- would have: not would of.
This article was written by --Alex Harvie 17:57, 2 July 2013 (BST)
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Architectural publishing.
- Brand guidelines.
- Common mistakes on building drawings.
- Getting published.
- Self publishing for architects.
- Symbols on architectural drawings.
- Technical notes on architectural publishing.
- Writing technique.
[edit] External references
- RIBA Good Practice Guide: Marketing your practice.
- The Author’s Society is a membership organisation which provides useful resources and fact sheets as well as an advice service.
Featured articles and news
Heritage protection in England vs Australia.
Fire doors and the Fire Door Inspection Scheme.
Three-quarters of fire doors fail inspections
UN International Day for Biological Diversity, May 22.
The role of geoparks, biospheres and world heritage sites.
BSRIA conference 2022, June 23.
Just one month to go ! Find out more here.
Restoring Broadbent’s Bath House
A new gallery for the University of Huddersfield.
Corruption in the construction industry.
What will it take to stop it ?
To celebrate world bee day 2022 !
Just one month until the changes to part L come into effect.
Not forgetting part F and the new part overheating part O.
Heat Pump demand rises by one quarter.
As energy prices jump up in cost.
With people in the UK from Ukraine.
Industry leader Steve Murray takes on role.
An abundant and versatile building material.
How overheating complicates ending gas in the UK.
600,000 heat pump installations targeted per year by 2028.
Cost planning, control and related articles on DB.
Helping prevent those unwanted outcomes.
ICE debate Public transport - post pandemic.
How has transport changed due to Covid-19 ?
Cross-ventilation in buildings. Do you have it ?
Will you need it ? after June 15 and the new Part O ?
Share your knowledge with the industry.
Create an account and write the first of many articles.
The green jobs delivery group.
CIAT commentary after the first meeting.
Liverpool's world heritage site status
Who is to blame?
Research recommends focussing on portfolio success rather than project success.
Comments
To start a discussion about this article, click 'Add a comment' above and add your thoughts to this discussion page.
How about 'appraise' and 'apprise'? No less in construction than other walks of life, we appraise someone of something when we meant to apprise them.