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Writing skills are inevitably the best way to communicate ones thoughts.  Unfortunately, the English language gives us nice twists and turns about how certain words that sound very much alike are used in the wrong context.

Over the next few weeks, we will look at a few of these confusing words and the way they should be used in hopes of helping other’s learn the right and wrong way of good grammar and save themselves with elements that could be embarrassing or make/break that business deal.

1. Weather vs Whether

• Weather is what we experience in our environment. Rain, heat etc.  All of it comes under the weather element (no pun intended). Example: The weather is beautiful outside. Normally used as a noun.
• Whether: Identified as a choice as to ‘whether or not’ someone will do something. Only to be used after a preposition for example: We had a huge argument over whether we should relocate the office.

2. Lie, Lay, Lying and Laying

• Lie meaning “to recline.”  Typically used as a verb that is not necessarily used with  out an object. To Lie meaning “to tell an untruth” uses lied for both the past tense and past participle, with lying as the present participle.
• Lay meaning “to put” or “to place.”  It typically is used as a verb as well but typically attached to the object of the sentence.The two words have different meanings and are not interchangeable.

3. Wait and Weight

• Wait: A verb that denotes to ’stay’ or  ‘to remain’.  To wait in the doctor’s office or to tell your dog to wait for you.
• Weight:  A noun that will offer information about the density or mass that an item has. She was livid at how much weight she had gained over the holidays.

Check back for more grammar tips and tricks soon!

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