Effective Communication

[Veldrin]

English is the most extensive language in the world. Some of us have more trouble with it than others. Being a guild among guilds based for the most part in Europe, quite a few roleplayers in Europa are not native English speakers. Very few of us are English majors in college, so even we from the UK, the US and Canada have a difficult time with it occasionally. This is perfectly understandable and very often condoned. However these mistakes can often make a speaker seem unintelligent or unprofessional.

For this reason I've compiled this helpful guide to words which are commonly confused or misspelled.

Common Confusions

advise/advice
advise: verb, to give advice. I would advise you to keep your gold in the bank.
advice: noun, a helpful suggestion. If you ask old Eddie, he can give you some advice on how to farm corn.

affect/effect
affect: verb, to cause an effect. Will the rain affect the water level of the lake?
effect: noun, a result of a prior action. The orc invasion had a negative effect on the Covian population.

dependent/dependant
dependent: adjective, to be reliant upon. Cove trade is dependent on the economy.
dependant: noun, one who is dependent. A child is a dependant of her parents.

dye, dyeing/die, dying
dye: noun, a substance to change the color of something. Get the hair dye from the cabinet, would you? dyeing, adjective, to be using dye. Mela is off dyeing her hair again.
die, verb, to stop or cease to live. I'm glad Steve Irwin had to die doing what he loved. dying, adjective, to be in a declining state leading to eventual death. Hurry and get the bandage! He's dying!
Note: Yes, UO did misspell the title of the "dying tub."

lead/led
lead: noun, a type of metal. My pencil lead broke., also verb, to be in charge. Could you lead an expedition force into Dungeon Deceit?
led: verb, past tense of "lead." I led a hunt just yesterday.

of/have
of: preposition, being or originating from. This is a matter of the highest importance.
have: verb, to own or possess obligation to. She had to have forgotten the gold in her house. Do you have any extra?
CORRECT: "That's what we should have done."
INCORRECT: "That's what we should of done."
Tip: Just think of it in the present tense. That's what we have to do.

prove/proof
prove: verb, to confirm or validate. I can prove that dragon ate Ryan Greystone.
proof: noun, evidence. I have proof that the Baron murdered Hrothgar.

there/their/they're
there: adverb, specific location outside close proximity. The Barracks is over there.
their: adjective, possessive form of "they." That kid is their only hope.
they're: contraction, "they are." They're going on a hunt to Destard.

were/we're/where
were: verb, past tense of "are." They were already here when you arrived.
we're: contraction, "we are." We're going on a patrol to the orc fort, want to come?
where: adverb, specific location. Do you know where everyone went to?

Common Misspellings
Correct spellings in bold.

A lot, two words, not "alot."

Because, not "becuase."
Tip: Just think "Beca Use."

Cemetery, not "cematery" or "cemetary."
Tip: All e's.

Coming, not "comming."

Definite, Definitely, not "definate" or "definately."
Tip: The root word is "finite," which is pronounced like "fye-night."

Disappoint, not "dissapoint" or "disapoint."

Embarrass, Embarrassment, not "embaras," "embarras," or "embarass," etc.
Tip: Two r's, two s's.

I, always capitalized. Not just "i."

Independence, not "independance."
Tip: All e's.

Necessary, not "neccessary" or "necesary."

Occur, not "occurr."

Occurred, Occurrence, not "occured" or "occurrance."

Patrol, not "patroll."
Note: The word does have two l's in "patrolled" and "patrolling."

Sentence, not "sentance."
Tip: All e's again.

Their, not "thier."
Tip: Just like in the number "eight," the "ei" has a long "a" sound.

Tomorrow, not "tomarrow," "tomorow," or "tommorow."

Until, not "untill."

Weird, not "wierd."

Writing, not "writting."

Octiovus, not Octavius, or Octivous, or Octiboibous, or Octopus, Octipopsalot, Octagon, Octotoevious etc.


British/American Spellings
All of these spellings are correct.

Armour - British Armor - American Centre - British Center - American Cheque - British Check - American Colour - British Color - American Cosy - British Cozy - American Defence - British Defense - American Dialogue - British Dialog - American

Draught - British Draft - American Favourite - British Favorite - American Jewellry - British Jewelry - American Learnt - British Learned - American Liquorice - British Licorice - American Mould - British Mold - American Moustache - British Mustache - American

Mum - British Mom - American Programme - British Program - American Sceptic - British Skeptic - American Speciality - British Specialty - American Terrorise - British Terrorize - American Traveller, Travelled - British Traveler, Traveled - American Yoghurt - British Yogurt - American