On the sixth day of Content,” a random writer gave to me …

Six commonly misspelled words.

Merriam-Webster and the Oxford English Dictionary both released their “Word of the Year” recently (“Justice” and “Toxic,” respectively).

To stick with the theme of dictionaries and correct spelling, I thought I’d offer a list of six commonly misspelled words – some of which may surprise you.

I admit that some of these may be little obscure and may not find their way into your next content marketing piece, but then again, you never know.

At the very least, they’ll help you impress your friends and improve your Scrabble skills! Enjoy.

1. Tchotchke: “A small object that is decorative rather than strictly functional; a trinket.” We’re all familiar with tchotchkes, either for giving them or getting them at tradeshows and events, but it is a hard word to spell. If it’s easier, maybe stick with “SWAG,” which is an acronym for either “Stuff we all get” or “Stolen without a gun,” depending on who you ask.
2. Lede: A lede is the opening sentence of a news article or a paragraph. So writers who don’t get to the point faster enough are guilty of burying the “lede,” not the “lead.”
3. Pique: “To stimulate interest or curiosity.” Marketers should attempt to “pique” their readers’ interest, not “peak” (or even “peek.”)
4. Trouper: “A reliable and uncomplaining person.” Not a “trooper” (although some dictionaries allow this usage, probably as a result of the confusion.)
5. Just deserts: Here, “just deserts” derives from the French verb, “deservir,” which means “to deserve.” So while “just desserts” sounds more delicious, it’s really “just deserts.”
6. Complement/compliment: When two things go together well, they are “complementary,” not “complimentary.”

Honorable mentions:

“Bated breath,” not “baited breath”

“Tenterhooks,” not “tinderhooks”

“Champing at the bit,” not “chomping at the bit” (although both examples are found in print)

“Temperament,” not “temprament”

Again, I’m pretty sure “bated breath” and “tenterhooks” won’t appear in your next blog article, but I hope a few of these are interesting or helpful. At least we can all spell “tchotchke” now!

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s article. The next blog is inspired by some feedback I received from “The Fourth Day of Content,” which featured four thoughts to consider when writing a blog article. One reader wondered if I could provide more specifics (thanks, Matt!), so tomorrow, I’ll take a stab at seven things anyone can – and should – include their next blog.

Writing standards have gone down, yet prospects continue to be put off by content they don’t need or want. Running Start Communications is a content marketing studio focused on helping companies differentiate themselves through better strategies and execution. Visit our website to learn more.