Writerly Question

[rhienelleth]

We all have those words, right? Little foibles? Its vs. it's or there, their, and they're?

One of my betas pointed out one of mine this morning, and I was honestly completely baffled that this has been in my writing for so, so long with me inexplicably unaware: breath vs. breathe.

I actually have a vague memory of using "breathe" once upon a time, and being told it was the English spelling, not the American, and why was I using it? At which point, I apparently eradicated it from usage and have only used "breath" since.

But it seems that was the incorrect thing to do, and breath is used when "Anna took a breath." While breathe is used "Anna loved to breathe in the fresh air."

So, what say all the writers on my f-list?

Also, what's your word use achilles heel?

Also, thank God for find and replace.

ETA: So, amidst all of the correct uses of breath, breathed, breathing, breathless, breathable, and breathes, I found eleven places where "breath" needed to be "breathe".

Comments

[shadawyn.livejournal.com]

Well, that explains why it was never brought up before in critiques.

To be fair, he may have been biased by the style guide for the publishing company he is an editor for :D

[csinman.livejournal.com]

That's true! Good call.