You know, a significant and growing problem with writing in this age of word
processors and spell checkers is the use of a wrong, but correctly spelled
word.  While very carefully not mentioning any names, I thought I'd mention
a couple of errors I've seen in at least three fanfics in the last couple of
weeks.  I don't know, maybe someone will chuckle, and perhaps folks will
check their dictionaries.  

First off: the correct phrase is "please bear with me" as in "let us bear
this burden together"  NOT "please bare with me"  as in "let us remove
clothing together."  Another is this: a strait is a narrow waterway
connecting two larger bodies of water.  Straight means without bends or curves.

As I say, I've seen these two errors in at least three different places in
the last couple of weeks and I hope no one thinks I am pointing at any
particular person.

There's no easy way to correct this sort of error besides simply learning
and memorizing words and their meanings.  It's worth the effort, though.

Best,

Bob Barnes
rbarnes@moscow.com
Moscow, Idaho

When opportunity comes, the trick is to CATCH the red hat.