Posted on by kathleenwcurry
Ernest and earnest are easily confused words.
The spell-check application of most word processing software programs would not catch a slip-up of these two words. Spell-check is looking for words that aren’t in its dictionary, and words that resemble words in its dictionary, but are possibly spelled wrong. Spell-check isn’t perfect. It doesn’t know and can’t guess what word you wanted, or what word you meant, it can only judge the words on the page. If you used words that are all spelled correctly, it gives you a pass anyway.
Autocorrect suggests words that start with the same letters. It’s suggesting what word you may want to save time, but quite often, its suggestionsare prettyoff base. They don’t help you out, but they do make you laugh.
Ernest (pronounced “uhrr-nihst”) is a male name adapted from German (Ernst.) It means serious and resolute. Famous people with this first name include author Ernest Hemingway.
In pop culture:
- In the 1980s, a character named Ernest talked to the camera in Mello Yello soda ads, with the catchphrase, “You know what I mean, Vern?” This character went on to be featured in children’s movies, like “Ernest Saves Christmas,” “Ernest Goes to Camp,” “Ernest Goes to Jail,” and “Ernest Rides Again.”
Earnest (pronounced “uhr-nihst”) has multiple meanings.
- As an adjective, it describes seriousness and commitment to task or purpose.
- As a noun, like in the phrase “in earnest,” it means speaking or behaving in total seriousness.
- Oscar Wilde has a comedic play called “The Importance of Being Earnest,” that has since been remade as a movie several times.
The following story uses both words correctly:
In order to make an earnest attempt at getting published before 25, Ernest decided he would get up early every weekend morning and devoted 5 solid hours to writing.
But what should he write about? He didn’t have swashbuckling adventures or army ambulance driving experience to draw from, like his namesake. Maybe he would join the local paper and write about school issues to get some ideas.
Published by kathleenwcurry
Words might seem too common to be fascinating, but they touch everything. They are how we grasp, experience, and interpret our world. They are how we share our interpretations with others, and how they share their interpretations with us. They weave connections with others and create common ground.Words help point out problems. Words indicate admiration or displeasure. Words state a position. Words shape how we see ourselves, and influence how others see us.So as common as words are, they perform critical functions. So why not blog about words themselves and just how fascinating they are. When you peel back the layers, you find human history, and so much more.Maybe you stumbled on this blog. Maybe you follow it for the stories that are published several times a week. Either way, thank you for reading. Contact me for the copywriting or other content creation you require.View all posts by kathleenwcurry
