Showing posts with label right. Show all posts
Showing posts with label right. Show all posts

Monday, August 8, 2011

right, write, rite

Write or write means to set down on paper with letters, numbers, and perhaps punctuation marks--
I'm going to write a novel.
Why don't you write me a letter?
Write it down so you don't forget.

Right or right ( rhymes with write ) means the opposite of left, directionally--
Make a right at the corner.
Raise your right hand.
He swerved from left to right.
Right or right also means correct--factually or morally--
That is not the right answer.
Don't litter--it isn't right.

Right or rights, as a noun ( a thing or idea ) means what a person or entity gets to do--
You have the right to remain silent.
We all have civil rights in the United States.

Rite or rite ( rhymes with write ) means a religious or other ceremony, usually marking a change in the person's status in the community--
Marriage is a rite practiced all over the world.
Graduation ceremonies are a modern rite of passage into adulthood.

Now that you know that you can say--
"When you write about religious rites, make sure to get it right".

Note--you may have noticed that religious rites--such as baptisms, confirmations or weddings--could be confused with religious rights--which may be why we usually say "freedom of religion"--
Each church has the right to perform religious rites.

Note # 2--"wright" ( rhymes with write )  is an old-fashioned word  meaning  a maker or fashioner of a particular thing, and is usually combined with that thing, as one word--
People surnamed wheelwright don't necessarily make wheels nowadays.
People surnamed wainwright probably don't make wagons.