Continuing our tour of often-confused spelling words, A.K.A., homophones: This week, we’ll address problem words that start with “d.”

dam/damn

The n-less version is the structure that prevents water from flowing. The latter word is often used profanely, but has a legitimate meaning also — to curse or to consign to eternal punishment.

dear/deer

There’s far less confusion about these two than you would imagine, probably because they are both such common words. Deer is the forest animal beloved by Disney fans and hunters alike. All other uses — as a greeting in correspondence (Dear John), an adjective meaning costly or precious (my dear friend), or a term of endearment (Yes, Dear, I’ll take out the trash.) — require the spelling dear.

desert/dessert

I don’t know about you, but I still have to pause and think about this one every time. The truth is, desert and dessert are not technically homophones; they have distinct pronunciations, except when you use desert as the verb meaning to abandon. They are similar enough and confused enough, however, for me to include them in the list. Desert (one “s”) is the remote and arid place, usually associated with sand and cacti. When you add the additional “s,” the accent shifts to the second syllable and we are talking about the yummy conclusion to a meal.

There are several tricks to remember that dessert has two s‘s. You can remember that desserts are twice as good as deserts. Or you can remember that you can have two desserts (if you’re lucky), but not two deserts. Or you can picture strawberry shortcake (s.s.) when you think of dessert. If you have any other devices for helping you remember the difference between desert and dessert, leave them in the comments below.

dew/do/due

Another threesome. Dew is the moisture left on the ground in the morning. Do is the very common verb meaning perform or an emphatic helping verb. Due is an adjective meaning owed or having reached a date when payment is required. Due can also be a noun as in the common phrase give him his due, but is most often plural when used as a noun, as in union workers are asked to pay dues.

It’s good to remember that it’s this third version, due, that is meant in most idiomatic expressions:  in due course, give the devil his due, credit where credit is due, due to something, with all due respect.

There are some exceptions where the expression needs do: do unto others, do me wrong, do-gooder.

die/dye

When you are talking about passing away, resting in peace, crossing the bar, or joining the choir invisible, you mean die. If you are talking about changing the color of something, you mean dye.

disc/disk

More and more, mostly due to general confusion on the matter, these spellings are used interchangeably. Still, there is a technical difference. All optical discs, like CDs, are spelled with a “c.” That goes for medical terms too, like spinal discs and flat, round objects in general (A Frisbee is a trademarked flying disc). The spelling with a “k” is an Americanism and only refers to magnetic computer storage: hard disk, floppy disk, diskette, disk drive.

Generally, you’re safe if you stick to the “c” spelling.

discreet/discrete

Even really smart people mess this one up. Discreet is the more common word, and it’s what we mean when we say someone is being prudent, subtle, or circumspect: Don’t be so obvious about your feelings for him; it is wiser to be discreet.

Discrete means separate or distinct: Mr. Monk organized the jellybeans into discrete piles by color.

doe/dough

A doe is a deer. A female deer.

I’m sorry. I did that on purpose. And now you can’t get Julie Andrews our of your head.

Dough is the sticky stuff that becomes bread when you bake it. It’s also the slang term for money.

Oh, and if you want the interjection made famous by Homer Simpson, that’s a different word altogether: Doh!

doc/dock

This one’s easy. Doc is only used as an informal abbreviation for doctor, as in, “What’s up, Doc?” or as an abbreviation for document, as in Google docs. If you are not referring to an abbreviated term, you mean dock.

draft/draught

Americans almost always use the first spelling: draft. In fact, most dictionaries now recognize draft as an alternate spelling for draught. But they have not always been interchangeable. The Oxford Dictionaries Online still warn people not to confuse them.

Traditionally, draft only meant a version of a piece of writing, or, as a verb, to create a plan or composition: I drafted two letters, which draft do you like? Draught, on the other hand meant a gust of air (Do you feel a draught?), a big gulp of something (He downed it in one draught), or a drink taken from a keg rather than a can or bottle (I like draught beer).

Remember, draught rhymes with craft, not caught.

dual/duel

Both words come from the same root: duo, meaning two. Dual is an adjective meaning made up of two parts. A duel is a battle between two opponents.

duct/ducked

Okay, few people confuse duct (a shaft or vent) and ducked (past tense of the verb, duck). But I mention it here because people so often mistake that universally useful item, duct tape, for duck tape. That stuff was originally made for repairing ducts, not, as far I  can tell, for repairing ducks. Of course, one company took advantage of the confusion and created a brand of duct tape they call Duck Tape. Thanks a lot!

If you haven’t read my previous posts on troublesome homophones, here are links to the other posts, organized alphabetically:

A         B         C

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