Melissa Maygrove

Looking for a way to cut word count? Here's a quick tip...

Vein vs Vane vs Vain Vein (n.) is one of many vessels forming the path for blood returning to the heart; tissue forming the framework of a leaf; a clearly defined stratum of ore, etc. Phlebotomists draw blood by puncturing a vein . Vane (n.) is a blade, fin, or plate on a fan, turbine, etc., that moves or is moved by water, steam or air. A weather vane indicates the direction of the wind . Vain (adj.) excessively proud of one's self; conceited; without real value or importance; worthless; futile. You're so vain, you probably think this example is about you .  (Ha! Couldn't resist. :P)

I'm back amongst the cyber-living with GPM and an announcement.  I missed a lot while I was gone, even though I lurked a bit. That's the downside to a hiatus.  : ( Wanna know what the upside is? I finished the draft of my current WIP, Come Back . Woot! :D Of course, we all know that's not really THE END. I still have a long way to go. But I'm stoked. Why? I don't want to jinx it, but... *squinches eyes shut*  I've set a tentative release date. God willing and the creek don't rise (and a million other things that could — and probably will — go wrong), I'll publish my debut HR sometime this spring. *sqweeee* ...*faints* Over the last few weeks, I've discovered what all is truly involved with self-publishing. I'm serious when I say, to any of you who've done it, I stand in awe of you — wide-eyed, mouth-gaping, hero-worshiping awe. I'll tell you more as things go along, but for now, please , wish me luck.  I'm gonna...

Overtake vs Take over To overtake means to catch up with and outrun, such as in a race. To take over means to seize power, usually of a business or government. Oversee vs Overlook To oversee means to control and manage a process or activity. To overlook means to forget about something entirely.  ### Thanks for visiting. :)

Before I get started, I have to comment on the drawing.  My daughter is currently taking German. She had to complete a project listing all her family members, including a few details about them (in German, of course). She drew pictures of us, too. You guessed it. This is me...complete with glasses.  As my husband said about his drawing, "I wish I was that skinny." :P So what do you think? Should this become my new Grammar Police avatar?

I'd like to thank all of you who took part in Follow Fest - my first blogfest to host, ever. The hop went better than I ever expected, and the response was overwhelming! Not in an unmanageable sort of way, but in an unexpected-number-of-participants sort of way. Once word got out, people just kept signing up! There were some speed bumps: the Linky Tools site went down for a while the very first day (*gasp!* I about died. LOL ), and a few posts were hindered by technical difficulties, family emergencies, and newborns — both human and feline. But, all in all, things went swimmingly well. And that's thanks to YOU. I wish I could give you all prizes. You're all winners, that's for sure. It was a fun, busy week and I'm exhausted, but I'm already toying with the idea of doing a repeat next year. So if you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them. :) Ready to find out who the prize winners are?

Idiom (n.): An expression whose meaning cannot be deduced from the meanings of its individual words (ex: jump the gun ). I'm going to start including idioms in my GPM posts about commonly confused words. There's nothing wrong with writing these from time to time, but, if you're going to use one, be sure to get it right. :) Flesh out vs Flush out To flesh out means to add substance or detail to an object or idea; to develop. To flush out means to drive or force something out into the open, such as game birds or criminals.

Duck tape vs Duct tape Duck tape is a common misspelling of duct tape . (Of course, the fact there is a brand of duct tape called Duck Tape with a little ducky on the label doesn't help. LOL)   Jutebox vs Jukebox Jutebox is a common misspelling of jukebox --a coin-operated, music-playing device. Cowtow vs Kowtow Cowtow is a misspelling of the Chinese word kowtow , which means to touch one's forehead to the ground when kneeling; to show deference or servitude. (People probably assume it's spelled with a 'c' because the verb cow means to threaten or bully, and cowed means intimidated.) ### That's all for today. Thanks for visiting. :)