More Mistaken Words

Here are some more words to look out for in your manuscripts.
Reign - to rule
Rein - a leather strap for controlling a horse
Rain - precipitation


So which is it?  "Free reign" and "to reign in" are the ones we see most often used incorrectly. The correct forms are "free rein" and "to rein in".


Sank
Sink
Sunk 
All forms of the verb "to sink".
I sank, he sank, she sank, they sank (past tense)
I sink, he sinks, she sinks, they sink (present tense)
It has sunk, he was sunk, (past participle)
Sunken eyes, sunken ships (used as an adjective)


Sink is also a basin for washing dishes or something that drains or subsides. 
A sinker is a lead weight used to keep a fishing line in place.




Lay
Lie
Laid
Lying
Laying
Verb "to lay" -  "Lay it down over there."
Verb "to lie" - "Lie down on the couch."
Verb "laid" - "She laid it aside." Or "She laid herself down"
Lying - "It is lying down"
"Laying" isn't much used, except as in "She is laying it aside" or "a laying hen".
Layby, lay-by, both terms used for a place to pull off the road to park and for paying down some money for an item that will be paid off in stages.
A lie is also an untruth.


Peak - top of a mountain or or whipped cream
Peek - A quick look
Pique - sniffy annoyance and also a kind of cloth.


Sneak - to creep or, colloquially, to tell tales. Also used as a colloquial noun for a tell-tale.
Sneaked - past tense of "sneak".
Snuck - nasty slang form up with which Affa will not put.


Creep - to sneak. Also a colloquial noun for an unpleasant,,, well, creepy... person
Crept - past tense of "creep".
Crupt - nasty slang form no one has yet used but which will not be tolerated if someone does.