Thursday, May 21, 2020

Right, Rite, Wright, and Write How to Choose the Right Word

The  homophones  right, rite, wright, and write are pronounced the same but have very different meanings, histories, and uses. Many definitions are associated with these terms, especially with right. All were inherited from a Germanic form. How to Use Right The most common of the four words in the English language is right, which can be a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb. As a noun, right means something proper or morally or socially correct (right versus wrong); appropriate (to do right); a politically conservative position (speaking on the Right); legal, moral, or natural entitlement (has the right); the copyright ownership of something, usually plural (the movie rights to a novel); or a position or direction (as opposed to left). As a verb, right can mean to make straight; to recover ones balance, especially after a fall (right oneself); to set in order; to avenge, redress, or rectify an injustice or injury; or to turn to the right. As an adjective, right means that which is done in accordance with justice or goodness (the morally right choice to make); correct or true (the right answer); of a particular religious belief or principle (the right doctrine of God); leading in the correct direction (the right road); perfectly suited for (Mr. or Ms. Right or the right person for the job); or to be normal, natural, or sound in mind (in his right mind). And, of course, right also refers to something on the right-hand side of an object from the perspective of the observer. Finally, when used as an adverb, right can mean in a direct course or line (stepped right), immediately following (right after), occurring soon in time (Ill be right with you), or in a fitting or appropriate manner (it must be done right). How to Use Rite The noun rite, borrowed from Latin ritus, refers to a formal act or observance in religious or other solemn ceremonies, or a ceremony itself (the rite of baptism). In a nonreligious sense, rite means a custom or habit. How to Use Wright The noun wright is an Old English word, and it always refers to a person who builds, creates, or repairs something (as in playwright or shipwright). In American English, wright is mostly seen as a suffix to whatever is being worked on. How to Use Write The verb write comes from Middle English and was first used in the 15th century. It means the action of forming letters, symbols, or words on paper or the like, whether with pen or pencil, typewriter or computer; to set down in written form; to frame a written statement; or to convey information by a letter (he wrote me today); to express ones feelings or thoughts in written form; or to compose or set down on paper a literary composition, narrative, verse, or the like. Examples Right as a noun primarily refers to entitlement or ownership. I was thrilled when the producer bought the rights to my novel.He has a right to make his own decisions now. Right as an adjective refers to immediacy or to justice or fairness. The only right thing to do was to go back home and apologize.She had to run right home after school every day to do her chores. As a verb, right means to set in order or recover ones balance. The furious man tripped and then tried to right himself.After the storm, Allen righted the room. As an adverb, right refers to direction: The bear looked right at me and then slowly walked away.Turn right at the next corner and walk three blocks to the library. The noun rite is a celebration or custom thats often tied to religion. The rite of passage was a three-day ritual to welcome the young people of the village into adulthood.Two important  rites  of  Protestantism are baptism and communion. Write also refers to the practice of authorship: I write to my mother every other Sunday.Every spring, he writes a celebratory poem. Wright means an artisan or a person who creates or manufactures things; the term is frequently seen in American English as a suffix or a persons surname. My great-great-grandfather was a shipwright in London.Lorraine Hansberry was an African-American playwright whose most famous work was A Raisin in the Sun. How to Remember the Differences Remember that right always means something similar to correct or true—the word right as in right hand, means strong or correct in many languages, including English. Some scholars believe thats because most people are right-handed, meaning their right hand would be stronger or more adept than their left. Rite is from Latin and refers to mostly religious events—these days, the only place where Latin is regularly spoken is in some Christian churches. Wright is obscure unless its used as a suffix—think of it as referring to the Wright brothers (who made planes) or Frank Lloyd Wright (who made buildings). Write always refers to the action of creating language appearing on a page or screen (or in your head); remember that its spelled like white, the color of paper. Sources New York Theater. â€Å"Book Review: Looking for Lorraine Hansberry.†Ã‚  New York Theater, 17 Feb. 2019, newyorktheater.me/2019/02/15/looking-for--the-radiant-and-radical-life-of--hansberry/.â€Å"Right.†Ã‚  Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/right.â€Å"Rite.†Ã‚  American Heritage Dictionary Entry: Rite, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?qrite.â€Å"Wright.†Ã‚  Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wright. â€Å"Write.†Ã‚  American Heritage Dictionary Entry: Write, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?qwrite.

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