Words to Write By Part 11

The Words to Write By series is a quick reference to help explain the differences between commonly misused words. In this installment of Words to Write By, I’ll review podium vs. lectern, lets vs. let’s, shined vs. shone, and through vs. thru.

Podium vs. lectern: These two words are often used synonymously, but they are two different objects. The lectern is usually wooden with a slanted top. It’s an object that a speaker stands behind, and where they can place notes for their speech on the top. A podium is a square platform that speakers or conductors sometimes stand on so an audience or musicians can see them.

Lets vs. let’s: Let means to allow or give permission. Let’s is a contraction of the words let and us. Let’s go to the movies. Or, Let’s talk about it when we get home. Lets is one of those words that gets defined as third person singular present tense that means to allow or give permission (which you may have noticed is the same definition given to let). To me, that seems overly complicated and hard to remember. I think of it as when an action is ongoing. My boss lets me leave 15 minutes early on Tuesdays. As opposed to a one-time occurrence (My boss let me leave early last Tuesday).

Shined vs. shone: I happen to have these words in the novel I’m working on, so they’ve been on my mind. Both of these words are the past tense of shine, and there’s actually quite a bit of dispute about when to use which one. However, there’s only one explanation that sounds correct to my ear, so I’ll give you that. Shine has two meanings: to emit light or to polish. Shone is used when discussing the past tense of emitting light. Rafferty shone his light into the dark tunnel. Shined is used when referring to the past tense of polish. Hank shined his shoes.

Through vs. thru: In the last installment I wrote about the difference between through vs. threw, and if I’d thought about it, I would have thrown in thru, but since I missed it, and I’ve seen these used incorrectly recently, I had to include it in this installment. Through means to enter one side of an object and come out the other, whether it is an actual object or a metaphoric obstacle. I’m sorry that you had to go through that. Thru, on the other hand, is the nonstandard form of through and should be avoided.

Look for future installments of “Words to Write By.” You can find links to the rest of the series below.

Part 1: Peak vs. peek vs. pique, further vs. farther, blonde vs. blond, and gray vs. grey.

Part 2: Alleged, hung vs. hanged, a vs. the, and bring vs. take.

Part 3: Who’s vs. whose, whet vs. wet, compliment vs. complement, fazed vs. phased.

Part 4: Fiancé vs. fiancée, insure vs. ensure, alright vs. all right, and simultaneous vs. contemporaneous.

Part 5: Use vs. utilized, bear vs. bare, shuttered vs. shuddered, and breath vs. breathe.

Part 6: Maya vs. Mayan, hole vs. whole, libel vs. slander, patients vs. patience.

Part 7: A vs. an, cite vs. site vs. sight, i.e. vs. e.g., and that vs. who.

Part 8: Taking vs. taken, quiet vs. quite vs. quit, advise vs. advice, regardless vs. irregardless.

Part 9: Penultimate vs. ultimate, whether vs. weather, verses vs. versus, then vs. than.

Part 10: Emigrate vs. immigrate, lamb vs. lam, adverse vs. averse, and through vs. threw.