Editor's note: Lawrence Connor is a former managing editor of the Indianapolis Star. He has put together this package of tips to assist high school journalists. His tips are broken up into different links found here.

SAY WHAT YOU MEAN

Words that sound alike often get misused. A few of the troublesome ones:

Adverse -- unfavorable; averse -- unwilling or reluctant.

Advice is a noun; advise is a verb.

You address a letter, not a problem

Affect as a verb means to influence. Effect, as a noun, refers to the result; as a verb, though, effect means to accomplish as "he effected a cure."

Aid means to help; an aide is an assistant.

All right but never alright.

Bridal is a wedding term; a bridle goes on a horse's head.

Canvas is a heavy cloth; canvass is to examine as for votes.

Capitol is the building; capital the city.

Censer is a container for burning incense; censor is one who oversees morals and conduct (can also be used as a verb); censure is to reprimand.

I may compliment you on your new dress and you may complement the dress with a new hat.

You convince a person of the wisdom of an idea; you persuade him to take action.

A council is an assembly; counsel refers to advice, and consul is a representative in a foreign land.

Delusion is a false impression or belief; illusion is unreal vision, and allusion is a hint or casual mention.

Disinterested means to be personally detached; uninterested means lacking interest.

To dispute is to argue the point; you refute it when you prove it wrong.

If you are discreet, you’re careful about what you say or do; discrete means unrelated or not attached. 

Dual refers to two; duel to contest (usually with weapons).

Emigrate -- to leave (usually a country); immigrate -- to enter.

Stuff a letter in an envelope, but envelop the baby in a blanket.

You raise it high when you exalt it, but you rejoice exceedingly when you exult.

Farther refers to literal distance; further in all other instances

Flout means to mock or scoff; flaunt to wave brazenly.

Food is healthful; people are healthy.

You’re ingenious if you're very clever; you're ingenuous if candid, open, naive.

I may libel you by printing false and defamatory things about you, but I am liable to be sued by you if I do.

A mantel is a shelf; a mantle is a cloak.

A marshal leads a parade; Marshall is a proper name.

If you received free tickets, you received perquisites -- not prerequisites, which means "necessary to something to follow."

Prescribe is to direct or order; proscribe is to banish or outlaw.

Pretense is a false show; pretext is something put forward to conceal a truth.

The principal runs the school and he might invest the principal in a savings account and establish the principal subjects to be studied, but he operates the school on principles.

I can prosecute you in court or persecute you by word or deed.

A child is reared; a plant is raised.

A king reigns and he may put reins on his subjects.

Sensual carries a fleshy meaning; sensuous refers to the senses.

A letter is written on stationery; a building is stationary.

It's a Boy Scout troop but a troupe of actors

Chapters:

The Interview
Writing the Story
Editing your Copy
A Few Don'ts
Some General Advice
Say What You Mean
Use Words Correctly
Some Common Errors
Helpful Books
About the Author