Certain sets of words in the English language tend to confuse writers. I have found the following to be among them:
COPYRIGHT / COPYWRITE
The use of copywrite to mean copyright is an error one doesn’t see often. However, I did notice it in an article written for writers and thought it might be worth addressing. While this particular error may have been due to a right-brain spelling glitch rather than outright ignorance, it is easy to see how one might think the word copyright should be spelled copywrite since it so often refers to written material, such as books and magazine articles. However, the noun copyright means the legal right to reproduce written work, artwork, or music and the verb copyright means obtain the legal right to reproduce written work, artwork, or music.
The “word” copywrite is not considered a true word by Merriam-Webster, but the word copywriter, meaning someone who writes copy, usually for advertising or other marketing purposes, is listed in dictionaries.
INCORRECT: It is important to obtain a copywrite for your manuscript before it is published.
CORRECT: It is important to obtain a copyright for your manuscript before it is published.
ALSO CORRECT: He works as a copywriter for AAA Advertising Agency.
Just remember that the word copyright has to do with rights, which accounts for its proper spelling.
© 2017 Ann Henry, all rights reserved.