Certain sets of words in the English language tend to confuse writers. I have found the following to be among them:
SLIGHT / SLEIGHT
These two words are especially confusing because they not only look very similar but also have identical pronunciations using the “long I” sound. The word slight can be an adjective meaning frail, slim, or trivial; a noun meaning humiliating discourtesy; or a verb meaning treat with disdain or indifference. The noun sleight, on the other hand, means deceitful craftiness and is most often used as part of the expression sleight of hand, which refers to crafty, deceitful skill used in card tricks and magic shows.
INCORRECT: The magician’s slight of hand fooled us all.
CORRECT: The magician’s sleight of hand fooled us all.
INCORRECT: My brother is of sleight build; I am stouter than he.
CORRECT: My brother is of slight build; I am stouter than he.
ALSO CORRECT: I have tried to make friends with my neighbors, but they continue to slight me at every opportunity.
To remember the correct spelling for sleight of hand, just think of a magician with a sleigh full of tricks up his sleeves.
© 2017 Ann Henry, all rights reserved.