Get out front of this pair: Forward vs. foreword
Before we
get started, let me just preface by saying I see this mistake a lot in manuscripts I edit, though the difference between the two words is quite easy to remember. I suspect that the problem may be some writers don’t realize that the word “foreword” exists.
“Foreword” is an introduction to a book, usually written by someone recognizable. To wit, “The famed astronomer wrote the foreword to the book about Mars.” The word is a combination of “fore” (which means “front”) and “word” (a synonym for “text”), indicating that the section readers are about the touch their eyes upon comes “in front of the book’s main text.”
All other meanings and uses of this word are spelled “forward” (which rough means “to move to the front”).
Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.
Related articles
Get it right, all right vs. alright
Getting focused on close up vs. close-up
Five style issues to watch for in your story
Tighten writing by cutting begin fallacy
Avoid card tricks in the dark when writing
