Monday Muddle: apart, a part

Monday Muddle: apart: (adjective)(adverb) not together; separated; at a distance a part: (indefinite article + noun) a piece; some but not all; one of multiple components that form a whole

These terms are basically opposites of each other. One means not together; the other indicates that it goes together with at least one additional part. If you are including either term in love notes to your sweetheart, you are going to want to get it right.

Memory Tip: The term without a space–where the letters are all together–is the one that means not together.

Monday Muddle: two, too, to

Happy New Year! I wish you clear writing and all good things in 2022! Please, if over the course of the year you have occasion to write out twenty twenty-two in words, make sure that you spell “two” correctly. Nobody wants twenty twenty too!

Monday Muddle: two: (noun)(adjective) one more than one; the second in a series too: (adverb) also; very, excessively to: (preposition) indicates direction, position, or purpose

Monday Muddle: merrily, merely

Monday Muddle: merrily: (adverb) happily; cheerfully; with good feelings; in a joyous manner Part of the song "Row, Row, Row Your Boat. merely: (adverb) only; just; simply; nothing more than; nothing better than NOT part of the song "Row, Row, Row Your Boat".

To row merely down the stream does not mean the same as to row merrily down the stream. You can do both, even at the same time. But if you are trying to quote the nursery rhyme, you actually want to row gently down the stream. 

Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream