Spell checking should be an automatic task in all our business writing. I don’t mean simply using the built-in spell checkers in software applications. I mean we should be constantly working at improving our own spelling skills.

Of course, many of us have the painful memories of school spelling quizzes and spelling bees. It is difficult to get back into the habit of learning new words.

Here are two books which I just acquired for my reference shelf, by one of my favorite authors, Bill Bryson. His writing style is crisp and he brings his fine sense of humor to the task. Not only does he give the correct spellings, he includes the most frequent misspellings and incorrect usages.

With these two enjoyable books, sprucing up your vocabulary can be fun instead of a drudgery.

• Bryson’s Dictionary of Troublesome Words: A Writer’s Guide to Getting It Right
• Bryson’s Dictionary for Writers and Editors

Steve Lange
Senior Editor
Palo Alto Software