Because I’ve seen this error online no fewer than three
times just this week, I’m going to write about it.
When you’re talking about a magician’s fancy handwork, it’s
sleight of hand. NOT, so help me, slight of hand.
Slight works as an adjective, verb, and noun. And it in no
way works in the phrase “sleight of hand.” Slight can mean being small or
inconsiderable, or not strongly built. A light can be an insult, and a slight
can be to insult.
Sleight is different. Sleight is a noun meaning “the use of
dexterity or cunning.”
Big difference.
Again, this word confusion has to be chalked up to people
hearing the phrase “sleight of hand,” but not seeing it in print. Slight is the
more phonetic way to spell the word, so that’s the spelling that gets picked.
But it’s wrong.
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