Correct spelling

You’ve probably written an essay at some point in your academic career. If you were like most
students, it was likely completed under the pressure of an impending deadline, possibly the
night before it was due. The assignment could have been something like "What Does Freedom
Mean to You?" and had a strict requirement of five pages, double-spaced, with no larger than a
12-point font. For students who find themselves struggling with deadlines or writing challenges,
an essay writing service can be a valuable resource to ensure high-quality, timely submissions.
But there's more to the word "essay" than just a school assignment. It’s also a verb, and its most
common meaning is "to attempt" or "to try":
For instance, in Giles Foden's 1998 novel The Last King of Scotland, the narrator, a Scottish
doctor, "essays" to understand the ruthless dictatorship of Idi Amin:
— Norman Rush, The New York Review of Books, 7 Oct. 2004
Or consider this example, where the verb is used to describe a risky attempt:
"The principal accidents she remembers involved chipping a couple of teeth while, as a fifth
grader, she was essaying a backflip off a diving board…"
— E. J. Kahn, Jr., The New Yorker, 17 Aug. 1987
On the other hand, "assay," a different verb, typically refers to "testing or evaluating," and it’s
used in contexts such as chemistry or contests:
"He worked for Pan American Laboratories assaying chemicals coming in from Mexico."
— Steve Clark, The Brownville Herald, 21 Apr. 2017
"Each burger will be assayed by visitors and judges, including local chefs Jen Knox, Gina
Sansonia, Judith Able, Bret Hauser, Camilo Cuartas, and Peter Farrand."
— Phillip Valys, SouthFlorida.com, 19 May 2017
While the definitions of "essay" and "assay" seem distinct, their history tells a different story.
Both words stem from the same root: the Middle French essai, which itself traces back to the
Late Latin exagium, meaning "the act of weighing."
In earlier centuries, essay and assay were synonyms, both referring to an attempt or effort. In
fact, in the 1600s, the term essay was used to describe a test or trial of something:
"Edmond: I hope, for my brother's justification, he wrote this but as an essay or taste of my
virtue."
— William Shakespeare, King Lear, 1606

The modern meaning of essay as a written exploration of a topic can be credited to Michel de
Montaigne (1533–1592). A French writer who helped popularize the form, Montaigne titled his
collection of writings Essais in 1580. These "essays" weren’t confined to a singular topic—they
covered everything from human nature to the effects of alcohol, all of which he explored through
his personal perspective, creating a genre that continues to be widely recognized today.

Incorrect spelling

Incorrect spelling

Incorrect spelling

Incorrect spelling