Here at Taylor Studios, we work on a lot of museums that want to cover the Civil War in their messaging.

I have had the pleasure of researching, writing, and proofing label copy for many of these projects, and now know more about the Kansas-Nebraska Act than I ever thought I would. In doing so, I’ve noticed the following commonly misspelled/misused Civil War words:

Correct Civil War Word: Cavalry
Dictionary Definition:
Military

Used in a sentence: The cavalry charged.

Not to be confused with: Calvary
Dictionary Definition:

Used in a sentence: This painting depicts Calvary.

Correct Civil War Word: Cannon

Dictionary Definition:

Used in a sentence: Soldiers fired the cannon.

Not to be confused with: Canon
Dictionary Definition:

Used in a sentence: The Odyssey is in the Western canon.

Correct Civil War Word: Guerrilla
Dictionary Definition:

Not to be confused with: Gorilla

Used in a sentence: The gorillas engaged in guerrilla warfare.

Correct Civil War Word: Bushwhacker
Dictionary Definition:

Not “bushwacker”. The “h” is often overlooked.

Used in a sentence: Confederate Bushwhacker Bloody Bill Anderson terrorized Unionist villages.

Correct Civil War Word: Jayhawker

Not “jayhocker”.

Used in a sentence: Jayhawkers fought slavery in the border states.

So, the next time the need arises for you to write about Jayhawkers and Bushwhackers engaging in guerrilla warfare alongside the cavalry with their cannons, you will be in luck! What is your favorite Civil War word?