Really, just, not. You can spell it either way; if you're writing for (or as) an editor, or just for the affectation of knowing editor jargon, "lede"; if in conversational English, "lead".
(I write "lede" all the time, and it is totally an affectation).
I notice you tend to use semicolons more than anyone else I know. Is that also an affectation? I mean, are you sometimes reformulating your thoughts in order to avail yourself to the opportunity of using a semicolon? Because me, rarely does a thought come to me in a way which would be best communicated with the usage of a semicolon, but maybe that's just me and my thinking style.
Semicolon usage could be an affectation or preference; it is generally used in place of a regular conjunction like "but" or "and".
There isn't any usage that I can think of where it would be the only "correct" way to write something; it's stronger than a comma but weaker than a period.
(I don't ever use semicolons normally. Was just trying to show some examples.)
Nope. I'm just not a very good writer. How I know that's not an affectation is that I can't remember ever once thinking about using a semicolon; they just happen.
(I write "lede" all the time, and it is totally an affectation).