ASSURE/ENSURE/INSURE
You assure people (make them feel sure); you ensure something (make sure it will happen); you insure your life, home, or health (by taking out a policy),
I assured her that she wouldn’t be fired.
She ensured that he’d work late by promising him a bonus.
I insured the package for $ 100,000.
BETWEEN/AMONG
Use between when referring to two or specific individuals or if you’re speaking about sets of two, no matter how many elements are involved. Use among when you’re speaking of more than two or a group as a group.
A long discussion took place between Tom and Dick.
There is shuttle service between Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark airports.
A brawl broke out among the spectators.
BI/SEMI
Bimonthly means every two months. Semimonthly means twice each month.
BLOC/BLOCK
Block, of course, has many definitions. However, if you’re talking about a group of people or organizations that has agreed to act as a unit, the word is bloc.
CAN/MAY
Can refers to capability, while may refers to possibility and to permission:
I can touch the ceiling
I may propose to her tonight.
You may jump out the window, if you like.
CAPITAL/CAPITOL
Capital has many meanings, while capitol has only one. Capitol refers to a building that houses a legislative body; in any other context, you’ll use capital:
The U.S. Capitol Building is in Washington, D.C., which is our nation’s capital city.
Each state also has a capital city, where you’ll find the state capitol.
CENSOR/CENSURE
In its modern usage, to censor something is to suppress or exclude it to avoid giving offense or revealing sensitive information. Every time you stop yourself from cursing, or stop talking before you give away a secret, you’re censoring yourself.
To censure someone is to scold him: In modern usage, it almost always refers to official, formal reprimands, as when the Senate votes to censure a member for misconduct.
COMPLIMENT/COMPLEMENT
A compliment is a phrase or gesture of courtesy, flattery, or respect. Complement has many definitions, one of which is to enhance or complete. Many people confuse these two words when referring to something that enhances or completes another thing. T
he following sentence uses both words properly:
I complimented him on his red tie, which complemented his blue suit.
CONNOTE/DENOTE/IMPLY
Connote is similar to imply; it means to suggest something beyond the explicit meaning. The difference between cannote and imply is that the speaker implies; his words connote:
The term nouveau riche connotes ostentation vulgarity, as well as wealth.
By calling him a “smooth character,” I implied that he wasn’t altogether honest.
Denote means to stand for or to refer to something explicitly:
A black armband denotes the recent death of a friend or relative.
The St. Andrew’s Cross denotes Scotland.
CONTINUAL/CONTINUOUS
Continual means done regularly. Continuous means repeated or continued without interruption:
His continual drug abuse affected his performance at work.
The continuous drumming in the upstairs apartment kept me awake.
No comments:
Post a Comment