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discreet, discrete

To be discreet means to be “modest” or “prudent.”To be discrete means to be “obviously separate” or “distinct.” Discrete also has a specific meaning in mathematics as a finite set of numbers.Example: There are four discrete offices in...

added by edgood
8 years ago

disingenuous

Consider the following usage note on Dictionary.com:The meaning of disingenuous has been shifting about lately, as if people were unsure of its proper meaning. Generally, it means "insincere" and often seems to be a synonym of cynical or calculating....

added by edgood
8 years ago

disinterested, uninterested

To be disinterested means to be “impartial,” “free from bias,” or “indifferent.” A disinterested person has no stake in the outcome.To be uninterested means “having no interest in something; to be without interest.”Example: The faires...

added by edgood
8 years ago

uninterested, disinterested

See disinterested, uninterested....

added by edgood
8 years ago

e.g., i.e.

Both abbreviations are actually for Latin, not English words.Id est (i.e.) is Latin for “that is.”Exempli gratia (e.g.) is the Latin “for example.”If the phrase that follows means to further clarify or explain by means of definition, i.e. is ...

added by edgood
8 years ago

i.e., e.g.

See e.g., i.e....

added by edgood
8 years ago

elicit, illicit

Elicit is a verb that means “to draw out.”Illicit is an adjective describing unlawful or underhanded behavior or activity.Example: A good prosecuting attorney knows how to elicit a response that will make it clear the defendant was involved in an...

added by edgood
8 years ago

email, e-mail, E-mail

Here’s a usage note from Dictionary.com: The transition from World Wide Web site to Web site to website as a single uncapitalized word mirrors the development of other technological expressions which have tended to take unhyphenated forms as they b...

added by edgood
8 years ago

eminent, imminent

Eminent means “prominent” or “great.”Something is imminent if it is “impending” or “about to occur.”Example: The spectators rose to their feet as the eminent entertainer’s entrance became imminent....

added by edgood
8 years ago

empathy, sympathy

To feel empathy means "to understand another’s feelings or situation." When you feel empathy for others, you “stand in their shoes” and feel what they’re feeling.If you show sympathy for another, you show compassion or “feel sorry” about ...

added by edgood
8 years ago

enclosed please find, please find enclosed, enclosed herewith

Boot out all these expressions from your language. In the words of Bryan Garner, they are “archaic deadwood.” Garner, Oxford, p. 124.Instead, try these on for size: Here are the reports you wanted. I enclose the reports you wanted. Enclosed are t...

added by edgood
8 years ago

enormousness, enormity

These words may both be used to describe something that is “very large.” But enormity has recently begun to take on strongly negative connotations. Enormity implies that something is both “big” and “bad.” Enormousness does not carry this ...

added by edgood
8 years ago

ensure, insure, assure

Most writers use these words interchangeably.But there are some differences. For example, assure is used only in reference to people. You assure your boss. If you insure him, then you’re taking out a policy on his life.Also, insure is typically res...

added by edgood
8 years ago

equable, equitable

The word equable means “even, tranquil, level.” The word equitable derives from equity and means “fair, just, or relating to a court of equity.”Example: The judge’s equable temperament enabled him to consider the conflicting positions of th...

added by edgood
8 years ago

everyday, every day

Everyday is an adjective used to describe things that are “common” or “ordinary.”Every day describes things that happen daily; it’s a noun form often acting as a noun adverb.Example: The airline lost our formalwear, so we had to wear our ev...

added by edgood
8 years ago

explicit, implicit

The word explicit means “fully and clearly expressed; leaving nothing implied.” It also means “readily observable,” as in an explicit sign of success. And, of course, explicit describes material that is sexually graphic.The word implicit mean...

added by edgood
8 years ago

farther, further

Some usage guides insist that only farther describes physical distance (We walked farther than we planned). But farther and further have been used interchangeably throughout much of their histories.Note, however, that only further may be used in the ...

added by edgood
8 years ago

feel

Too many people use feel when they mean “think, believe, or maintain.” Consider this passage from Newsweek: She feels that crime prevention must start with helping small children find their way out of poverty and neglect …. Quoted in Garner, Ox...

added by edgood
8 years ago

fewer, less

Under the general rule, fewer should be used for plural nouns and things that can actually be counted while less is used for collective nouns, mass nouns, or abstract nouns. The exceptions to this rule involve common phrases that allow less to become...

added by edgood
8 years ago

fiancé, fiancée

A fiancé is male; a fiancée is female....

added by edgood
8 years ago

firstly, secondly, thirdly

You should use first, second, and third to show textual enumerations in your writing. Many authorities prefer first, not firstly, even when the remaining items or points are introduced with secondly and thirdly.Example: First, through practice you wi...

added by edgood
8 years ago

flaunt, flout

Flaunt means “to show off” or “to exhibit shamelessly.” Flout means “to show contempt for, to mock, to show disdain.” Unfortunately, perhaps because flaunt is commonly used in conjunction with wealth and a shameless show of wealth is some...

added by edgood
8 years ago

for

Don’t hesitate to start a sentence with For. It’s a coordinating conjunction, and great writers have been starting sentences with conjunctions for hundreds of years. You can remember the coordinating conjunctions by referring to the acronym BOYFA...

added by edgood
8 years ago

forgo, forego

Forgo means “to abstain from” or “to relinquish something.”Forego means “to go before.” (Note the prefix fore-, as in before).Writers often confuse the two, usually using forego when they mean “forgo.”Both have past-tense construction...

added by edgood
8 years ago

former, latter

You should restrict your use of former and latter to those situations where just two referents are involved. The former is the first one; the latter is the second one. If you have more than two, then use first instead of former and last instead of la...

added by edgood
8 years ago

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    Quiz

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    Identify the sentence with correct use of the past simple tense:
    A We had eaten when she arrived.
    B They have been studying all day.
    C She finished her homework before dinner.
    D I will be finished my work soon.