Word Usage Test

63. censor/censure

A censer is a container in which incense is burned To censor is to prohibit or restrict the use of something To censure is to condemn; ("a judge was censured in 1983 for a variety of types of injudicious conduct")

68. complement/compliment**

A complement is related to completion. Ex: Her dress perfectly complements the shade of her eyes. Ex: They make a great couple; their personalities are a perfect complement to one another. while a compliment relates to flattering words or acts.

36. council/counsel

A council is a group of people convened for advice or consultation. Counsel means advice or instruction.

anxious/eager

Anxious is negative. It implies fear and worry. Eager is positive. It means someone is excited to do something.

miner/minor

Miner: digs in the mines Minor: below the age of 18, lesser in importance, seriousness, or significance; used in music (minor key/scale); a person under the age of full legal responsibilit

74. biannual/biennial**

Something that is biannual occurs twice every year. Something that is biennial (1) occurs once every two years, or (2) exists or last for two years.

spade/spayed

Spade: a tool primarily for digging or removing earth and fixing soil; visual element on a card (noun and verb) - "while spading the soil, I think of the flowers" (v) Spayed: removal of female dog anatomy

Collective nouns and it vs. they

The choir is doing a fantastic job with singing. It is doing a terrible job with it's performance. Collective nouns are typically referred to as "it" rather than they. The choir is singing to a sold-out hall for the third time in a row. It is performing A German Requiem by Brahms tonight. The business is experiencing a great quarter, it also has high revenue.

gorilla vs guerrilla

gorilla: an animal guerrilla: a member of a small independent group taking part in irregular fighting, typically against larger regular forces; referring to actions or activities performed in an impromptu way, often without authorization.

forward/foreword

forward: at or to or toward the front foreward: a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book

grisly/grizzly

grisly: causing horror or disgust grizzly: (n) an animal of a large race of the brown bear native to North America (adj) gray or gray-haired

hostile/hostel

hostile: unfriendly; antagonistic; opposed to; of or belonging to a military enemy hostel: hotel; affordable place to stay

incite/insight

incite: encourage or stir up (violent or unlawful behavior). insight: an instance of apprehending the true nature of a thing, especially through intuitive understanding: an insight into 18th-century life

Despite / In spite of

interchangeably, but say in spite of NEVER despite of

is vs. are

is = singular noun are= plural noun/multiple nouns Multiple noun ex. The cat and the dog are eating food. Exceptions: Uncountable nouns = is (treated like a singular noun) Ex: The water is beautiful today. Collective nouns = is - collective noun refers to a group of people or things that is treated as a single entity in speech - group/team/fleet/flock/committee/audience/ Pairs = is Ex. A good pair of shoes is a luxury Ex. A good pair of jeans is hard to come by Number of... = are Ex. There are a number of lobsters dying. A number of people are going to the grocery store.

34. then/than

then: next, at the time -only weird use: The law was enacted by then President Bill Clinton than: to compare

Lay or lie? **on test**

to pLAce something or recLIne "If you tell an untruth it is a lie, not a lay; and if you are in the process of telling an untruth you are lying and not laying." Lay: to lay is to place something somewhere, it requires a direct object - Lay, laid, have laid, laying Ex: He laid the hat on the chair Ex: I will lay my coat on the couch. Lie: to lie is to recline Lie, lay, have lain, lying -past tense of lie is lay (UGH!) Ex: She wanted to lay down after dinner Ex: He lay on the sofa for two weeks

Set or sit?

to set is to place something somewhere -Set the table with water glasses please -Set your paper on the desk To sit is to take a seat -Sit down, please

wither/whither

wither: become dry and shriveled.; cause harm or damage to. Cease to flourish, decay and decline example: the plants withered away. whither: to what place or state ("whither are we bound?"); to which (with reference to a place). example: the barbecue had been set up by the lake, whither Matthew and Sara were conducted"

yoke/yolk

yoke: a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull a part of a garment that fits over the shoulders and to which the main part of the garment is attached, typically in gathers or pleats. yolk: the yellow internal part of a bird's egg, which is surrounded by the white, is rich in protein and fat, and nourishes the developing embryo

home/hone

you also know this

to/too/two

you know these

33. there/their/they're

you know this

your/you're

you know this

Accept vs. except

Accept means to receive. Except means to exclude.

**affect/effect

Affect is usually a verb, and it means to impact or change. Effect is usually a noun, an effect is the result of a change.

aide/aid

Aid is some form of help or assistance. Military aid, financial aid, disaster relief aid. It can be a verb and a noun. Aide is a helper or assistant, usually to an important person ex. the President's aide was the WOAT.

all together/altogether Ex: I am all together/altogether happy. Ex: We sang the national anthem all together/altogether.

All together = collectively. ex. We sang the national anthem all together Altogether = entirely. ex. I am altogether happy.

Alright vs. All right

Alright is NOT A WORD. Always used All right.

Alumni and other forms

Alumna: female. Alumnae: group of females Alumnus: male. Alumni: group of males or group of mixture

Alot vs. a lot

Always use a lot. Alot is not a word

73. adverse/averse*** What is the main difference? The investors were risk adverse/averse. Tomorrow there will be adverse/averse weather conditions, be careful. The writer faced adverse/averse criticism for her column last week. She was adverse/averse to hunting.

Averse: (adjective) having a feeling of opposition, distaste, or aversion; reluctant. used to describe a person's attitude towards things but not people. For example, you might say you are averse to hunting, but you wouldn't say you are averse to hunters. Main difference: averse describes an attitude or feeling, while adverse describes something that works against something else. Adverse: adverse describes something that works against something else. The corresponding noun of averse is aversion. Again, this deals with a person's feelings or attitude. The corresponding noun of adverse is adversity. Adversity refers to difficulties or misfortune that act against something.

Bad or badly?

Bad is an adjective, describes someone state of being Badly is an adverb, tells how someone does something The mayor feels bad about lying to his constituents. The mayor plays the guitar badly.

Because / Due to

Because of is almost always the best option. Use due to for times when you mean "owed" or "expected" Example: She was due to arrive at noon. He sent the money that was due to her

Among/between

Between: refers to two things/people Among: refers to more than two things/people Ex: the twin split the ice cream between them The triplets split the ice cream among them

64. breach/breech/broach

Breach can be a noun or a verb. As a noun, breach means a break or a hole in something. A breach in a dam, for instance, would let water pass through where it should not. A breach of protocol would indicate that rules were broken. Sometimes, breach is a verb, where it means to tear something or to break through something. Someone who divulges private information might accidentally breach confidentiality, or an iceberg might breach the hull of an ocean liner and cause a multitude of deaths when the ship sinks. breeches, to refer to short trousers fastened below the knee

Bring / Take

Bring is used like come; take is used like go

Can / May

Can: used to ask if something is possible May: used to ask if something is permissible.

69. cord/chord Vocal cord or vocal chord?

Cord (noun): slender length of flexible material usually made of twisted strands or fibers and used to bind, tie, connect, or support Ex: My vocal cords hurt from yelling. The father cut the umbilical cord. Your spinal cord is out of alignment. Chord (noun): combination of three or more pitches sounded simultaneously. Ex: Those two chords together sound beautiful.

65. discreet/discrete

Discreet means careful or intentionally unobtrusive. Ex: She was a discreet person Discrete means distinct or unconnected. Ex: She took discrete math

shoe-in/shoo-in

Don't use shoe-in, only "shoo-in"

E.G. / I.E

E.G.: for example, and then you state examples. I.E.: "in essence" "in other words" you are clarifying what you just said

Each other / One another We should all love each other/one another. My sister and I love each other/one another.

Each other implies two people. One another implies three or more people.

Collective nouns: which ones always take singluar/plural? Everyone, everybody, no one, and nobody police? police force?

Everyone, everybody, no one, and nobody are always singular. Everybody is happy Everyone is lit to be at the party No one wants to be here. police = plural Ex: police are investigating the crime until further notice. police force= single Ex: The police force is working to solve the crime.

fair/fare

Fair:agreeing with what is thought to be right or acceptable, a state fair, fair skin, etc... fare: the money a passenger on public transportation has to pay; (2) a range of food, especially of a particular type; (3) perform in a specified way in a particular situation or over a particular period of time Ex: (2) "the delicious Provencal fare..." Ex: (3) The Democratic party fared poorly in the 2016 Presidential election.

37. faze/phase **on test**

Faze is a verb and is defined as to intimidate or perturb. The word is often negated; someone who is undaunted by a challenge is said to remain unfazed. See the sentences below for examples. The enemy's numbers did not faze the experienced general. Jeremy looked at all the challenges that lay before him, but remained unfazed. Phase: Phase can be a noun or a verb, in both of which cases it carries multiple meanings. In one of its noun senses, it means one part of a process, where it is roughly synonymous with stage and chapter.

Fewer vs. less ***

Fewer means "not as many." We use it with countable nouns. Less means "not as much," we use it with uncountable nouns. --> except for $$, time, and weight Percentages: "What is this a percentage of? Is it countable?" -so typically fewer? Countable vs. uncountable The guy wants more cookies. The guy wants more milk. Cookies is a countable noun; it is possible to count cookies. Milk, on the other hand, is an uncountable noun; it is a liquid that we measure in terms of volume. Uncountable nouns are always singular. Test: A good way to test that a noun is truly uncountable is to try making a plural out of it. The guy wants more milk(s). --> this is wrong -Milk is an uncountable noun. - the guy wants less milk and fewer cookies.

flair/flare

Flair is conspicuous talent or style Flare is a verb meaning to blaze with sudden, bright light or to burst out in anger. It is also a noun meaning a flame.

**further/farther

Further: verb or adjective Verb: to aid in the progress of, to promote, or to move forward Ex. He'd do anything to further his own interests Adjective: more, extended, or additional Ex. If your fear becomes a wordless darkness that you avoid, perhaps even manage to forget, you open yourself to further attacks of fear Farther: adverb At or greater distance Ex: And some boats, like me, seemed to float farther and farther from land. "a more advanced point" or "to a greater extent." Ex: ... tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther...

gibe/jibe

Gibe refers to a taunt or a derisive remark. It functions as both a verb (to taunt) and a noun (taunt). Ex. The soldiers gibed at his cowardice. Jibe has a nautical use (relating to turning the sail to go on an opposite tack), but it's most often used to mean agree or to be in accord. Ex. Sam jibed with Jenny's policy proposal.

hang/hung/hanged

Hang: present tense of the verb Hung: Hung is the regular past tense of hang. For example, the past tense of all of the beginning examples would use hung. Hanged: literally only referring to the killing of a person

hanger/hangar

Hanger: place to put clothes on. use this for everything else. Hangar is a noun. Only has one meaning. A hangar is a place for storing airplanes. Some hangars are large, and can house many planes at once. Others are small, and are designed to shelter only one vessel at a time.

35. heroin/heroine

Heroin is a drug Heroine is a woman admired or idealized for her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.

historic/historical

Historic describes something momentous or important in history. Historical simply describes something that belongs to an earlier period of history. https://www.grammarly.com/blog/historic-historical/

Hopefully

Hopefully is an adverb that means full of hope Ex: The puppy looked hopefully at the waitress. INCORRECT: Hopefully she will be on time.

led/lead

Led is the correct way to spell the past tense of lead. Ex. They led us to believe that climate change wasn't real in the 1970s. Ex. She led us to the bathroom. Lead is present tense. it's also a soft metal used in pencils.

if/whether

If is used when something is conditional. so if something happens Whether is used when there are two alternatives. so when you have two choices.

Female / Woman

If you could use the word man, then you should say woman. Ex. you wouldn't say the first man speaker of the house.

imply/infer

Imply means to suggest or to say something in an indirect way. Infer means to suppose or come to a conclusion, especially based on an indirect suggestion. To imply something, we're hinting at what we mean but not saying it directly: I didn't mean to imply that your grasp on grammar is bad. He didn't make any promises, but he did imply that he'd be back for the holidays. To infer is to conclude based on what someone implied: Am I right to infer that you think my grammar is bad? We inferred that he'd be back before the holidays because he didn't leave with enough luggage for a long trip.

in / into

In: describes location. Something that is already there. Into: indicates motion. going from one place to another

***Insure vs. Ensure

Insure: only to be used in reference of insurance companies Ensure: to guarantee or to provide something

Its/it's

Its vs It is

lose/loose

Lose is a verb meaning "to misplace." Loose is an adjective meaning "unrestrained" or "not tight."

. moral/morale

Moral: a lesson, especially one concerning what is right or prudent, that can be derived from a story, a piece of information, or an experience.; (adjective) concerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior and the goodness or badness of human character morale: the confidence, enthusiasm, and discipline of a person or group at a particular time (there morale was high)

mute/moot

Mute: not speaking moot: subject to debate, dispute, or uncertainty, and typically not admitting of a final decision

oral/verbal

Oral: to refer to spoken words: "He gave an oral promise" oral pertains to the mouth, to medications taken by mouth, and to things that are spoken. Oral is more specific than verbal, since written language is not communicated via the mouth. Thus, oral only refers to spoken language. oral is more specific, and thus a better choice in many contexts. Verbal: Verbal applies to things that are put into words, whether written or spoken (more broad than oral)

ordinance/ordnance

Ordinance: a piece of legislation enacted by a municipal authority Ordnance: Ordnance refers to military supplies, especially weapons.

**past/passed

Passed is the past participle of to pass. It is used to indicate movement. (verb) Past is a noun, adverb, adjective, and preposition. It generally has something to do with time. Example: The hunter walked past the deer without even seeing it. (past is the adverb) The hunter passed by the deer without even seeing it. (passed is the verb) Past usually has to do with time What does past mean? Past, unlike passed, has many different functions. It can be an adjective, noun, adverb, and even a preposition. Most of its meanings have to do with time. - Bill Clinton is a past president. - The past 12 months have been especially difficult. As a noun, past means the time before the present. This is different from the adjective because as the adjective form denotes a time before the present, the noun is the time before the present. For example, The incoming chairman has a distinguished past as a public servant. In the past, I had trouble with my finances. Washington D.C. has many monuments illustrating figures of the past. If it functions as an adverb, it's typically coupled with a verb - He ran past us vs. He passed us Past as a preposition - The time is half past two

pedal/peddle

Pedal: pedal: a foot-operated lever or control for a vehicle, musical instrument, or other mechanism, in particular; "to pedal" is to move by working the pedals of something peddle: to sell something or trade, or to promote an idea

72. regime/regimen/regiment**

Regime can carry the same meaning, but it has additional definitions—mainly, (1) a form of government, and (2) a government in power—that it doesn't share with regimen. Regimen: regimen is a systematic approach to diet, medicine, or exercise. regiment: (Noun) a permanent unit of an army typically commanded by a colonel and divided into several companies, squadrons, or batteries and often into two battalions. Ex: "two or three miles inland a highly experienced artillery regiment had established a defensive position" - Verb: organize according to a strict, sometimes oppressive system or pattern. Ex: "every aspect of their life is strictly regimented"

I/me

Trick: If Jane and (me or I?) go to the movies, it will be at 6:30. If me go to the movies, it will be at 6:30. If I go to the movies, it will be at 6:30. It will always be "you and I" UNLESS between comes swinging in THEN: "between you and me" is correct. "this is I" "that is I" nEVER USE ME in these cases "than I' for instance when someone is answering the phone "is rebecca there?" "this is she" "John is taller than I (am)" NOT me "Michael Jordan is better at basketball than I (am)" "You are better than i" I play basketball I ate a pizza. I went to lunch. -not- Me went to lunch. I serves as the subject of the sentence Me serves as the object of the sentence Ashley went to lunch with Molly and me. NOT Ashley went 2 lunch with Molly and I NONONO https://writingexplained.org/i-vs-me-difference

**everyday/every day

Trick: replace sentence with "each" and see if it makes sense I wear green pants every day. It still makes sense if you replace "every" with "each": I wear green pants each day. On the other hand, you can't say "I wear pants eachday" because there's no such word. "For most Brazilians, everyday crime is a much more imminent threat than terrorism" - Each day crime doesn't make sense everyday is an adjective, example: making oatmeal in the morning is a part of my everyday routine... Synonyms: ordinary, average, mundane, ordinary, and standard every day is an adverb, example: I get up at 7 a.m. every day. Everyday is an adjective we use to describe something that's seen or used every day. It means "ordinary" or "typical." Every day is a phrase that simply means "each day." -If you paired every with any other word, it would mean each—every day means "each day", just like "every word" means "each word." There's nothing more to it

vane/vein/vain

Vane: a broad blade attached to a rotating axis or wheel that pushes or is pushed by wind or water and forms part of a machine or device such as a windmill, propeller, or turbine. A weather vane. Vein: any of the tubes forming part of the blood circulation system of the body; a fracture in rock containing a deposit of minerals or ore and typically having an extensive course underground. - or (2)This noun also means 'a distinctive quality of character, a strain or streak'. (3) This noun also means 'a turn of mind'. - A vein of optimism ran through his body. [meaning 2 above] It was a warning in a serious vein. [meaning 3 above] Vain: having or showing an excessively high opinion of one's appearance, abilities, or worth or producing no result; useless. (that was a vain attempt at cleaning my room)

weather/whether

Weather: conditions outside Whether: deciding between

Whose or who's

Whose: is the possessive of who - Ex: I will vote for the candidate whose beliefs match my own. Who's: is a contraction, NOT possessive. Who is/Who has Ex: I want to know who's in charge here

30. allude/elude

allude: to allude to something is to speak of it without specifically mentioning it elude: evade or escape from (a danger, enemy, or pursuer), typically in a skillful or cunning way ("he managed to elude his pursuers by escaping into an alley"); (of an achievement, or something desired or pursued) fail to be attained by (someone) ("sleep still eluded her")

59. alter/altar

alter: to change, alter clothing altar: podium/table in a church

60. bail/bale

bail: a cash, a bond, or property that an arrested person gives to a court to ensure that he or she will appear in court when ordered to do so bale: a bundle of paper, hay, cotton, etc., tightly wrapped and bound with cords or hoops

61. baited/bated

baited: deliberately annoy or taunt (someone) bated: in great suspense; very anxiously or excitedly ("he waited for a reply to his offer with bated breath")

62. ***bare/bear -Keep costs at the bear/bare minimum. -Please, bear/Bare with me, I'm a slow learner when it comes to grammar. -I don't know why I began to bear/bare open my heart to a stranger. -The company considered hiring additional staff, but it couldn't bear/bare the cost

bare: as an adjective, it can mean minimal, naked, uncovered, or without supplies. The verb bare means to reveal or open something to view. Ex: (adj) The cupboard was bare. Bear: to tolerate, to carry something, or to endure. Ex: I couldn't bear the thought of you being with someone else. Answers: -Keep costs at the bare minimum. -Please, bear with me, I'm a slow learner... -I don't know why I began to bare open my heart... -The company considered hiring...it couldn't bear the cost

70. bridal/bridle

bridal: having to do with a bride bridle: the headgear used to control a horse, consisting of buckled straps to which a bit and reins are attached

cannon/canon** The army uses its cannon/canon to defeat the enemy.

cannon: thing you shoot stuff out of canon: a general law, rule, principle, or criterion by which something is judged; a collection or list of sacred books accepted as genuine

27. cite/sight/site

cite: refers to the action of citation sight: vision site: a place, location, web space

comprise/compose

comprise(s): consist of; be made up of. - is a verb that means "to be composed of" compose: write or create (a work of art, especially music or poetry). (of elements) constitute or make up (a whole) If you want to be completely safe from criticism, you should use composed of and not comprised of The U.S. is composed of 50 states The U.S. comprises 50 states

66. desert/dessert

desert: dry place dessert: sweet stuff

Deceptively

don't use it

eminent/imminent**

eminent: famous and respected within a particular sphere or profession; used to emphasize the presence of a positive quality imminent: about to happen; immediate

flu/flue

flu: sickness flue: a duct for smoke and waste gases produced by a fire, a gas heater, a power station, or other fuel-burning installation

lightening/lightning

lightening: is the present participle of the verb lighten ex: Adding mirrors to a room can have a lightening effect lightning: electrical discharge that happens during storms Ex: This is a huge lightning storm

naval/navel

naval - Navy/boating navel - belly button

overdo/overdue

overdo: to "over do it"; do, use, or carry to excess; exaggerate overdue: past the due date

28. peek/peak

peek: to look at someone or something secretly especially from a hidden place peak: the pinnacle, highest point

piece/peace

piece: a portion of something peace: state of ease and harmony

pole/poll

pole: pole: a rod of some sort poll: a survey

31. pored/poured **on test**

pored: be absorbed in the reading or study of (to "pore over" something) poured: especially of a liquid) flow rapidly in a steady stream; prepare and serve a drink

67. principle/principal

principle is a noun that means fundamental truth, law, doctrine, or motivating force; (They fought for the principle of self-determination) principal is a noun and adjective meaning someone or something first in rank, authority, importance or degree

rein/reign

rein: horse reins; check or guide (a horse) by pulling on its reins reign: to be in power/rule; the period one is in power

role/roll

role: a part in a play; he function assumed or part played by a person or thing in a particular situation roll: to move or cause to move in a particular direction by turning over and over on an axis; a cylinder formed by winding flexible material around a tube or by turning it over and over on itself without folding

Shear/sheer

shear: shear a sheep sheer: out of sheer delight, a sheer drop in height Shear is a verb meaning to remove fleece or hair by clipping or cutting, and it has numerous related definitions. Sheer is (1) an adjective meaning fine or transparent or (2) almost perpendicular, and (3) a verb meaning to swerve or cause to swerve. It also has several other definitions relating to these main ones.

stationary/stationery

stationary means not moving or unchanging. Stationery is a fancy paper.