Do you know the differences between:-
Ability VS Capacity
Use Ability in the sense of : power to do or transmit .
Use Capacity in the sense of : power to receive .
EX : You have the ability to study and the capacity to understand .
Accept VS Except
Remember that the verb which begins with ac means to : take in
EX : I accept your offer .
The verb which begins with ex means to : leave out .
EX : We except the physically handicapped from this requirement .
Affect VS Effect
The verb affect means : to modify or influence .
EX : The weather may affect my plans .
The verb effect means : to achieve or bring about .
EX : The new law should effect a marked improvement .
All-around VS All-round
It would seem as if these two words ought to have different meanings , but
they do not . Saying : He is an all-round athlete , is the same as saying : He
is an all-around athlete .
Already VS All ready
Son : I have already spent my week's allowance .
Father : The debtor's prison is all ready for you .
In the first sentence already means by now is an adverb modifies a verb .
In the second sentence ready is an adjective describing the noun prison ;
the word all is an adverb modifying the adjective .
Anxious VS Eager
EX : We are eager to please . Eager means wish ; we wish to please .
EX : We are anxious about the condition . Anxious means fearful ;
we are fearful about the condition .
Beside VS Besides
The word beside is a preposition .
EX : The bridegroom stood beside his bride .
The word besides is a conjunctive adverb .
EX : We don't need any brushed today ; besides , we buy all our brushes
from Sibley's .
Wide VS Broad
Most writers tend to use broad for abstract concepts .
EX : The president must take a broad view of the situation .
Wide for more concrete concepts .
EX : The river is very wide at this point .
Take VS Bring
When the motion is to or toward the speaker use bring .
EX : Louis , please bring me the paper .
When the morion is away use take .
EX : Louis , please take the paper to your father .
Casual VS Causal
The three-syllable word casual means informal .
EX : Skirts and sweaters can be found in our casual-wear department .
The two-syllable word causal pertains to a cause or reason .
EX : People commit causal fallacies when they jump to conclusions not
warranted by evidence .
Casualty
The word casualty can mean an unfortunate accident , often involving
loss of life . It is more common meaning , however , is the victim of an
fortunate accident or occurrence .
EX : Our forces suffered twenty casualties .
This may mean : three killed , ten wounded , and seven captured .
Advice VS Advise
EX : His advice (noun) to me was that I advise (verb) to apologize .
Advisor VS Adviser
Most dictionaries acknowledge that either of these spellings is acceptable .
Compare to VS Compare with
Compare to means to liken or put in the same class .
EX : The high Serreas can be favorably compared to the Alps .
Com pare with means to examine with regard to similarities and
differences .
EX : H Olden Claufield is often compared with Huckleberry Finn .
Continual VS Continuous
EX : Newspaper notices about sunrise and sunset are continual reminders
that the rotation of the earth is continuous .
Continual means repeated at frequent intervals .
Continuous means occurring without interruption .
Council VS Counsel
Council means a group of people who consult or deliberate .
EX : The city council meets on Thursdays .
Counsel means advice or guidance .
EX : He sought counsel from the doctor .
Detract VS Distract
Detract means to take away from , often in a disparaging sense .
EX : Nobody can detract from honorable record of our senior senator .
Distract means to draw attention away from .
EX : The roar of the planes will distract the students from their work .
Friday, November 20, 2009
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