Grammar & Usage

Commonly Confused (page 5)

'Careen' vs. 'Career'

Don't rush to judge these words

Is It 'Purposely' or 'Purposefully'?

Is 'purposely' a real word?

'That' vs. 'Which'

Which one should you choose?

Prone vs. Supine vs. Prostrate

Don't take this lying down

'Phone it in' vs. 'Dial it in'

Don't confuse these phrases

'Since' vs. 'As' vs. 'Because'

A conjunction conundrum

What's the difference between 'elder' and 'older'?

An age-old question

Do You Read 'Aloud' or 'Out Loud'?

Is 'out loud' colloquial?

'Alternate' vs. 'Alternative'

It's good to have choices

Is It 'loath' or 'loathe'?

There's no need to loathe these words

Censor vs. Censure

What the [bleep] is the difference?

Among vs. Amongst vs. Between: Usage Guide

What's a usage disagreement between/among friends?

'Meantime' vs. 'Meanwhile'

Meanwhile, down at the farm...

Using 'Done' and 'Finished'

Is this cake 'done' or 'finished'?

'Can' vs. 'May'

Yes, you can go to the bathroom.

Warranty vs. Guarantee

We guarantee you'll find this interesting

The Scoop on Sherbet vs. Sherbert

They taste the same

The Difference Between 'Person' and 'Personage'

Both words have personality

Is this cat 'uninterested' or 'disinterested'?

The answer might surprise you

Famous vs. Infamous

The prefix is not your friend

Alright vs. All Right

Is 'alright' all right?

Jealous vs. Envious

Choose your words carefully

The Difference Between 'Slander' and 'Libel'

We'll tell you the secret

What's the difference between 'luggage' and 'baggage'?

Unpacking two common words

'First' or 'Firstly'?

We've identified your first(ly) problem

Is it 'Buses' or 'Busses'?

Kiss kiss

Loan vs. Lend

Is it ever right to use 'loan' as a verb?

Is it 'drive safe' or 'drive safely'?

In praise of flat adverbs

What's the difference between a rabbit and a hare?

And what about jackrabbits and swamp hares?

Respectively vs. Respectfully

Respect the differences between this pair

Stationary vs. Stationery

How to tell them apart

Ambiguous vs. Ambivalent: Dispelling the Ambiguity

No ambiguity here

Didactic vs. Pedantic

Don't call your teacher either one

There, They're, Their

There, there. We'll sort it out.

Can 'reticent' be used to mean 'reluctant'?

We're not reticent to tell you: yes

Does 'peruse' mean "to skim" or "to read carefully"?

How the straightforward peruse became confused.

Which way: 'segue' or 'segway'?

Which word should you use when moving on to a new subject?

Sneaked vs. Snuck

How the irregular 'snuck' sneaked into the dictionary

Flammable vs. Inflammable

Is there any difference?

Should you use 'dived' or 'dove'?

Which is correct: dived or dove?

Further vs. Farther

They started as same word, but their meanings have drifted apart over time.

How to Use They're, There, and Their

How to get them right

Secular, Atheist, and Agnostic

No, they don't mean the same thing

Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

It's Not the Heat, It's the Humidity

Where Do "Muggy" and "Humid" Come From?

When To Use "Discrete" vs "Discreet"

Definitions and Examples for Easily Mixed-up Words

Cache and Cachet: What's the difference?

How to Pronounce and Use Cache/Cachet

'Archaic' and 'Obsolete': What's the difference?

When Does the Dictionary Use These Labels?

Should You 'Flush Out' or 'Flesh Out' Your Plan?

Commonly Confused Words, Vol. 2

i.e. vs. e.g.

Often used, often confused. Here's some guidance and insight.

Healthy vs. Healthful

Why both words are equally good for you.

Top 10 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Commonly Confused Words, Vol. 1

Affect vs. Effect

Here's the lowdown on what may be the most confusing pair of words in the English language.
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