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Randomize vs randomise

To randomize means to arrange items in an unpredictable, unsystematic order. Randomize was coined in 1926 by taking the adjective, random, and adding the suffix -ize to form a verb. Related words are randomizes, randomized, randomizing, randomization. Randomize is the preferred North American spelling, including Canada. The North American spelling …

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Camaraderie vs comradery

Camaraderie is the warm feelings of friendship, closeness and loyalty shared among a group of people or a team of people. Camaraderie is a relatively new English word, added in 1840. It comes from the French word, camaraderie, meaning a convivial feeling among comrades. Comradery means the warm feelings of …

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Spry

Spry mean lively, vigorous, or active, usually said of an elderly person. Spry is an adjective, related words are spryer and spryest. The only correct adverb form is spryly, the only correct noun form is spryness. Interestingly, one may apply the “when following a consonant change the y to an …

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Gemology vs gemmology

Gemology is the study of precious stones. Related words are gemologist and gemological. The word was coined in the early nineteenth century from the Latin word gemma, meaning bud or jewel, and -ology, meaning knowledge or the study of. Gemology, gemologist and gemological are the preferred North American spellings. Though …

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Pore, pour or poor

A pore is a tiny opening in a surface through which gases, liquids or microscopic particles may pass. Skin has pores. As a verb, pore means to study or closely examine something, often a book, map or document. Pore, meaning a tiny opening, appears in the fourteenth century from the …

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Flour and Flower Whats the Difference 2

Flour and Flower – What’s the Difference?

I know “flour” and “flower” look like they’d be pronounced completely different, but they actually sound the same, making them homophones in the English language. So, if they sound alike, can they be used interchangeably? No, not really, and I’ll explain why right here. Difference Between Flour and Flower Flour …

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Catalyse or catalyze

Catalyse means to speed up a reaction through the use of a catalyst, or to begin a reaction. Catalyse is a transitive verb which is a verb that takes an object. Related words are catalyses, catalysed, catalysing, catalyser, catalysation. Catalyse is a British spelling. Catalyze is the preferred North American spelling, …

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Neutralise vs neutralize

Neutralise means to make something ineffective, to disarm, to make harmless, to cause something to become neutral. Used euphemistically, neutralise may also be used to mean to kill someone. Neutralise is the British spelling, related words are neutralises, neutralised, neutralising, neutraliser and neutralisation. Neutralize is the preferred American spelling. Related …

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Arbor or arbour

An arbor is a garden area made from trees, vines and climbing plants trained into sides and a roof, usually through the use of latticework. The American spelling is arbor, the Canadian and British spelling is arbour. Arbor comes from the fourteenth century word, herber, meaning herb garden. Arbor Day is a day designated to raise awareness about the …

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Wholistic and holistic

Wholistic is the philosophy that all parts of a thing are interconnected. In medicine, wholistic treatment is the treatment of a person as a whole, mind, body and social factors. Related words are wholism, wholistically. Wholistic appears in 1941 as a cross between holistic and whole. Holistic is the philosophy …

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