132 Comments
Preventative vs. preventive
The shorter form is preferred, but the longer one is an accepted variant.
2 Comments
Marshal vs. martial
Martial: of or relating to war or the military. Marshal: 1. a person holding one of various official positions; 2. to enlist, arrange, organize, or gather (especially resources or military personnel).
2 Comments
Lightening vs. lightning
Lightening: the present participle of lighten. Lightning: an abrupt electrical discharge in the atmosphere.
8 Comments
Pompom vs. pompon (vs. pom-pom etc.)
Pompom and pompon are both common. There is no reason for the word to have a hyphen.
14 Comments
Underway vs. under way
It is usually one word before what it modifies and two words when it follows what it modifies, but the one-word form is gaining ground in all uses.
2 Comments
Cord vs. Chord – Difference, Meaning & Examples
Cord = (1) a string or rope, (2) an electrical cable, (3) a measure of wood equal to 128 cubic feet, (4) a ribbed fabric (short for corduroy), and (5) one of several types of cords found within the bodies of animals. Chord = a combination of three or more musical pitches (plus rare uses in geometry and science).
38 Comments
Enquire vs. inquire
In British English, enquire tends to refer to informal queries and inquire to formal investigations. In large swaths of usage, though, the two words are interchangeable, with inquire being the more common form.
14 Comments
Litre or Liter – Difference, Meaning & Spelling
liter in the U.S.; litre everywhere else.