Usage

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Abdicate, abnegate, abrogate

Abdicate = (1) to give up power; (2) to cut oneself off from a responsibility. Abnegate = to deny oneself something or to surrender a privilege. Abrogate = to formally repeal or abolish.

Achilles’ heel

= the lone point of vulnerability in an otherwise powerful person or thing. Achilles is possessive, but some publications leave off the apostrophe.

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Corollary vs. correlation

Corollary = an obvious deduction, a natural consequence, or a proposition that follows with little or no proof from one already proven. Correlation = a complementary or parallel relationship between two things, not necessarily involving causation or a direct relationship.

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Afterward vs. afterwards

Both are common and acceptable throughout the English-speaking world, but afterward is more common in the U.S. and Canada, and afterwards is more common outside North America.

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Funner, funnest

The only thing wrong with them is that some people think they’re wrong. But fun is an adjective in today’s English, so there is nothing inherently wrong with these forms.

Faze vs. phase

Phase = to plan or carry out systematically. Faze = to disrupt the composure of.

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Balmy vs. barmy

Balmy = mild and pleasant. Barmy = weak-minded or idiotic.

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Canard

= a false story.

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Grandfather (as a verb)

= to exempt from new rules or restrictions (a person or thing predating the new rules or restrictions).