Usage

3 Comments

Stanch vs. staunch

Stanch: stop the flow of, check, allay. Staunch: firm and steadfast.

5 Comments

That vs. which

They are often interchangeable, but that usually introduces restrictive clauses, and which usually introduces nonrestrictive ones.

2 Comments

Prescribe vs. proscribe

Prescribe: 1. to set down as a rule; 2. to order the use of. Proscribe: to prohibit or condemn.

4 Comments

Grammarist Featured Image V3 2022 06 06T201708.956

Envision vs. envisage

Both mean to visualize, but envisioning tends to involve more distant, imaginary things, while envisaging involves imagining reality-based projects and outcomes.

19 Comments

Homogenous vs. homogeneous

Homogeneous: (1) of the same or similar nature, and (2) uniform in structure or composition. Homogenous: a scientific word now very often used in place of homogeneous in popular usage.

4 Comments

Grammarist Featured Image V4 18

Deign

= to condescend to do something.

45 Comments

Empathy vs. sympathy

Empathy is the ability to emotionally identify with another person. Sympathy is compassion or affinity.

11 Comments

Grammarist Featured Image V4 13

Descendant vs. descendent

Descendant is both a noun an an adjective, and descendent is a less common variant.

Smorgasbord

1. a meal featuring a variety of dishes; 2. a varied collection, especially an abundant one.