A lot and allot are two expressions that are pronounced in the same way and are spelled very similarly, but have different meanings. They are often confused. It can be difficult to learn how to spell English words, because though there are many spelling rules, there are always exceptions. Do …
Butt heads is an idiomatic expression that means to strongly disagree or clash with someone, often in a confrontational or argumentative manner. Idioms like butt heads (bump heads) are phrases or expressions whose meaning cannot be understood from the literal definitions of their individual words. They are popular in casual …
Pariah and piranha are two words that are close in spelling and pronunciation but have very different definitions. They are often confused. We will examine the definitions of the words pariah and piranha, their etymology, and some examples of their use in sentences. A pariah is an outcast, someone who …
The idiom washed up or all washed up came into use in the 1920s. We will examine the meaning of the idiom washed up or all washed up, where it may came from, and some examples of its use in sentences. Washed up or all washed up describes someone whose …
Closer and closure are two words that are close in spelling and pronunciation, but have different meanings. Closer, pronounced with a “z” sound, is often confused with the word closure. We will examine the definitions of closer and closure, where these two words came from, and some examples of their …
Pentimento and pimento or pimiento are words that are close in spelling and pronunciation and are often confused. We will examine the definitions of pentimento and pimento or pimiento, the etymology of these words, and some examples of their use in sentences. A pentimento is a trace of a the …
Praise and preys are two commonly confused words that are pronounced in the same way when spoken aloud but are spelled differently and mean different things, which makes them homophones. Homophones exist because of our ever-changing English language, and are a challenge for those who wish to learn to speak …
Strong friendships and connections play a vital role in our lives today. So much so that new words have been created to describe such partnerships. One new word that’s gained popularity over the years is “bromance,” which we use to highlight a close male friendship. But it goes beyond that …
Pop culture is an expression that was coined in the 1950s. We will examine the definition of pop culture, where the term came from, and some examples of its use in sentences. Pop culture is the body of cultural products of a society or folk culture that appeal to the …
Impetus and emphasis are two words that are similar in pronunciation and are often confused. Learning English as a second language can be challenging. The phonetic speech sounds can be hard to distinguish, even for those who speak English as their native language. Language acquisition happens over time, with practice …