Word confusion Archives | Page 5 of 33

Restive

Restive is an adjective used to describe something as restless or fidgety. Politically it is used to describe regions in unrest or without peace. Restive is also used in reference to horses when they refuse to move forward by standing still or sliding backwards. Its derivatives include the adverb restively and the noun restiveness. Restive has seen an absolute reversal in definitions. The original word came from the Old French word restif which meant to remain still. The association with horses is generally considered the reason for the reversal. …

Prebiotic vs probiotic

by Grammarist

A prebiotic is a non-digestible chemical or ingredient which acts as food for good bacteria and flora in the intestinal tract. It is generally used in its plural prebiotics, since it is rare that only one is added to a food. They naturally occur in foods such as garlic, honey, onions, and bananas. A probiotic is the bacteria itself which lives in the intestinal tract. They naturally occur in foods such as yogurt. They are also normally discussed in the plural probiotics. Both words are not hyphenated …

How to Use Learnings Correctly

by Candace Osmond

“Learning” is more popular as the present participle of the verb “learn.” But it has been used as a noun since the 18th century. Is it learning or learnings? And is learnings a word? Discover the truth of what these terms mean and where they come from. You’ll also learn their synonyms and actual usage. Where Did the Word Learnings Come From? The word “learnings” can be traced back to the 19th and 20th centuries. But the mass noun “learning” …

Lie or lye

by Grammarist

Lye is a harsh chemical used in making soap or washing solutions. The term was vastly more common in the 1800s (see ngram below) because people made their own lye at home. The process includes soaking hardwood ashes for days in water. The water becomes lye, which was then used to make soap. When it became more cost-effective to buy bars of soap in a store, the use of the word lye decreased. Unfortunately, a common way to hear the word lye is in relation …

Site vs. Cite – What’s the Difference?

by Candace Osmond

Homophones are seemingly basic words that sound the same when spoken but actually have totally different meanings and sometimes spellings. Look at the terms “cite” and “site.” They can easily be mixed up because of their identical pronunciation and also because only a single letter separates them in spelling. So, I’ll give you a short version of everything you need to know. Is It Cite or Site? Would you believe that one is a noun and the other is a …

Redoubt

by Grammarist

A redoubt is a small area that gives protection to soldiers while under attack. The word can also be used for a figuratively safe place for anyone under attack. It is not a verb. A related word is redan. Also a military defense location, it differs from a redoubt in that a redan has an opening for retreat, whereas the redoubt is completely enclosed. History The word redoubt has been in use since the 1600s. It comes from the French word redoute. As military techniques have advanced to more mobile strategies, redoubts …

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What Does Grudge Mean?

by Candace Osmond

The term “grudge” refers to a feeling of resentment or ill will towards someone or something, often stemming from a past disagreement or injury. It can also refer to the actual act of holding a grudge or to the specific issue or grievance that is the source of the resentment. Learn more about this negative word and how you can use it in speech and writing with my breakdown and sentence examples. Origin of Grudge The origin of grudge can …

Mom vs mom

by Grammarist

Capitalization is required for proper nouns, such as names, but sometimes words can be proper nouns or common nouns. Family titles, such as mom and dad, fit into this category. The general rule is to capitalize a family name when it is used as a name, and not to capitalize when it is a common noun. A good tip is to look if there is a pronoun or article (e.g., the, your, his, etc.) preceding the title. If an article …

Scam or sham

by Grammarist

A sham is something fake or false, also the North American name for a certain kind of pillow covering. A scam is a scheme to take advantage of someone, usually involving taking someone’s money. A scammer is someone who runs a scam. People can also be scammed. Examples Hundreds of others just like them are seeking fellow gay partners of the opposite sex for sham marriages to escape the pressure from their demanding relations. [Independent] The sham of the FSOC’s designation process became clear recently when, in …

Vale, vail, or veil

by Grammarist

A vale is a valley, also a common township name in Wales. To vail is to take off your hat in a sign of respect. It is so archaic we were not able to find modern examples of its use. In the U.S., the word is more commonly associated with the Vail ski resort in Colorado. A veil is a piece of cloth worn over the head and sometimes face, normally associated with women and brides. To veil something is to obscure it or hide it, as a veil …

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