is of interest to note that while some dolphins are reported to have learned English up to fifty words used in correct context no human being has been reported to have learned dolphinese ID: 676999
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Slide1
20 Tricky Word Usages
“It
is of interest to note that while some dolphins are reported to have learned English -- up to fifty words used in correct context -- no human being has been reported to have learned
dolphinese
.”
~Carl
Sagan (1934 - 1996)Slide2
all ready vs. already
a
ll ready – pronoun (all) + adjective modifier (ready)
They were all ready to go dancing.
already – an adverb denoting time
The pie was already baked.Slide3
all together vs. altogether
all together – gathered in a group
The Write Place staff were all together suffering through another PowerPoint.
Altogether – adverb meaning “completely”
The PowerPoint presentation was altogether mind-numbing.Slide4
allude vs. elude
allude – make a quick reference to
In demonstrating the Write Place culture, he alluded to the finger puppets in the Bistro.
Elude – to evade or avoid
“I eluded Carol by hiding in the bathroom,” said Jake.Slide5
alternately vs. alternatively
alternately – adverb denoting time, meaning “by turns”
When making mayonnaise, add oil and lemon juice alternately.
Alternatively – adverb denoting “by way of an alternative”
You can create a handout or, alternatively, you can wash the coffee cups.Slide6
amoral vs. immoral
amoral – an amoral person, action, or thing is one for which the whole concept of morality is foreign or irrelevant
The sociopathic murderer is amoral. OR A devastating hurricane is amoral.
immoral – doesn’t measure up to cultural standards of morality
Unmarried women who had children used to be thought of as immoral. Or Cutting down the 200 year-old oak in the center of town is an immoral action. Slide7
angry at vs angry with
angry at – pertains to situations
I am angry at the way I was treated at the Dept. of Public Safety.
angry with – pertains to people
I am angry with my younger sister for plagiarizing my paper.Slide8
ante- vs. anti-
ante – before
An antecedent is the noun which comes before the pronoun that represents it. For example; J
ohn
had better put the beer back in the cooler, if
he
wants it to stay cold.
anti against, contrary to
I use anti-freeze in my car in the winter.Slide9
ascent vs. assent
ascent – climb
It was a steep ascent to the top of
Enger
Tower
Assent – agree or agreement (either verb or noun)
She will assent to re-funding the Write Place OR She gave her assent when asked to re-fund the Write Place.Slide10
censor vs. censure
censor – to cut out or prevent something offensive from appearing
The government censored parts of the soldiers’ letters to keep information about military action out of the hands of the enemy.
censure – to condemn
The Governor was censured for using public funds to help build his vacation home.Slide11
complacent vs. complaisant vs. compliant
c
omplacent – self-satisfied
His complacency in the middle of the mess he created caused him to be defeated in the last election.
complaisant – doing what one can to please others
Chris was consistently complaisant in his dealings with clients at the reception desk.
compliant – doing what your are told whether it pleases you or not
She was compliant when asked to re-do the report, even though she fumed inside.Slide12
continual vs. continuous
continual – keeps coming back, keeps repeating
I get so frustrated at the continual auto-format generated typos in my Facebook posts.
continuous – never goes away, goes on and on
Interstate90 is a continuous, straight and boring route across South Dakota, rarely broken by a hill or curve.Slide13
differ from vs. differ with
differ from – to be different from
The last tutorial greatly differed from this one.
differ with – to disagree
I differed with my father over the value of his old Ford
Fairlane
.Slide14
discreet vs. discrete
discreet – to be tactful and to keep secrets
Julie was discreet when
her roommate’s boss
called to ask why she didn’t come to work.
Discrete - to be separate from
Linguistics and rhetoric are discrete disciplines.Slide15
disinterested vs. uninterested
disinterested – impartial, no vested interest
She was a disinterested observer, which made her analysis credible.
Uninterested – not interested
The client acted as though he was uninterested in his own essay.Slide16
farther vs. further
farther – used when referring to physical space
It is farther to Las Vegas than to Missoula.
further – other non-physical distance
I want you to take that argument further. Push the envelope.Slide17
flaunt vs. flout
flaunt – to make a show of
He flaunted his wealth by parking his Lamborghini right in front of the Write Place.
Flout – to scoff at or mock
The students flout the noise ordinance on the south side every weekend.Slide18
incredible vs. incredulous
incredible – unbelievable, fantastic
The Minnesota Lynx have been incredible this season.
incredulous – unbelieving, doubting
When I told her I’d never had a speeding ticket, she looked at me incredulously.Slide19
ingenious vs. ingenuous
ingenious – clever, inventive
Toni Morrison’s plot lines are ingenious as well as meticulously crafted.
ingenuous – innocent
Even though he was guilty as sin, his ingenuous expression convinced others he had nothing to do with the mess.Slide20
temerity vs. timidity
temerity – foolhardy boldness or chance-taking
His temerity was once again demonstrated when he dove off the cliff without checking to see how deep the water was.
timidity – fearfully cautious
The great Dane’s timidity when faced with the aggressive toy poodle was hysterically funny.