20 Tricky Word Usages “It - PowerPoint Presentation

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.