In this article, we will explain the difference between criterion and criteria, clarify the correct usage of the word criteria, and give examples of how we typically use both words in sentences. The word criterion is a noun that means “a standard of judgment or criticism.” A criterion is a rule or benchmark used to evaluate something. Criterion is a singular noun. The plural form …
Why was the doctor so short-tempered? Because she didn’t have any patients! Bad puns aside, the similarity of the words patients and patience can really test your patience when you can’t remember which one to use. In this article, we’ll make sure you never confuse patients and patience ever again by explaining the difference and providing examples of how they’re used in sentences. The words …
In the US, the classic image of election day is of people standing in line to cast a ballot inside a voting booth. But this image is changing, particularly with the increase in the use of absentee and mail-in ballots. With this change, there is a lot of confusion—and misinformation—around these methods, which vary widely state by state. What’s more, some people use these terms …
The words recurring and reoccurring are both used to indicate that something is happening again. But which word is the right one to say that something keeps happening over and over? In this article, we’ll define recurring and reoccurring, explain the difference between them, and provide examples of how they’re typically used in sentences. Reoccurring and recurring can both be used as a verb and …
It’s a commonly misused phrase, and it’s also commonly misspelled. Is it per se or per say? The confusion might be due to the phrase’s Latin origin, which is a big hint as to which spelling is the right one. In this article, we’ll reveal the correct spelling of the term, define it, explain its Latin origin and meaning, and provide examples of how it …
We’ll weather the weather, whatever the weather, whether we like it or not! This nursery rhyme demonstrates some of the different ways that weather and whether can be used. But what do these words really mean? In this article, we’ll define the difference between weather and whether and provide tips to help you always remember which one is which. Weather and whether are homophones—their pronunciation …
The verbs attain and obtain are very similar. Sometimes their meanings overlap, but they can also be used in distinct ways. In this article, we’ll define attain and obtain, explain the different ways they’re used and when their meanings overlap, and provide examples of how they’re typically used in sentences. The verbs attain and obtain have distinct meanings, but there are certain situations in which …
The terms we use to refer to other people—and ourselves—can communicate a lot about identity, and sometimes even a single letter can make a big difference. Perhaps you know the words Latino and Latina. But have you encountered Latinx or Latine? Even if you have, you might still be confused about why they’re used and whether there’s a difference. In this article, we’ll explain the …
The words homogeneous and heterogeneous are often used in scientific contexts to describe kinds of mixtures, but they can be also used in other ways, such as to describe groups of people. But what do they actually mean, and what is the difference? In this article, we’ll define homogeneous and heterogeneous, break down the differences between them, and provide some examples of the different things …
The words gauge and gage are pronounced the same and differ by only one letter. So what’s the difference? In this article, we’ll define the words gauge and gage, explain how they are typically used, and provide example sentences. The words gauge and gage have the same pronunciation ([ geyj ], rhymes with page). Gauge is the far more commonly used word. It has multiple …
You’re back in class and your instructors have just handed out the… course outlines. Should you call them syllabuses? Or syllabi? In this article, we’ll break down the difference between the words syllabuses and syllabi, explain why there’s two options, and even get into why the word syllabus is likely based on a misunderstanding of an earlier word. Is it syllabuses or syllabi? A syllabus …
Do the words embed and imbed mean different things or not? In this article, we’ll look at the meanings of the words embed and imbed, explain whether they’re used in different ways, and also cover the forms embedded, imbedded, embedding, and imbedding. Embed has many different meanings. It’s most commonly used as a verb meaning “to fix into a surrounding mass” (embed stones in cement) …