Do the words avenge and revenge get you confused? Well, you can get even with them by learning what they mean! In this article, we will break down the difference between avenge and revenge, give tips on how to remember the difference, and provide examples of how we typically use both words in sentences. The word avenge is used as a verb to mean “to …
You know that thing that happens when you first learn about something and then you start seeing it everywhere? Or when participants in a medical trial start to feel better even though they’ve been taking the pill with nothing in it? Helpfully, there are names for these things. In the context of psychology, these “things that happen”—these phenomena—are often referred to as effects, especially in …
We know all too well that the internet isn’t all fun memes and hamster videos. The darker side of online life is home to trolls, spammers, and many varieties of toxic behavior, spanning from tactics intended to harass one person to nefarious attempts to spread harmful disinformation as widely as possible. For many of the practices that play out exclusively online, specialized terms have emerged, …
The words maternal and paternal pop up a lot in different phrases, including ones like maternal instincts, paternal grandmother, maternal leave, and paternal DNA. You probably know that both words have to do with mothers and fathers, but which is which? In this article, we’ll define the different meanings of maternal and paternal, explain the simple difference between them, and we’ll even cover the related …
Conscience vs. conscious is a classic question of vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation. If you’re anything like us, you have to think very hard each time you spell or say each word—and double check if you’re using the right one. Luckily, we can provide some tricks and examples that will not only help you remember how to say and spell each word, but also help you …
Imagine this: one day, you look out your window and notice that the neighbors have installed a very large shed in their yard. If this shed blocks a view you previously enjoyed, would you describe it as intrusive or obtrusive? It’s natural to wonder. Intrusive and obtrusive both refer to something or someone who invades or is thrust into a situation in an unwelcome way. And …
Our society’s constant obsession with relationships and especially celebrity marriages—with their ups and downs, and often very salacious details—can lead us to wonder and ask big questions about the words we use to talk about love, commitment, and desire. While this isn’t People magazine or “Dear Abby,” perhaps we can use our natural curiosity as an excuse to look at a dilemma of language that is …