Hypertonic, hypotonic, and isotonic are three words that are commonly used in science. Specifically, they are used to explain how water will flow between two different chemical solutions. Solutions with a lot of stuff in them, such as saltwater, are often referred to as hypertonic while plain ol’ water is said to be hypotonic. But what does this really mean? In this article, we will …
People often wonder about the difference between macro and micro and their combining forms, macro- and micro-. In particular, it is often unclear how they are used in the context of economics. In this article, we’ll put our money where our mouth is and break down the difference between macro- and micro- while explaining how they are used to mean different things in the words …
Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a blimp! Or, no, wait, is it a zeppelin? Is there really any difference between these oversized balloons? In this article, we will prove we aren’t full of hot air by breaking down the difference between a zeppelin and a blimp and explaining what airships and dirigibles are, too. Zeppelins and blimps both …
As you likely know, English is spoken all over the world. At the same time, there are many different types of English, such as American English, British English, and Australian English. Regardless of whether you live in Chicago, London, Toronto, or Sydney, many English words exist everywhere with the same meaning. However, there are quite a few words used by Americans and Canadians that aren’t …
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 …
English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, and you’ll find its more than 1 billion speakers just about everywhere. (It’s fun to note that scientists have even taken the English language to Antarctica!) But there are two particular groups of English speakers we’ll focus on in this article—and they are the ones who live on both sides of the Atlantic …
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 …