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 …
English has so many words: Big words. Small words. Words with silent letters. And whatever the heck is going on with squeamish. With so many words to choose from, it can be easy to get a little confused from time to time. In fact, there are a lot of words people use every day that they actually get wrong without even knowing it. Right now, …
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) …
Flair and flare have the same exact pronunciation, but they have completely different meanings. One is commonly used in the context of fire, while the other has to do with talent or stylishness. In this article, we’ll explain the difference between flair and flare and provide some example sentences to show how they’re typically used. Flair is always a noun. It’s often used to refer …
The words threw and through are homophones—they have the exact same pronunciation. But they’re used very differently. In this article, we’ll explain the differences between threw and through, cover how and when both are used, and provide some examples that show how they’re typically used in sentences. Threw is the past tense of the irregular “verb” throw, which has multiple meanings. For example: He threw …
You’ve probably heard of public servants carrying out great acts of patriotism. You’ve probably also heard of concerns of a rising wave of nationalism around the world. Yes, both words involve some form of pride in one’s country, but there is an incredibly important distinction to be made between the two. Historically, both patriotism and nationalism were used roughly in the same way. But they …
Lose and loss are used in all the same contexts, but they are different parts of speech: one is a verb, and one is a noun. In this article, we’ll explain the differences between lose and loss, show how each one is typically used, and provide examples of how they often appear in sentences. The word lose is always used as a verb. Lose is …
Is the head of a school called a principal or a principle? These two words are frustratingly similar, leaving even the most experienced English speakers to second-guess which word means what. In this article, we’ll discuss the distinct meanings between these easy-to-confuse terms—and leave you with a little trick to help differentiate between your principals and your principles. What is the difference between principal and …
COVID-19 has greatly increased awareness and knowledge of specialized scientific vocabulary among the general public. Some of us may remember high school lessons on concepts like DNA and RNA, and the exact role they play in the development of new vaccines. For the rest of us, however, a quick refresher is in order. Central to the discussion of the pandemic is the topic of vaccination. …