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Keyword Transformations
Category Archives: Easily Confused Words
grant / subvention: what’s the difference?
I can see no clear difference between these two words. They both refer to financial aid that is given by a giver to a receiver. Givers are often government bodies, either local or national, but not always. Receivers can be … Continue reading
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graphic / graphical: what’s the difference?
Another -ic or -ical adjective question came up recently. This answer is sourced from http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=11622 from the member Focalist: graphic 1. relating to visual art, especially involving drawing, engraving, or lettering. 2 giving vividly explicit detail. 3 of or in the … Continue reading
affect / effect: what’s the difference?
The following explanation was sourced from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-affect-and-effect.htm: The word affect is primarily used as a verb in English. It has two main meanings, which are closely related. Affect may mean to alter the feelings of, or to change the mental state of someone or something. It may … Continue reading
dramatic / dramatical: what’s the difference?
Dramatical: overly dramatic eg. That outburst was entirely unnecessary. You are so dramatical! (source: http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-of/dramatical) Dramatic: 1. Of or relating to drama or the theater. 2. Characterized by or expressive of the action or emotion associated with drama or the theatre: a dramatic rescue at … Continue reading
economic / economical: what’s the difference?
The following explanation was sourced from http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic9464.html and posted by Yankee on 12th June 2006: If something is economical, it saves money or resources. It’s similar in meaning to “not wasteful” eg. “An economical car uses a minimum amount of gasoline (petrol) to drive a … Continue reading
electric / electrical: what’s the difference?
This was sourced from http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=1620395 and adapted from the contribution by Imber Ranae dated 1st december 2009: electric = runs on electricity eg. electric car, electric fan, electric appliance, electric guitar etc. It’s also used metaphorically to mean: exciting, energetic eg. the atmosphere at the U2 … Continue reading
higher / further education: what’s the difference?
The following explanation is taken almost verbatim from Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Further_education “Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It is post-compulsory education (in addition to that received at secondary school), that is distinct from the … Continue reading
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Tagged easily confused words, further education, higher education
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among / amongst: what’s the difference?
There is no difference at all between the meaning and use of these two options. Speakers of AE (= American English) will use ‘among’ for sure, but speakers of BE and other variations of English could use either. Writers of … Continue reading
needn’t / don’t need to / needn’t have / didn’t need to: what’s the difference?
This one confused the hell out of all of us, me included, until I looked it up. Here’s the answer: Needn’t and don’t need to There is also a difference in use when these verbs are used to describe present situations. … Continue reading
Posted in Easily Confused Words, Grammar
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