Second session - lesson 48
Presently vs. currently
Presently means soon.
Currently means now.
Speak to vs. speak with
To speak to someone is to give a speech.
To speak with someone is to have a conversation.
Among vs. between
Use between when you’re talking about two things.
Use among when you’re talking about more than two things.
Proved vs. proven
Proved is a verb.
She has proved (verb) her dedication to the project.
Proven is an adjective.
Her dedication to the project has been proven (adjective).
Loan vs. lend
Loan is a noun.
Lend is a verb.
You don't loan something to someone. You lend it to them.
Important vs. importantly
Importantly is an adverb. It should only be used to modify a verb.
She walked importantly to the meeting.
Otherwise, use important.
More important, we need everyone to be here on time.
Feasible vs. possible
Something is possible if it is capable of happening.
Something is feasible if it is capable of happening and will produce a desired result.
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Rather vs. whether
Rather is an adverb. Use rather to indicate a preference for one thing over another.
I would rather we finish this now than come back tomorrow.
Rather can also mean somewhat.
I think he was rather rude to us.
It’s incorrect to say “rather or not.” The correct phrase is “whether or not.”
Precede vs. Proceed
Precede means to come before.
Proceed means to move forward.
Anxious vs. eager
To be anxious is to have a feeling of apprehension or dread.
To be eager is to look forward to something.
Hopefully
Hopefully means to do something in a hopeful manner.
Hopefully, they watched as the winning lottery numbers were drawn.
It does not mean I hope.
Agree to vs. agree with?
You agree to things and with people.
Continuous vs. continual
Continuous refers to an action that is uninterrupted.
We worked continuously through the night.
Continual refers to an action that happens repeatedly.
She continually talks about her children.
Can or may?
May implies you are asking for permission to do something.
Can implies you are asking if you have the ability to do something.
Disinterested vs. uninterested
Disinterested means impartial.
Uninterested means without interest.
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Fewer than vs. less than
If something can be counted, use fewer than.
The car has fewer than 15 gallons of gas.
If it cannot be counted, use less than.
The car has less than a half of a tank of gas.
Like vs. as if
Like is a preposition. It should be used to compare nouns and pronouns.
Sarah played like a champion.
As if is a conjunction. It should be used to introduce clauses.
Sarah played as if she were in a championship game.
Allude vs. refer
To refer to something is to be direct.
To allude to something is to be more ambiguous.
Allude vs. elude
Allude means to make reference to.
Elude means to avoid or run away from.
Enormousness vs. enormity
Enormousness means hugeness and relates to size, whether actual or theoretical.
Enormity means outrageousness or evilness.
Convince vs. persuade
You convince someone that something is true.
You persuade someone to do something.
Each other vs. one another
Use each other to refer to two people.
Use one another to refer to more than two people.