accept :: except
accept
Accept: verb, meaning to receive willingly, to be happy to receive.
Example:
We are happy to accept your invitation to dinner.
except
Except: preposition, meaning ‘with the exception of' or ‘but'.
Example:
The shop is open every day except Sunday.
adoptive :: adopted
adoptive
Parents are ‘adoptive'
Example:
Mary and Sue are the adoptive parents of Michael.
adopted
Children are ‘adopted'
Example:
Michael was adopted at birth by Mary and Sue.
adverse :: averse
adverse
Bad or unfavorable
Example:
The ship sailed despite the adverse weather conditions.
averse
To strongly dislike or be opposed to something
Example:
I am averse to all forms of violence.
affect :: effect
affect
As a verb: 1. to make a display of liking or using; to put on a pretense of. 2. to cause a change or variation.
Example:
1. She affects the air of a rock star by dressing in leather. 2. Although she is a bit wild it doesn't affect her ability to study.
effect
As a verb: to cause to come into being. As a noun: an outcome or result.
Example:
1. Stopping smoking has positively effected by health. 2. The effect of stopping smoking is that I am healthier and happier.
all ready :: already
all ready
Totally prepared
Example:
I have packed my suitcases and am all ready to go.
already
Before or previously
Example:
I have already visited Spain.
all together :: altogether
all together
All of the objects, or people are in a single group
Example:
1. We put the English speakers all together in the class. 2. All together there are thirty of them.
altogether
Completely, usually, ‘on the whole'
Example:
I am not altogether sure that I understand. They seem to be learning a different meaning altogether.
allot :: a lot
allot
A given period of time or quantity of something
Example:
We were allotted one hour to visit the Louvre during our tour of Paris.
a lot
A large quantity of something (see countable / uncountable nouns in the OEG)
Example:
There are a lot of paintings in the Louvre.
allusion :: illusion
allusion
An indirect reference to something
Example:
The tour guide alluded to the terrible hardship suffered by the pioneers.
illusion
A fantasy that may be or can be confused with reality
Example:
Although sawing the woman in half seemed real, it was only a clever illusion.
See also: delusion / illusion
altar :: alter
altar
An area, usually in the form of a table, where religious worship and sacrifices take place.
Example:
The ancient Aztecs used to offer human sacrifices on their altars.
alter
To change
Example:
They altered the roads in the city center to make them pedestrian only.
ambiguous :: ambivalent
ambiguous
Having more than one meaning, open to different interpretations
Example:
Saying that there are fewer unemployed but that number of people without jobs has increased is very ambiguous.
ambivalent
Having mixed feelings
Example:
He was neither for nor against the new immigration laws – he maintained a very ambivalent attitude.
among :: between
among
Preposition used with three or more persons or things
Example:
Among the thirty candidates for the job there were only three that were properly qualified.
between
Preposition used with two persons or things
Example:
Between Jill and her sister there is a two-year age difference.
amoral :: immoral
amoral
Not concerned with morality
Example:
The Law is considered to be amoral – but this is highly questionable.
immoral
Not conforming to accepted standards of morality
Example:
Profiting from other people's ignorance is considered to be immoral.
appraise :: apprise
appraise
To assess
Example:
The insurance inspector appraised the damage after the fire destroyed the house.
apprise
To inform
Example:
There was no indication that he was apprised of the consequences before he lit the fire.
augur :: auger
augur
A sign of (a likely outcome) – often used in relation to interpreting the future
Example:
Finding a four-leafed clover is a good augur for the future.
auger
A tool for making holes
Example:
The carpenter used an auger to drill the holes for the chair legs.
award :: reward
award
To bestow, a public recognition of honor
Example:
He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his services to the music industry.
reward
To compensate
Example:
There is a $250,000 reward for the capture of the murderer being offered by the police.
