Susan 🐝 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess

7 years ago · 3 min. reading time · ~10 ·

Blogging
>
Susan 🐝 Rooks, blog
>
Wednesday Words & Woes: "A" for Effort!

Wednesday Words & Woes: "A" for Effort!

Brush Up on Your
American Grammar Skills

Grammar Goddess Communication
Look Smart. Sound Smart.

508-238-8664
www. .GrammarGoddess.com
SusanR@GrammarGoddess. com

aGBoFrequent readers of my blogs know that each Tuesday I publish a "Tuesday Tricksters" list of miserable words – known as homophones (words that sound the same, or nearly so) – because they're so easy to misuse.

Yesterday, one of my readers (Asesh Datta) asked if I could just remind folks of the perils of word pairs where one of the pair starts with an "a" and the other doesn't. If English isn't your first language – heck, even if it is – these words can cause you to think you're writing one when you're writing the other.

Thanks to Asesh for the suggestion!

Some of the word pairs listed below do share a common understanding, and that makes them even more difficult. If the definitions of a few of them are too close for your liking, find a synonym and use it.

Here is a short list of some to be careful of:

Abide (v.): to put up with; tolerate (John can't abide incompetence.); to stay with or remain (Abide with me.) 

Bide (v.): to stay; continue; to dwell; reside, to wait (to bide one’s time)


Across (prep.): on, at, or from the other side of (The houses are across from each other.); (adv.) on the other side or from the other side (Jan is walking across the bridge.)

Cross (v.): to go from one side to another (I will cross the street.); to mark with an "x" (I will cross that out.); (adj.): annoyed (I was cross with her.); (n.): a crucifix


Arise (v.): to get up, as from a sitting or prone position; to awaken and get up (I will arise at dawn.); to move upward; ascend; to come into being; originate (He hoped that a new spirit of freedom was arising.); to result, issue, or proceed (Some mistakes arise from a basic misunderstanding.)

Rise (v.): to move from a lower to a higher position; ascend (Hot air rises.); to increase in size, volume, or level (The river rises every spring.); to increase in number, amount, or value (Prices are rising.); to increase in intensity, force, or speed (The wind has risen.); to increase in pitch or volume (The sound of their voices rose and fell.)


Alone (adj.): entirely separated from others (she was alone in the park)

Lone (adj.): a singular a thing or person (a lone rider; the Lone Ranger)


Awake (adj.): not sleeping (I was awake when she called at 5 a.m.!); (v.): to rouse from slumber (I usually don't awake at dawn.)

Wake (v.): to rise up out of slumber (I usually wake up around 7.); (n.): a preburial vigil of a corpse; the track or trail left in the water by a moving ship or boat


Aware (adj.): on one's guard; vigilant; knowing or realizing; conscious; informed (She is always aware of her surroundings.)

Ware (n.): a good or a thing (goods or things) that can be bought or sold, or pottery made from clay; usually used in the plural form (wares).

And just to make things a little more difficult, remember that ware is a sound-alike of where and wear.

You're welcome. :-)

*********

If you ever have difficulty with any of these or other English words, do consult an online dictionary, such as YourDictionary.com, which is the one I use for my Tuesday Tricksters. It compiles words, their definitions, and examples from many dictionaries, so you can find slightly different definitions, one of which might be exactly what you're looking for!

*********

Thanks for taking the time to read this post. If it has helped you in any way, I hope you will . . . 

Find it relevant and/or Share it, so your connections can see it and perhaps learn too. Comment in the comments section under the post, so you can be seen by my connections. You never know who would be interested in YOU (just ask Deb Helfrich how well it worked for her!). 

**********

My previous posts can be seen here, and they're easy to find because they're categorized. Just type in a word in the search box on the topic you're looking for and see everything I wrote on it.  

***********

59d5b014.jpgDo the associates in your company look and sound as smart as they are? They would if they could take one of my Brush Up on Your Skills workshops right where they work. If your company hires outside experts to teach any topic to its associates, please share my posts and website with your Human Resources or Training Manager. 

Are you a member of an association or other group that is looking for a speaker for one of its meetings? There are a lot of communication-based topics that I could talk about that would make for a lighthearted and interesting presentation. 

""
Comments

Cyndi wilkins

7 years ago #3

#2
"Remember that ware is a sound-alike of where and wear." This one is particularly tricky for those of us whose primary language is English...Imagine what it's like for the out-of-towners! I love the Friday funnies too;-)
#1
Ali Anani, for more than two years I have published Tuesday Tricksters, referencing those words you mentioned, called homophones -- words that wound very similar but mean totally different things and are spelled differently. I have a few published here in beBee, but the total is over on LinkedIn because I started there. and I use an alphabetical list, so weak and week will come along in about a year . . . I'm only in the middle of the alphabet after nearly two years. There are just so many homophones! And you're right: some of those words with c and without c can be a real headache! I will say that spellcheck should help with them; they're actually being misspelled. Thanks for your comment; it's always great to see you here!

Ali Anani

7 years ago #1

A very interesting read Susan Rooks. WE created difficulties for ourselves. I don't know if you have mentioned the problem of words that sound same, but are written differently such as weak and week. What bugs me the most is words such as excel and excercise (Yes, I know it is exercise and not exce.... When to use the c and when to drop it?

Articles from Susan 🐝 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess

View blog
5 years ago · 1 min. reading time

Good morning, friends and colleagues! Yes, it's finally Friday again, and I hope as you're heading i ...

5 years ago · 3 min. reading time

I’m not the first, and I’m sure I won’t be the last here on LI (or any other professional platform) ...

5 years ago · 2 min. reading time

I think we all saw the amazing result of the FanDuel Sportsbook's error in posting the odds on a bet ...

Related professionals

You may be interested in these jobs

  • SAS Retail Services

    Sensory Ambassador

    Found in: Appcast US A2 ECP - 1 day ago


    SAS Retail Services Inwood, United States Part time

    If you enjoy talking and engaging with people, our Part Time Sensory Ambassador role may be the right fit for you. In this role, you will engage with customers and prepare samples for a blind taste test to gauge feedback on different food and beverage products. Customers will com ...

  • Chemsearch FE

    Syracuse, NY- Territory Sales Representative

    Found in: Appcast Linkedin GBL C2 - 2 days ago


    Chemsearch FE Syracuse, United States

    IT'S TIME TO GROW YOUR CAREER · Chemsearch FE offers a career destination for talented, passionate and results-driven people who seek the innovation and growth opportunity that we provide. We don't offer solidify careers, as proven by the thousands of associates worldwide with a ...

  • Diversified Search Group

    Assistant Public Defender

    Found in: Lensa US Remote C2 - 2 days ago


    Diversified Search Group United States Remote job

    Assistant Public Defender - Level IV: Capital Trial Attorney · Kalamazoo Defender provides constitutionally guaranteed representation to adult individuals charged with a crime who cannot afford an attorney. Kalamazoo Defender is an independent non-profit whose model envisions a ...