1. Common Usage Errors Almost Done 81-100

2. 81. ADVICE/ADVISE “Advice” is the noun, “advise” the verb. When Ann Landers advises people, she gives them advice. “Advice” is the noun, “advise” the verb. When Ann Landers advises people, she gives them advice.

3. 82. AESTHETIC/ASCETIC People often encounter these two words first in college, and may confuse one with the other although they have almost opposite connotations. “Aesthetic” (also spelled “esthetic”) has to do with beauty, whereas “ascetic” has to do with avoiding pleasure, including presumably the pleasure of looking at beautiful things. People often encounter these two words first in college, and may confuse one with the other although they have almost opposite connotations. “Aesthetic” (also spelled “esthetic”) has to do with beauty, whereas “ascetic” has to do with avoiding pleasure, including presumably the pleasure of looking at beautiful things. St. Francis had an ascetic attitude toward life, whereas Oscar Wilde had an esthetic attitude toward life. St. Francis had an ascetic attitude toward life, whereas Oscar Wilde had an esthetic attitude toward life.

4. 83. ALL READY/ALREADY “All ready” is a phrase meaning “completely prepared,” as in “As soon as I put my coat on, I’ll be all ready.” “Already,” however, is an adverb used to describe something that has happened before a certain time, as in “What do you mean you’d rather stay home? I’ve already got my coat on.” “All ready” is a phrase meaning “completely prepared,” as in “As soon as I put my coat on, I’ll be all ready.” “Already,” however, is an adverb used to describe something that has happened before a certain time, as in “What do you mean you’d rather stay home? I’ve already got my coat on.”

5. 84. AMBIGUOUS/AMBIVALENT Even though the prefix “ambi-” means “both,” “ambiguous” has come to mean “unclear,” “undefined,” while “ambivalent” means “torn between two opposing feelings or views.” If your attitude cannot be defined into two polarized alternatives, then you’re ambiguous, not ambivalent. Even though the prefix “ambi-” means “both,” “ambiguous” has come to mean “unclear,” “undefined,” while “ambivalent” means “torn between two opposing feelings or views.” If your attitude cannot be defined into two polarized alternatives, then you’re ambiguous, not ambivalent.

6. 85. AMORAL/IMMORAL “Amoral” is a rather technical word meaning “unrelated to morality.” When you mean to denounce someone’s behavior, call it “immoral.” “Amoral” is a rather technical word meaning “unrelated to morality.” When you mean to denounce someone’s behavior, call it “immoral.”

7. 86. COARSE/COURSE “Coarse” is always an adjective meaning “rough, crude.” Unfortunately, this spelling is often mistakenly used for a quite different word, “course,” which can be either a verb or a noun (with several different meanings). “Coarse” is always an adjective meaning “rough, crude.” Unfortunately, this spelling is often mistakenly used for a quite different word, “course,” which can be either a verb or a noun (with several different meanings).

8. 87. DEVICE/DEVISE “Device” is a noun. A can-opener is a device. “Devise” is a verb. You can devise a plan for opening a can with a sharp rock instead. Only in law is “devise” properly used as a noun, meaning something deeded in a will. “Device” is a noun. A can-opener is a device. “Devise” is a verb. You can devise a plan for opening a can with a sharp rock instead. Only in law is “devise” properly used as a noun, meaning something deeded in a will.

9. 88. ENVIOUS/JEALOUS Although these are often treated as synonyms, there is a difference. You are envious of what others have that you lack. Jealousy, on the other hand, involves wanting to hold on to what you do have. You can be jealous of your boyfriend’s attraction to other women, but you’re envious of your boyfriend’s CD collection. Although these are often treated as synonyms, there is a difference. You are envious of what others have that you lack. Jealousy, on the other hand, involves wanting to hold on to what you do have. You can be jealous of your boyfriend’s attraction to other women, but you’re envious of your boyfriend’s CD collection.

10. 89. FAIR/FARE When you send your daughter off to camp, you hope she’ll fare well. That’s why you bid her a fond farewell. “Fair” as a verb is a rare word meaning “to smooth a surface to prepare it for being joined to another.” When you send your daughter off to camp, you hope she’ll fare well. That’s why you bid her a fond farewell. “Fair” as a verb is a rare word meaning “to smooth a surface to prepare it for being joined to another.”

11. 90. HIPPIE/HIPPY A long-haired 60s flower child was a “hippie.” “Hippy” is an adjective describing someone with wide hips. The IE is not caused by a Y changing to IE in the plural as in “puppy” and “puppies.” It is rather a dismissive diminutive, invented by older, more sophisticated hipsters looking down on the new kids as mere “hippies.” Confusing these two is definitely unhip. A long-haired 60s flower child was a “hippie.” “Hippy” is an adjective describing someone with wide hips. The IE is not caused by a Y changing to IE in the plural as in “puppy” and “puppies.” It is rather a dismissive diminutive, invented by older, more sophisticated hipsters looking down on the new kids as mere “hippies.” Confusing these two is definitely unhip.

12. 91. FOUL/FOWL A chicken is a fowl. A poke in the eye is a foul. A chicken is a fowl. A poke in the eye is a foul.

13. 92. INSTALL/INSTILL People conjure up visions of themselves as upgradable robots when they write things like “My Aunt Tillie tried to install the spirit of giving in my heart.” The word they are searching for is “instill.” You install equipment, you instill feelings or attitudes. People conjure up visions of themselves as upgradable robots when they write things like “My Aunt Tillie tried to install the spirit of giving in my heart.” The word they are searching for is “instill.” You install equipment, you instill feelings or attitudes.

14. 93. PATIENCE/PATIENTS Doctors have patients, but while you’re waiting to see them you have to have patience. Doctors have patients, but while you’re waiting to see them you have to have patience.

15. 94. SARCASTIC/IRONIC Not all ironic comments are sarcastic. Sarcasm is meant to mock or wound. Irony can be amusing without being maliciously aimed at hurting anyone. Not all ironic comments are sarcastic. Sarcasm is meant to mock or wound. Irony can be amusing without being maliciously aimed at hurting anyone.

16. 95. TAKEN BACK/TAKEN ABACK When you’re startled by something, you’re taken aback by it. When you’re reminded of something from your past, you’re taken back to that time. When you’re startled by something, you’re taken aback by it. When you’re reminded of something from your past, you’re taken back to that time.

17. 96. TIMBER/TIMBRE You can build a house out of timber, but that quality which distinguishes the sound produced by one instrument or voice from others is timbre, usually pronounced “TAM-bruh,” so the common expression is “vocal timbre.” You can build a house out of timber, but that quality which distinguishes the sound produced by one instrument or voice from others is timbre, usually pronounced “TAM-bruh,” so the common expression is “vocal timbre.”

18. 97. AVOCATION/VOCATION Your avocation is just your hobby; don’t mix it up with your job: your vocation. Your avocation is just your hobby; don’t mix it up with your job: your vocation.

19. 98. CORE/CORPS/CORPSE Apples have cores. A corps is an organization, like the Peace Corps. A corpse is a dead body, a carcass. Apples have cores. A corps is an organization, like the Peace Corps. A corpse is a dead body, a carcass.

20. 99. CRESCENDO/CLIMAX When something is growing louder or more intense, it is going through a crescendo (from an Italian word meaning “growing”). Traditionalists object to its use when you mean “climax.” A crescendo of cheers by an enthusiastic audience grows until it reaches a climax, or peak. “Crescendo” as a verb is common, but also disapproved by many authorities. Instead of “the orchestra crescendos,” write “the orchestra plays a crescendo.” When something is growing louder or more intense, it is going through a crescendo (from an Italian word meaning “growing”). Traditionalists object to its use when you mean “climax.” A crescendo of cheers by an enthusiastic audience grows until it reaches a climax, or peak. “Crescendo” as a verb is common, but also disapproved by many authorities. Instead of “the orchestra crescendos,” write “the orchestra plays a crescendo.”

21. 100. DISINTERESTED/ UNINTERESTED A bored person is uninterested. Do not confuse this word with the much rarer disinterested, which means “objective, neutral.” A bored person is uninterested. Do not confuse this word with the much rarer disinterested, which means “objective, neutral.”