1. CHSEE Usage Notes Grammar #3

2. Insure vs. ensure Insure – used with financial terms, like “insurance”
You must insure your car in case you are in an accident.
Many people receive health insurance as a benefit of their jobs.
Ensure – to make certain
Please ensure that you bring your backpack home tonight.

3. Alumni vs. alumnae
Alumna = 1 woman graduate
Alumnae = more than one woman graduate
Alumnus = 1 male graduate
Alumni = more than one graduate, mixed gender or male

4. Discover vs. invent Discover = determine the existence or presence of
Wilhelm Rontgen discovered x-rays. (it already existed, but he was first to determine this)
Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity. (it already existed, but he was the first to determine this)
Invent = come up with an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle after a mental effort
Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin.

5. Raise vs. Rise
Raise (raise, raised, raised, is raising): NEEDS AN OBJECT
I raised my head to look at them.
She raises the book from the floor
Rise (rise, rose, risen, is rising):
My head rose upon hearing the harsh noises.
My book is rising to the bestsellers top ten list.

6. Persecute vs. prosecute
Persecute – harass, injure, inflict
Ex.
The Nazis persecuted the Jewish people.
Prosecute – bring legal action against
Violators will be prosecuted.
The prosecution will bring a witness.

7. Beside vs. besides
Beside = preposition (location) The table was located beside the bed. Besides = furthermore, in addition to The only thing I have for homework besides math is religion.

8. Latter and former (formal style)
In a list of two, latter indicates the second reference.
When given a choice of pie or cake, Julia chose the latter. {cake}
Of “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Cask of Amontillado,” I thought the latter provided more suspense.
Former indicates the first reference.
“You may choose between steak and chicken.”
“I prefer the former.”{steak}

9. Use “as if” or “as though” -- not “like”
She acted like she was smarter than I.
She acted as if she was smarter than I.

10. Use of etc. etc. is short for “et cetera”
Use at end of list when the following elements are likely to be clearly understood by the reader:
We will need the following supplies for the party: plates, cups, napkins, spoons, etc.
Do not use “and etc.” – the “et” actually means “and”

11. Imply vs. infer
Imply = put unstated meaning into
Infer = take unstated meaning from
When the teacher gave a re-test, she implied that the first one was too difficult.
When she did not invite me to the party, I inferred that we were no longer friends.

12. Respectively vs. respectfully
Respectively = adverb referring to maintaining the order of elements stated
Bill, Jane, and Steve came in first, second, and third place, respectively.
Respectfully = adverb meaning done with respect
Bill, Jane, and Steve respectfully competed in the meet. They all showed true sportsmanship.