“Accomplish” and “achieve” overlap in meaning. They both convey the idea of successfully completing something. There is often a certain amount of pride or satisfaction attached to both. The words “aim,” “goal,” “purpose,” and “objective” can be used as objects with both of these verbs.
Language Notes
Grammar and Usage: “comprise” vs. “compose”
The verb “comprise” means “to be made up of, consist of, or include.” We can say that the nation of Canada comprises ten provinces and three territories. Or we can say that…
Grammar and Usage: “attain” vs. “obtain”
“Obtain” and “attain” have similar pronunciations and meanings, but they do not generally overlap in usage. “Attain” has more the idea of achieving a goal or reaching a level or degree. “Obtain”…
Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs
The terms “transitive” and “intransitive” refer to how verbs operate in a sentence. When we call a verb’s particular meaning “transitive,” we mean that the verb is always followed by a specifically…
Building chunks of language with Word Combinations
Wordsmyth’s Word Combinations, technically known as “collocations,” provide what is almost like a thesaurus in another dimension. You will find them in most entries in the Advanced Dictionary. Instead of listing synonyms,…