The following is a small collection of terms that have been in the news in connection with the pandemic that is now affecting us all. These terms can be confusing, and we…
Vocabulary
create vs. produce
Both “create” and “produce” have the meaning of making a new thing or bringing a new thing into the world. One might expect the words to be close synonyms, yet, surprisingly, they…
aesthetic vs. ascetic
aesthetic |es the tik|vs. ascetic | ə se tik| These words have similar pronunciations and spellings, but quite different meanings. The word “aesthetic” –with the “th” sound in the middle–has to do with beauty, so if you’re…
imply vs. infer
“Imply” and “infer” have a relationship that is similar to the one between “talk” and “listen.” “Imply” corresponds more closely to the talking side of the relationship, and “infer” corresponds more closely…
damp vs. moist
“Damp” and “moist” are words with similar meaning. They both describe things that contain a small amount of moisture—not so much moisture as to say something is “wet,” but nonetheless an amount…