Vocabulary

Do you like ‘dusky’ shades? or ‘vibrant’ ones?

‘Drop’ and ‘plunge’ and ‘nosedive’: words to describe falling temperatures

How would you describe a sudden fall in temperature? Here are some words that might help: Plummet Temperature in the region plummets as polar storm sets in. Drop Temperature drops to minus 36 in Toronto. Nosedive Residents woke up to brutal cold after temperature in this region nosedived overnight. Dip Arctic blasts causes temperatures to … Continue reading →

12 words to describe something scary/shockingly frightening

spooky creepy eerie bloodcurdling spine-chilling spine-tingling stomach-churning hair-raising bone-chilling gut-twisting gory (specifically used for something that is bloody) horrific ghastly (used mostly for appearances) ghoulish (a ghoul, in stories, is an evil spirit that open graves and eats the dead bodies in them. This word can be used disapprovingly for a person who takes a … Continue reading →

‘see you later’ or ‘see you in…’?

With a time expression, we use later to mean after that time, and in to mean after now. But without a time expression, we can use later to mean after now. Compare: She was taken to the emergency room in the morning and given some basic treatment. She was released a few hours later. [time … Continue reading →

‘know’ or ‘find out’?

Merriam-Webster defines know as to have information of some kind in your mind, or to have learned (something, as a skill or a language). It defines find out as to learn by study, observation, or search. So the point is, know and find out cannot be used interchangeably. Know is not normally used to talk about finding … Continue reading →

‘listen (to)’ or ‘hear’?

We use hear to say that something that comes to our ears. Example: I can hear a strange noise upstairs. BUT We use listen (to) when we talk about paying attention to sounds that are going on, in progress. It stresses on the idea of concentrating, trying to hear as well as possible. Example: Listen … Continue reading →

‘fictional’ or ‘fictitious’?

Fictional means occurring in fiction, i.e in a piece of literature, whereas fictitious means invented, not genuine. So, Harry Potter is a fictional name when it refers to the character in the Harry Potter series but fictitious when someone uses it as a false or assumed name instead of their own.

‘disinterested’ or ‘uninterested’?

Disinterested and uninterested are NOT the same. Disinterested means impartial or neutral or not taking sides whereas uninterested means bored or lacking interest. A jury must be disinterested; an umpire needs to be disinterested. But they definitely can not be uninterested if they wish to do their job properly.

‘amiable’ or ‘amicable’?

Amiable means agreeable or friendly. Example: They were engaged in an amiable conversation. Amicable means marked by goodwill or peaceable. Example: We were relieved when they reached an amicable agreement.

‘famous’ or ‘notorious’?

The adjective famous means honored for achievement. To describe those who do evil attention-getting things, we have the words infamous or notorious. The word infamous expresses the idea that the person or incident described is one of a vicious, contemptible, or criminal nature. Notorious means widely and unfavorably known. So think twice before you say … Continue reading →