writing-tips

To compliment is an expression of flattery, admiration or respect. A complement is “a thing that completes or brings to perfection”, and is similar to supplement or accompaniment.

Averse is used to describe someone’s personal feelings of dislike (or aversion) towards something. Adverse typically applies to negative events, effects, actions or outcomes.

Take a gander through this list of commonly confused homophones in English. Do you know the difference between ‘advice’ and ‘advise’, or ‘allusion’ and ‘illusion’?

Principle is a noun that means “a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption”. Principal is an adjective and a noun that refers to the principal or head of a school.

To advise is a verb that describes the act of giving advice. Advice is a noun that refers to the actual guidance or recommendation that’s been given.

Ensure means “to make something certain to happen”. Assure means “to tell someone confidently that something is true”. Insure means “to guarantee against loss or harm”.

An allusion is an “an implied or indirect reference especially in literature”, whereas illusions are “a misleading image presented to the vision, e.g., an optical illusion.”

To allot is to allocate resources amongst a group or people. A lot is mostly an adverb meaning “to a great deal or extent”, and ‘alot’ is a common mispelling.

Accept is a verb: to receive, take, or agree to something that is offered or presented. Except is mostly a preposition that means ‘but’ or ‘excluding’.

Lose is a verb that means “to be deprived of something, to not win, or to misplace something.” Loose is an adjective meaning “not tight or firmly held in place, not closely fitted.”