Category Archives: Usage

Carmel vs. Caramel – How to Use Each Correctly

/ September 24, 2019/ Usage

What’s the Difference Between Carmel and Caramel? Carmel and caramel can be homophones, depending on regional and individual variations in accents and pronunciation. However, their definitions have no overlap whatsoever. Carmel is a proper noun that can refer to Mount Carmel, which is a mountain range in Israel, or Carmel-by-the-Sea, which is a town in California. There is also a

Read More

Forty vs. Fourty – How to Spell 40

/ September 24, 2019/ Usage

What is the Difference Between Forty and Fourty?   Forty and fourty might seem like alternate spellings of the same word, but actually only one of these spellings is correct. Forty is the correct spelling of the number 40 in all dialects of English. Drive forty miles past Tacoma and you’ll be close to where I live. Fourty is not

Read More

Port vs. Starboard – How to Use Each Correctly

/ September 24, 2019/ Usage

What’s the Difference Between Port and Starboard? These two words are both nouns that refer to different sides of a ship. Port usually is a noun, but occasionally it acts as an adjective as well. It means the left side of the ship, when facing forward on the ship. The ship sustained damage on the port side from hitting a

Read More

Judgment vs Judgement – How to Use Each Correctly

/ September 24, 2019/ Usage

What’s the Difference Between Judgment and Judgement? Judgment and judgement are alternate spellings of the same word. They are both common in British English, although only one is acceptable in American English. Judgment is a noun that means the decision of a judge or legal court or an opinion formed either objectively or subjectively. This is spelling is appropriate in

Read More

Historic vs. Historical – How to Use Each Correctly

/ September 12, 2019/ Usage

What’s the Difference Between Historic and Historical? Historic and historical are two adjective that both relate to the context of history. However, they have slightly different definitions. Historic describes an event that is famous or important in history. December 18, 1865 was the historic day that slavery was abolished in America. Historical describes anything related to history, regardless of its

Read More

Yea or Yeah – – How to Use Each Correctly

/ September 12, 2019/ Usage

What is the Difference Between Yea and Yeah? Yea and yeah are both adverbs that mean yes, that have similar spellings. However, they are used in very different contexts, which means that you cannot interchange these two words. Yea can act as either an adverb or a noun that means yes or a vote of yes. This is used for

Read More

Therefor or Therefore – – How to Use Each Correctly

/ September 11, 2019/ Usage

What’s the Difference Between Therefor and Therefore? Therefor and therefore look almost the same, and are homophones. At first glance, it might seem like therefor is a misspelling of therefore. While it is true that some people could make this mistake, therefor and therefore are both correct spellings of different words with different definitions. Therefor is an adverb that means

Read More

Either or Neither – How to Use Each Correctly

/ September 11, 2019/ Usage

What’s the Difference Between Either and Neither? Either and neither are rhyming words which can both be conjunctions, adjectives, or pronouns. However, they have opposite meanings. Either can be an adverb, in addition to sometimes being a conjunction, adjective, or pronoun. It usually refers to two options, both of which are possible. You can have either coffee or tea. Neither

Read More

Stationary vs. Stationery – How to Use Each Correctly

/ September 11, 2019/ Usage

What is the Difference Between Stationary and Stationery? Stationary and stationery are homophones, which means that they sound the same. However, the definitions of each word are completely different. Therefore, you must be careful not to use these two words in the same way. Stationary is an adjective that means not moving or remaining still. The rabbit remained stationary so

Read More

Plaintiff vs. Defendant – How to Use Each Correctly

/ September 25, 2017/ Usage

What is the Difference Between Plaintiff and Defendant? Plaintiff and defendant are both legal terms regarding the people involved in a trial, usually a civil trial. However, they have opposite meanings and cannot be interchanged. Plaintiff is a noun that means the person who brings a suit. In other words, this is the person who is accusing another of some

Read More