We always insure our car to the highest possibility;
it ensures we are compensated.
ensure {verb} [THINK: make certain something happens]
insure {verb} [THINK: arrange for compensation in event of damage; insurance]
Category: Grammar Bomb
Grammar Bomb: HOARD vs HORDE
The horde of relatives surrounded the table,
each trying to hoard the wealth before it was gone.
hoard {verb & noun} [THINK: amassed items (a)]
horde {noun} [THINK: large group of people]
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Grammar Bomb: ADVERSE vs AVERSE
We are averse to the use of unnecessary medicine;
we have learned about too many adverse reactions.
adverse {adj} [THINK: harmful; preventing development (d)]
averse {adj} [THINK: opposition to something (no d)]
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Grammar Bomb: AID vs AIDE
“She was obviously lost; I sent my personal aide to her aid.”
aid {noun} [THINK: source of help]
aide {noun} [THINK: assistant]
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Grammar Bomb: ACCEDE vs EXCEED
Our training will exceed all expectations;
no client will have to accede to difficult requirements.
accede {verb} [THINK: agree to demand (a)]
exceed {verb} [THINK: go beyond (e)]
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Grammar Bomb: BORE vs BOAR vs BOOR
The boor of a superintendent didn’t cover the hole, and continued to bore into the rock; he didn’t notice the charging boar before it was too late.
bore {verb} [THINK: make a hole (o and e)]
boar {noun} [THINK: male pig (has a)]
boor {noun} [THINK: ill-mannered; obnoxious (all o’s)]
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Grammar Bomb: FORBEAR vs FOREBEAR
“His forebears had been
original settlers in the valley;
he could not forbear a laugh when
asked if he knew his way around.”
forbear {v} [THINK: refrain…from writing that middle e]
forebear {n} [THINK: ancestor…came beFORE]
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Grammar Bomb: LOATHE vs LOATH
“She was loath to tell him that he was free
to loathe homework, but he still had to do it.”
loathe verb [THINK: dislike (e)]
loath adj [THINK: unwilling (no e)]
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Grammar Bomb: Earth VS earth
The earth was removed from around the tree; Earth is the third planet from the sun.
Earth [THINK: specific planet, like Saturn; no “the”]
earth [THINK: ground, soil, planet we live on; “the”usually required]
“In English, proper nouns (nouns which signify a particular person, place, or thing) are capitalized.
Following this rule, when Earth is discussed as a specific planet or celestial body, it is capitalized…When Earth is a proper noun, the is usually omitted.”
“When you are talking about the ground or soil as a surface or stratum, then you must lowercase the word…It is acceptable to leave earth lowercase and use the with earth if you are talking about it as the planet we live on: The earth rotates on its axis.”
[read more about it on blog.dictionary.com]
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Grammar Bomb: That VS Which
I like to read books that you like. I read the books you told me to, which you left on the table.
That [THINK: restrictive; limits meaning; no comma]
Which [THINK: nonrestrictive; supply extra info; comma required]
“In formal American English, that is used in restrictive clauses, and which in used in nonrestrictive clauses.”
“A restrictive clause contains information that limits the meaning of the thing being talked about….Note that in restrictive clauses, sometimes that can be omitted.”
A nonrestrictive clause…is used to supply additional information that is not essential to understanding the main point of the sentence…it adds extra information, almost like an aside. You could delete the details…and the sentence would still make sense.”
[read more about it on blog.dictionary.com]
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