This is a weekly assessment of the Top 25 looked-up words from the Merriam-Websters Dictionary and how these words shape the global conversation today.
Word Clash: Reluctant versus Reticent
Does being reluctant and reticent mean the same thing? It may seem so, but if we look closer at the definitions of these words, you will see that there are differences between them.
Word Clash: Affect versus Effect
Knowing when to use affect versus effect in writing challenges all English speakers — even native ones! Let’s break down these commonly confused words.
Word Clash: Capitol versus Capital
A way to help you remember when to use “capitol” is to focus on the o’s: Congress gets nothing done in the Capitol; zero things, a goose egg.
Word Clash: “Home in” versus “Hone in”
As a writer and an editor, it is my duty to hone my vocabulary to best home in my message. In fact, I have a section of this website dedicated to the honing of words: The Whetstone. Should the words I use cause confusion, what use of a writer am I? I admit that I…
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