What is a polyptoton? Definition and examples
Polyptoton is the repeating of words derived from the same root. For example, hurried and hurrying derive from the same root word of hurry.
Attain vs. obtain
Attain means to succeed in achieving something or to reach a specified size or amount. Attain implies an effort to achieve, while obtain is to gain possession of something. However, in everyday usage both attain and obtain are often treated as synonyms.
What is a capitonym? Definition and examples
Capitonyms are words whose meanings change when they are capitalised, such as mandarin (the fruit) and Mandarin (the language).
Assumption vs. presumption
Assumption means to accept something as true which isn’t founded on strong evidence, while presumption is based on evidence which has some credibility.
What is diction? Definition and examples
Diction is the phrasing and word choice that someone makes when writing. In other words, it's the individual choice of words that shapes the voice and style of your prose.
Assent vs. consent
Assent indicates the approval of something after careful consideration, while consent implies something is being allowed. For consent, the consenter may not necessarily be happy about the outcome.
What is an allusion? Definition and examples
An allusion is a common or well-known reference to something, such as a person, event, thing, or place.
Assemblage vs. assembly
Assemblage tends to be an informal collection while assembly refers to a more formalised group, such as a national assembly or school assembly.
Assault vs. battery
For a general audience, assault and battery have the same meaning. While this may vary depending on your country of residence, typically battery involves physically touching someone, while assault doesn’t and instead refers to the threat of violence. In some jurisdictions, this distinction between assault and battery no longer applies.
Apt vs. likely
Apt means suitable in a given circumstance, have the tendency to do something or be quick to learn while likely means probable or promising.
Approve vs. endorse
Approve means to accept something as satisfactory while endorse means to declare public approval or support for something. While approve implies that the approver has a positive attitude towards something, endorse implies a positive attitude and active support.
Appraise vs. apprise
Apprised means to assess the value of something while apprise means to notify someone about something.
Any place vs. anyplace
Any place means any location while anyplace is an informal usage of anywhere. Anyplace is often used in spoken language and using it in writing is considered non-standard usage. You can use anyplace in creative writing, but it’s best to use anywhere for official or formal writing.
Anywhere vs. any place
Anywhere means in, to or at any place and can be used to indicate an indefinite location, while any place has a narrower meaning of any location.
Introducing main characters later on in your novel or series
The most important thing to do when introducing a character later on in your novel or series is to foreshadow the need for them. You'll want to leave a gap that this new character can naturally fill, even if it's subtle.
Anyway vs. any way
Anyway means regardless and shows a disregard for things that may stop someone from taking a certain action, while any way means in any manner or however possible.
What are scare quotes and how can you use them in your creative writing?
Scare quotes are quotation marks used to show your reader that the meaning of the word or phrase placed in quotation marks should not be taken literally.
Anyway vs. anyways
Both anyway and anyways have the same meaning of regardless or in any case, but anyways is more informal. It’s fine to use both in your writing but I recommend you tailor their usage to your characters’ speech patterns and personalities.
Anyone vs. any one
Anyone references no person in particular while any one refers to a single person which makes up a group. If you are unsure which version to use, if you can replace the word with “any”, then you would use any one instead of anyone.
Amount vs. number
Both amount and number mean quantity or amount. Amount is used with mass nouns (small, large) while number is used with count nouns (five, those).