This is a guide to help learners to communicate easily in both speech and writing through a better understanding of the English language.
Admit to / admit
People frequently use ‘admit to’ in answer to a charge.
Ben admitted to having stolen the car.
However, correct usage prefers ‘admit’ without the preposition ‘to.’
Ben admitted having stolen the car.
Adopt / adoptive
If you have no children, you adopt a child. Then you become adoptive parents.
Advance / advancement
These words have often been misused. ‘Advance’ refers to progress or moving forward.
The troops are advancing towards the capital.
‘Advancement’ means ‘promotion, progress or development in your job, or level of knowledge, as in advancement of science.’
Advantage / vantage
‘Advantage’ means ‘something that helps you to be more successful than others or the state of having it.’
Lucky’s experience in journalism was a big advantage when applying for jobs.
Vantage’ or ‘vantage point’ is a good position from which you can see something.
From his vantage point on the hill he could see the distant villages.
Adventure / venture
An adventure is an exciting experience in which dangerous or unusual things happen.
Thelma loved to read adventure stories.
A venture is a new business activity that involves taking risks.
As a verb ‘venture’ means ‘to go somewhere that could be dangerous.’
We paused before venturing up the steps to the cave entrance.
Adverse / averse
‘Adverse’ means ‘not good or favourable.’
Sam’s election campaign has received a good deal of adverse publicity.
‘Averse’ means ‘unwilling to do something or not liking something.’
Jim is averse to using chemical fertiliser in his garden.
Aero / air
‘Aero’ means ‘concerning the air or aircraft, as in aerodynamics (the science of movement through air).’ ‘Aero’ is found in words such as ‘aerodrome’ or ‘aerogramme.’
‘Air’ means ‘the mixture of gases around the earth that we breathe, as in a breath of fresh air.’ It is also found in words such as ‘air traffic, air travel’ and ‘air crash.’
Affect / effect
‘Affect’ means ‘to produce a change in or have an influence upon.’
The loss of his income affected his health.
‘Effect’ means ‘to bring about or accomplish.’
The financial troubles have prevented the government from effecting its plans.
Affinity
‘Affinity’ is a strong feeling that you like and understand someone or something, as in someone’s remarkable affinity with animals.
‘Affinity’ also means ‘a close relationship between two things because of qualities or features that they share.’
Is there an affinity between Christian and Chinese concepts of the spirit?
Afflict / inflict
‘Afflict’ means ‘to distress with physical or mental pain.’
Amanda was afflicted with gout.
‘Inflict’ means ‘to improve or lay on, invariably something which has to be endured or suffered.’
A severe punishment was inflicted on the offender.