This is a guide to help learners to communicate easily in both speech and writing through a better understanding of the English language.
Achieve
‘Achieve’ means ‘to successfully complete something or get a good result, especially by working hard.’
Sandra achieved very good exam results.
In everyday English, however, people usually say someone gets a result rather than achieve.
Nethmi got good results in her final examination.
Acquaint
‘Acquaint yourself with something’ means ‘to deliberately find about something’
I need to acquaint myself with the new regulations.
Acronym
An acronym is a word formed from the initial letters of other words. Such formations have become increasingly popular in recent times. NATO is an acronym for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
Activate / actuate
‘Activate’ means ‘to make an electrical system or chemical process start working.’
‘To be actuated by something’ means ‘to behave in a particular way because of something.’
Sam was actuated by violent jealousy.
Adapt / adopt
‘Adapt’ means ‘to gradually change your behaviour and attitude in order to be successful in a new situation.’
Some children who migrated to Australia found it difficult to adapt to their new schools.
‘Adopt’ means ‘to take someone else’s child into your home and legally become its parent.’
Dilma was adopted when she was four.
Addict / devotee
An addict is someone who is physically dependent upon something.
Drug addicts need careful treatment.
A devotee is someone who enjoys or admires someone or something very much. It also means a very religious person.
Devotees take part in religious ceremonies on poya days.
Adduce / deduce
‘Adduce’ means ‘to give facts or reasons in order to prove that something is true.’
The lawyer adduced reasons to support his argument.
‘Deduce’ means ‘to use the knowledge and information you have in order to understand something or form an opinion about it.’
From her son’s age, I deduced that her husband must be at least 70.
Adhere / cohere
‘Adhere’ means ‘to stick firmly to something.’
I do not adhere to any political party.
If ideas, arguments, beliefs or statements cohere, they are connected in a clear and reasonable way.
All the details are there and are correct but they do not cohere.
Adjacent / contiguous
‘Adjacent’ means ‘lying near or close, or adjoining.’
A large field lay adjacent to the main road.
‘Contiguous’ means ‘touching or being in close proximity to’
France is contiguous to Spain.
Adjective
An adjective is a word which in some way modifies the meaning of a noun or pronoun by describing, limiting or defining them. Adjectives usually precede the nouns they qualify.
Bob was wearing a blue hat. This is my book.
Adjectives can be used after ‘be’ verbs and some other verbs.
He was angry.
She seems lonely.
Do not use adjectives which add nothing to the meaning of the noun they accompany. Avoid using phrases such as ‘grave crisis, serious emergency’ or ‘definite decision.’
Admission / admittance
The use of ‘admittance’ is largely restricted to ‘permission to enter.’ Use ‘admission’ in other senses.