This is a guide to help learners to communicate easily in both speech and writing through a better understanding of the English language.
Extempore / impromptu
‘Extempore’ means ‘spoken or done without any preparation or practice.’
Thelma delivered an extempore speech at the meeting.
‘Impromptu’ means ‘done or said without any preparation or planning.’
John insisted that he was speaking impromptu.
‘Extempore’ is generally used to describe a speech or performance unmemorised or delivered without notes. ‘Impromptu’ is appliedto a speech or performance delivered without any preparation or notice.
Exterior / external
‘Exterior’ means ‘the appearance of outside surface of something.’
Rain has damaged the exterior of the building.
‘External’ means ‘connected with the outside of a surface or body.’
The external walls were in need of repair.
Some medicines are meant for external use.
Facilitate
‘Facilitate’ means ‘to make it easier for a process or activity to happen.’
Computers can be used to facilitate language learning.
Ben moved his car to facilitate the parking of the lorry.
Facility / faculty
Facility is a place or building for a particular activity or industry or for providing a particular type or service.
Sam is working in a chlorine-production facility.
‘Faculty’ is a particular skill that someone has.
Susan has a great faculty for absorbing information.
‘The faculty’ in American English means ‘all the teachers in a university.’
Factitious / fictitious
‘Factitious’ means ‘made to happen artificially by people rather than happening naturally.’
‘Fictitious’ means ‘invented by someone and not real.’
The suspect has given a fictitious address to the police.
Fallacy
A fallacy is a false idea or belief, especially one that a lot of people believe is true.
It is a common fallacy to think that crime is caused by poverty.
‘Fallacy’ also means ‘a weakness in someone’s argument or ideas which is caused by a mistake in their thinking.’
Falseness / falsity / falsehood
‘Falseness’ and ‘falsity’ express an untruth, but ‘falseness’ also implies treachery and deception.
‘Falsehood’ is a lie or a false statement.
False scent
A sentence that can be misunderstood on first reading might be described as providing a ‘false scent.’
Far East
The countries of East and South East Asia including China, Japan, Korea, the Malay Archipelago and Indochina make up the area known as the Far East.
Farther / further
These two words are sometimes used indiscriminately. ‘Farther’ is usually applied to a great distance or space.
We had better not go any farther today.
When you are talking or writing about real places and distances, you can use ‘farther’ or ‘further.’
‘Further’ (not farther) is used with the meaning ‘more, extra’ or ‘additional.’
I am seeking admission to a college of further education.
For further information, write to the above address.
Fatal / fateful
‘Fatal’ means ‘resulting in someone’s death.’
Cancer is a fatal disease.
A ‘fatal flaw’ is a serious weakness in someone or something.
There was a fatal flaw in his argument.
‘Fateful’ means ‘having an important, especially bad effect, on future events.’
It was a fateful decision which was to change the rest of his life.
‘Fateful’ also means ‘of momentous importance.’
When the fateful day arrived Emma walked down the aisle on her father’s arm.
Feasible
A plan, idea or method that is feasible is possible and is likely to work.
Your plan to go abroad for further studies is not economically feasible.
Female / feminine / womanly
‘Female’ is both a noun and an adjective describing the sex of a plant, animal or human being.
‘Feminine’ means ‘having qualities that are considered to be typical of women, especially by being gentle, delicate and pretty’
‘Womanly’ means ‘behaving or dressing in a way that is thought to be typical of or suitable for a woman’