hollow, hallow

Hollow or hollow means empty inside; having a space or cavity within, literally or figuratively--
This hollow gourd will make a nice bird feeder.

It was a hollow victory, in the end.

Hallow or hallow means to consecrate or make holy; to venerate or honor as holy--
"But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate--we can not consecrate--we can not hallow--this ground."
They held a special service to hallow the ground to be used for a cemetery.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"His pledge to hallow her memory rang hollow, since he had behaved badly when she was alive."

lapse, laps

Lapse or lapse means a slip or error; or a fall or decline to a lower grade or state--
It was a minor lapse; I'm sure we can overlook it.
Be sure to tell the doctor if you have a memory lapse.
It was a lapse in judgment, but I'm sure he can correct it.
He thinks we will lapse into barbarism without constant supervision.

Laps or laps ( rhymes with lapse ) is the plural ( more than one ) of "lap", meaning the part of the body from waist to knees, when sitting down--
The mothers all had their babies in their laps.
They sat on the ground, their laps full of the apples they had gathered.

Laps may also be the plural of "lap", meaning a circuit of a course, track, or pool--
He ran three laps of the track before he got tired and stopped.
Four laps of this track make a mile.

Laps may also be the third person singular ( he, she, it ) form of "lap", meaning, of water, to wash against the shore in a repetitive motion--
He likes to sit and listen, as the ocean laps the shore.
At high tide, the water laps against the deck.

Laps may be the third person singular ( he, she, it ) form of "lap", meaning, of an animal, to drink water by scooping it up with the tongue--
What an odd sound the dog makes when it laps water from the bowl!
He laps soup out of the bowl, and what a noise it makes.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The coach let his attention lapse, and counted three laps instead of four."

Note--"Lapps" ( always capitalized ) is the plural of "Lapp", meaning a person from Lapland--
The Lapps live in the northern part of Scandinavia.

in here, inhere

In here or in here ( two words ) means within ( in) this place or location ( here )--
It is too warm in here.
Put the suitcases in here.
Were they in here when the alarm went off?

Inhere or inhere ( one word, rhymes with in here ) means to be a permanent and inseparable quality or attribute--
In a democratic legislature, long debates inhere.
This job seems easier when you are aware of the problems that inhere in industry.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Let's go in here, and avoid the problems that inhere in a public argument."

Note--"inhere" is a verb ( action word ). The related adjective "inherent" describes a quality or attribute that is permanent and inseparable--
Long debates are an inherent part of the democratic process.

rift, riffed

Rift or rift means a fissure or cleft; an opening made by splitting something solid, literally or figuratively--
From a distance, you can see that the canyon is really a rift in the mountain.
His comment caused a rift in their relationship that seems to be permanent.

Riffed or riffed ( rhymes with rift ) is the past tense ( yesterday, or some time ago ) of "riff", meaning to repeat a melodic phrase--
He sometimes riffed the same bit of a tune for an hour, like variations on a theme.
When he felt blue, he picked up his saxophone and riffed every sound he heard.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He riffed on the sad theme of his rift with his girlfriend, until everyone was depressed."

cyst, cist

Cyst or cyst means a swelling or lump on a body, made of a sac filled with fluid--
He wants the doctor to look at the cyst on his leg.
He has had a cyst removed before, so they are going to do a biopsy.

Cyst or cyst also mean a kind of cell or sac containing reproductive bodies or a dormant animal--
If you look at the slide through your microscope, you will see a cyst containing reproductive cells.

Cist or cist ( most commonly rhymes with cyst ) means a box or casket for religious uses; a prehistoric tomb or casket--
The archaeologists are very excited about the cist they found at the excavation site.
The cist seems to contain a skeleton; we'll have to dig it out before we're sure.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He believes the cyst was caused by handling a cist containing human remains, but it seems unlikely."

shyer, shire

Shyer or shyer ( sometimes spelled shier ) is the comparative ( more than ) form of "shy", meaning bashful or timid--
You make the speech; he's shyer than you are.
He was shyer before he went away to camp.

Shire or shire ( rhymes with shyer )  is a British word for a county or administrative district--
This is the largest forest in the shire.
Everyone in the shire knows them; they're quite famous, locally.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"How can he run for public office? He's shyer than anyone in the shire."

tort, torte

Tort or tort means a civil wrong, such as negligence or a breach of trust, which has injured the plaintiff in some way--
He hasn't committed a crime, but he may have committed a tort--you'll have to bring a civil suit.
If the goods were delivered as stipulated, there is no tort.

Torte or torte ( rhymes with tort ) is a kind of cake, usually a rich, dense cake--
She sends a chocolate torte every year, from a catalog.
We are trying to make a raspberry torte; I hope it's as good as it looks.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"You can sue, because his negligence is a tort, and it caused the destruction of your torte."

oppose, appose

Oppose or oppose means to resist or combat; to be hostile to; to get in the way of--
We expect most of the party to oppose the bill.
Since you oppose the new bond issue, do you think we should raise taxes instead?

Appose or appose ( rhymes with oppose ) means to place side by side, as a counterweight; to juxtapose, literally or figuratively--
If we appose the fountain with a large statue, the design will be more balanced.
Notice how the author uses an informal phrase to appose the scientific term.

 Now that you know that, you can say--
"I won't oppose the design plan if you include a row of trees to appose the wall."

Note--not to be confused with "a pose" ( two words, rhymes with oppose ), meaning one ( a ) physical stance or attitude; an affectaion ( pose )--
He struck a pose and made one of his smart remarks.

Britain, Briton

Britain ( always capitalized ) means England, or, more specifically, the island that contains England, Scotland, and Wales--
England, Scotland, and Wales are called Great Britain.
Arthur was once the king of Britain.

Briton ( always capitalized ) means a British subject; someone who lives in or who comes from England--
Yes, a Briton is a foreigner in the United States, although we speak the same language.
You can tell by his accent that he's a Briton.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He's a Briton, and sometimes gets homesick for Britain."

Note--"Britons" is the plural ( more than one ) of "Briton", meaning a British subject; someone who lives in or comes from England--
They are Britons; that's why they sound strange.
Note # 2--"Britons" may also mean one of the ancient tribes that once inhabited what is now England--
England was inhabited by several different tribes of people--the Angles, Britons, Picts, and Jutes were there when the Romans came.
Note # 3--"Briton's" is the possessive ( belonging to ) form of "Briton", meaning a Britsh subject or an inhabitant of England--
He has a Canadian's manners, but a Briton's accent; he has lived in both countries.
"Briton's" may also be a contraction of "Briton is"--
This Briton's too homesick to stay much longer.
The possessive form of "Britons" ( more than one ) is "Britons'  "--
The Britons' territory now includes all of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Note # 4--"Britain's" is the possessive ( belonging to ) form of "Britain", meaning England--
Elizabeth is Britain's queen.
"Britain's " may also be a contraction of "Britain is "--
Britain's going to discuss that with the United States ambassador.

habit, inhabit

Habit or habit means custom or routine; a behavior pattern that may become involuntary through long practice, for good or for ill--
He gets annoyed if anything interferes with his habit of stopping for coffee in the morning.
That's a bad habit; you should try to quit.

 Habit may also mean a costume or garment, usually one worn by a member of a religious order--
She doesn't wear a habit, so people don't usually guess that she's a nun.
She had a riding habit made; she says it's more comfortable.

Inhabit or inhabit means to live or dwell in, literally or figuratively--
How many people inhabit this dwelling?
A cloud of gloom seems to inhabit this place.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"She has an odd habit of wanting to inhabit any new place she sees."

taper, tapir

Taper or taper means to become smaller or narrower at one end--
When you're finished making the awl, it should taper to a point at one end.
He wants the monument to taper to a point at the top.

Taper is also an old-fashioned word for a thin kind of candle, often used for lighting candles or fires--
Take a taper to light your way up the stairs.

Tapir or tapir ( rhymes with taper ) means the animal from South America that looks something like a pig--
We saw a tapir and an anteater at the zoo.
Class, who can tell me where the tapir comes from?

Now that you know that, you can sayy--
"Make it taper to a round blunt end, like the snout of a tapir."

Note--"taper off" means to gradually diminsh in strength or force, to lessen by degrees--
It started with a lot of excitement, which quickly began to taper off.

sucker, succor

Sucker or sucker means a shoot growing from the underground stem or root of a plant--
You can use the sucker to start a new plant; just put the end of it in some dirt.
When the plant sends out a sucker, root it in some dirt.

Sucker may also mean a type of freshwater fish--
See the sucker stuck to the side of the tank?
He only caught one fish, a small sucker.

Sucker may mean a lollipop--
She dropped her sucker; wash it off and give it back to her.
Grandpa always brings a sucker when he comes to visit.

Sucker may mean a chump or dupe; someone easily cheated or deceived--
He never knew she'd been cheating; what a sucker.
That's a scam; don't be a sucker.

Sucker may mean a body or machine part adapted or made for sucking--
He has a little sucker on the end of each leg, so he can walk upside down.
The sucker on this pump is broken; we'll have to have it repaired.

Succor or succor ( rhymes with sucker ) means help or aid; assistance--
The new shelter will give succor to our neediest citizens.
People from all over reached out to offer succor to the victims of the disaster.

Succor may also mean to help or aid; to offer assistance--
He left this money to succor the poor, not to found an organization.
He had hoped to succor a maiden in distress, but he changed the old man's tire, anyway.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He offered succor to the crying child in the form of a bright red sucker."

hoop, whoop

Hoop or hoop means a circular frame or support; a stiff circular band--
She wanted to dress up in an old hoop skirt, from the antebellum days.
The children played games with the hoop from an old barrel.

Whoop or whoop ( usually rhymes with hoop ) means a noise; a cry or shout of excitement, similar to the call of an owl--
When he heard the news, he let out a whoop of joy.
Every man in the regiment let out a war whoop as the troops advanced on the enemy.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"When he threw the hoop that landed on the post and won the prize, he let out a victory whoop."

imprison, in prison

Imprison or imprison ( one word ) means to lock up; to confine or to put in jail--
The government of the United States may not imprison anyone without charge for more than 48 hours.
If convicted, he will probably be sentenced to probation; the court might not imprison a first offender.

In prison or in prison ( two words ) means within or inside of ( in ) a jail or prison--
He was in prison for several years, and he's having trouble adjusting.
How long has he been in prison?

Now that you know that, you can say--
"If the judge decides to imprison him, he won't be in prison for more than six months."

Note--"imprisonment" ( one word ) means the state or condition of being confined or in jail--
The sentence is imprisonment for five years.
The phrase "in prison meant" means within or inside ( in ) a jail ( prison ), and what was the sense or value, or what were the consequences ( meant )--
He won an award for his poem about what being in prison meant to him.

refuge, refugee

Refuge or refuge means a place of safety or shelter--
The old barn made a convenient refuge from the storm.
They walked away from the city, and sought refuge in a nearby town.

Refugee or refugee means a person fleeing danger or disaster, most commonly used to mean someone who flees to another country--
He came here as a refugee from Cambodia, where he had been a political prisoner.
"You don't have to live like a refugee..."

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The refugee went from place to place, seeking refuge from religious persecution."

petrol, petrel

Petrol or petrol means gasoline or petroleum. British speakers are more likely to say "petrol" when Americans would say "gas"--
The lorry is almost out of petrol.
We need to stop for petrol at the next exit.

Petrel or petrel ( rhymes or nearly rhymes with petrol ) means a kind of sea bird, one said to be able to walk on water--
Look at the petrel bobbing up and down in the water.
He took a photo of a petrel in flight; he wants to enter it in a contest.

Now that you know that, you can say--
They rescued a petrel that had been soaked in petrol after the oil spill."

Note--no to be confused with "patrol", meaning to maintain order and security by passing through an area--
He wants to work for the border patrol.
"Patrol" may also mean a small group of persons; a division of a troop--
There will be eight men in each patrol.

apps, apse

Apps or apps is the plural ( more than one ) of "app", short for "application", meaning a computer or smartphone program designed to perform a specific task--
He has designed three new shopping apps, and hopes that they'll all be popular.
I have too many apps on my smartphone; I don't know which to use.

Apse or apse ( rhymes with apps ) means a part of a church--a large vaulted recess, usually containing the altar--
This church has a famous painting decorating the apse.
The tabernacle is in the apse, in a niche in the wall behind the altar.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"One of the new apps will show you the apse of your local church during Sunday services."

oppressed, appressed

Oppressed or oppressed describes someone who has been burdened unjustly, or weighed down by harsh authority--
The minister warned the king that his oppressed subjects might revolt.
The peasants were oppressed by heavy taxes, but they didn't dare to complain.

Appressed or appressed describes something that fits closely; a thing that fits snugly against another thing--
These two pieces should be cut so that they can be appressed, with no gap between them.
These were appressed until they warped in the rain; we'll have to make new ones.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He felt oppressed, as an appressed block of wood, with no room to move or turn about."

Note--"a pressed" ( two words ) describes one item ( a ) that has been ironed ( pressed ) or flattened by a weight, as a leaf or flower--
She found a pressed flower in an old book.
He needs a pressed shirt; these are all wrinkled. [ He needs a shirt that has been pressed.]
He needs a shirt pressed; do you have time? [ He has a wrinkled shirt he wants ironed. ]

assistance, assitants

Assistance or assistance means help, aid, or support--
He heard someone call for help, and ran to offer assistance.
Your asssistance in this matter is appreciated.

Assistants or assistants ( rhymes with assistance ) is the plural ( more than one ) of "assistant", meaning a helper or aide--
The scientist and his assistants worked on the problem for more than a year.
Each interviewer will have two assistants.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"We couldn't have finished on time without the assistance of the carpenter and his assistants."

arson, our son

Arson or arson means the crime of intentionally burning a building or property--
It was a five-alarm fire; the fire chief suspects arson.
Arson is one of the major felonies, along with murder, kidnapping, and armed robbery.

Our son or our son ( two words ) means the male offspring ( son) belonging to the speaker and one other person ( our )--
Our son will graduate next year.
They would like their daughter to meet our son.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Our son was accused of arson, but he claims that he's innocent."

biracial, by racial

Biracial or biracial ( one word ) means a person of two different races; a child of people who are of different races--
He is biracial, and he often thinks people are biased, both black and white.
They didn't object to his Japanese bride, but they worried about whether a biracial child be accepted.

By racial or by racial ( two words ) means through the means or agency of ( by ) [something] used to describe a portion of a population characterized by distinctive physical traits, that are passed on to descendants ( racial )--
If you are offended by racial stereotypes, don't watch this movie.
The Nazis tried to sort the population by racial traits.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Their biracial children object to being classified by racial characteristics."

practical, practicable

Practical or practical describes something related to everyday life, work, or business--
He's a practical  man; he likes to talk about work, but not much else.
Practical also means suited for or designed for actual use--
He is studying practical math, the kind used in business.
We get closer to a practical working robot every year.
Practical also means able to think in terms of advantages or disadvantages; of the outcome or consequences; matter-of-fact--
If they get emotional, remind them to be practical.
This talk of values is getting us nowhere; we need to think in practical terms.
Practical also means in effect, or as in actual use--
We have to plan for bad weather; it's a practical certainty.
Pratical describes someone skilled in getting along in everyday life, someone who considers needs before wants or fancies--
She's a practical woman; she always has the house taken care of, and money left at the end of the month.

Practicable or practicable describes something that can be done with the means available; something feasible--
We need a practicable solution, one the county treasury can afford.
Given the time constraints, what would be a practicable alternative?
Practicable also describes a working part of a theater set, as opposed to something made only for show--
We'll need to construct a practicable faucet, one she can turn on and off during the performance.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"No more philosophical digressions; let's be practical, and try to work out a practicable arrangement."

step, steppe

Step or step means to lift the foot and set it down a short distance from where it was, then to move the other foot and the body with it--
Anyone who wants to volunteer, step forward.
Don't step in the puddle!

Step also means one pace; one movement of the foot, or the distance covered by one pace--
"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
 Come on, just one more step.

Step also means one stage in a series, mentally or physically--
Step one, open the box and read the directions.
Just try it one step at a time.
The first step is to admit that you have a problem.

Step may mean a riser in a set of stairs--
She is sitting on the front step, waiting for the ice-cream truck.
The first step is high; be careful.

Step may mean the form of a dance; the particular moves or rules of a popular dance--
They are trying to learn a new dance step.
This step is complicated; pay attention.

Steppe or steppe ( rhymes with step ) means a treeless plain or expanse of grassland--
The wind on the steppe blew the snow into a blizzard.
They raise cattle on a large tract of steppe.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Each step was difficult in the deep snow of the steppe."

Note--"step--", used as a prefix ( added to the beginning of a word ) indicates a relation made through the remarriage of a parent--
When your father gets married, you will have a step-mother.
Did you have a nice visit with your stepsister?