gold, goaled

Gold or gold means the precious metal, or the color of the same precious metal--
If the ring is gold it will probably have a mark on the inside of it.
He likes the gold car, but I want the blue one.

Goaled or goaled ( rhymes with gold ) is the past tense ( yesterday, or some time ago ) of "goal", meaning to score in a game by moving a ball or puck across a line or into a net--
We goaled in the first quarter, but the score has been tied ever since.
He has never goaled against this team before.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The last time this player goaled, he became eligible for a gold medal."

paste, paced

Paste or paste means a mixture for sticking paper together--
Now paste the letters to the poster, and we'll have a nice sign.
The children always want to eat the paste; make sure it's nontoxic.

Paste may also mean a smooth soft dough or mixture--
You'll need some almond paste to make this recipe.
This is seasoned with a kind of fish paste you can buy in an Asian market.

Paced or paced ( rhymes with paste ) is the past tense ( yesterday, or some time ago ) of "pace", meaning to walk back and forth--
He couldn't sleep, and paced the floor all night.
He paced back and forth, agitated.

Paced may also be the past tense of "pace", meaning to set the rate of movement; the gait, literally or figuratively--
The horse, an unknown, paced the mile in record time.
He could have finished the job if he had paced himself.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He paced up and down, and knocked over a jar of paste and a glass of water."

wishful, wistful

Wishful or wishful means hoping or desiring--
When he saw the packages he was wishful again, hoping that one was a model train.
They were wishful, trying to make it home so they could spend the holidays together.

Wistful or wistful means melancholy, thoughtful, longing or yearning--
At Christmas she was wistful, thinking of the past and her long-lost family.
He gets wistful for Mom during the holiday season.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The children are wistful for our old home, and wishful for some snow to play in."

secretary, sectary

Secretary or secretary means someone who is in charge of minutes of meetings, correspondence, and records of a club or organization--
Will the secretary read the minutes of the last meeting?
He's the club secretary, and she's the treasurer.

Secretary also means someone who does the typing and filing in an office, or for an executive--
Most people do their own typing now, but a secretary is still useful.
She was a secretary for many years, until she retired.

Secretary also means the head of a government department--
She will be the Secretary of State if the nomination is approved by the Senate.
FDR was once the Secretary of the Navy.

Secretary may also mean a desk with drawers on the bottom and shelves on the top--
She entered a bid on that antique secretary.
My grandmother had a secretary like that.

Sectary or sectary means a member of a faction or cult, or of a noncomformist religious denomination--
He is a sectary of a small fundamentalist church.
One of the students is a sectary of an evangelist cult, and often proselytizes to his classmates.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Our secretary has received several letters from a sectary of a born again church, angry that we called his religion intolerant."

ransom, ran some

Ransom or ransom ( one word ) means a sum of money demanded by kidnappers for the release of a hostage--
The kidnappers are demanding a million dollars ransom.
The police said that we shouldn't pay the ransom.

Ransom may also means the redemption of a prisoner or a kidnapped person by payment of a sum of money--
He needs the money to ransom his son.
"O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel..."

Ran some or ran some ( two words ) means moved quickly ( ran ) a certain distance or extent ( some )--
He ran some distance before he got tired.
He ran some marathons when he was younger, and always finished the whole course.

Ran some may also mean performed or operated ( ran ) an unspecified distance or amount ( some )--
The doctor ran some tests; we'll know the results in the morning.
We ran some machinery last night; that's why it's still warm in here.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The kidnappers ran some distance away before they divided up the ransom money."

lamb, lam

Lamb or lamb means a young sheep, or a docile and gentle person--
"Mary had a little lamb, little lamb..."
Be a lamb and run an errand for me, won't you?

Lam or lam ( rhymes with lamb ) is an old-fashioned slang term meaning flight; a fast escape or getaway, usually from law enforcement authorities--
The bank robbers were on the lam, sure that no one would recognize them.
They heard sirens, and took it on the lam.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He nabbed a young lamb, and took it on the lam before the farmer could catch him."

aspire, a spire

Aspire or aspire ( one word ) means to have an ambition or hope for; to desire eagerly--
Does he aspire to be a famous politician, like his father?
Too many young people aspire to be famous, with no other goals in mind.

A spire or a spire ( two words ) means one ( a ) tall, narrow, pointed piece on the top of a roof; the top of a steeple ( spire )--
There was a spire on the top of the steeple, but lightning struck it and it's gone now.
We will top the roof with a spire, complete with a lightning rod.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"We can all aspire to do better, to reach higher, like a spire on the top of a building."

ethic, ethnic

Ethic or ethic means a set of moral precepts or a code of behavior--
He takes the Christian ethic seriously, and refuses to participate in violence.
Her personal ethic forbids her to indulge in whining or backbiting.

Ethnic or ethnic describes something that belongs to a set of people united by language, culture, religion, or race--
They all want to define themselves by ethnic group, instead of by citizenship or nationality.
We like to try the different ethnic restaurants; the food is so interesting.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"We tried to develop a national ethic, so that we wouldn't be divided into ethnic factions."

customer, costumer

Customer or customer means someone who buys goods or services, who spends money at a store or patronizes a business--
She's usually the first customer in line when there's a sale.
He's been a loyal customer for many years.

Costumer or costumer means someone who makes clothing for stage shows, movies, or masquerades--
Ask the costumer if she can make a hat to match the dress.
She works as a costumer, for one of the movie studios.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"A customer wants to know if our costumer can alter a gown for her."

burr, brrr

Burr or burr means a small rough or irregular seed pod or bit of detritus that may stick in an animal's fur, or to clothing--
The dog has a burr struck in his fur.
Oh, it's just a burr on the hem of your pants.

Burr also means a rough or irregular edge, as on a piece of metal, or the tool used to make it--
This piece has a burr on the edge; I can tell it was handmade.
Use this burr to cut the steel; it will give it a rough edge.

Burr may also mean a rough or irregular accent in speech, as a person from Scotland might have to a Briton, or a rough or irregular sound in general--
We knew he was from Scotland when we heard his burr.
He had a distince burr, like someone from Wales or Scotland.

Brrr or brrr ( sometimes spelled with more r's, sometimes with fewer ) is the sound people make to indicate that they are very cold, or that the weather is harsh--
Brrr, it's cold out!
Look at all that snow, brrr!

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Brrr! We can wait until we get inside to look for the burr."

attest, a test

Attest or attest ( one word ) means to state formally and publicly; to certify to be true or correct--
Can you attest to the whereabouts of the defendant on the night in question?
Each man claims he can attest to the truth of the shooting, but each tells a different story.

A test or a test ( two words ) means one ( a ) quiz or examination, as in a school or in a laboratory, literally or figuratively--
There will be a test on Friday, so make sure that you have finished the chapter.
The hospital will do a test to see if he has food poisoning.
Don't challenge him; he'll see it as a test of his manhood.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"It's like taking a test in school--you attest to the facts as you remember them, and then sign your name."

Note--"A-test" ( usually capitalized ) means, in old news items, the use of atomic or nuclear weapons, to check how they perform--
The residents of the atoll were removed before the A-test.

purposely, purposefully

Purposely or purposely means intentionally or deliberately; on purpose--
I'm sure he did that purposely; he always hated that clock.
He ran out of gas purposely, so we wouldn't have to go to the party.

Purposefully or purposefully means with a goal in mind; determined or resolute--
He moves things about as if purposefully, but then he moves them back again.
He goes about his work purposefully, and seems immune to distractions.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"I popped into the room purposely, but he remained purposefully at his task."

regimen, regiment

Regimen or regimen means a course of diet or exercise, or, figuratively, a set of rules to be followed to attain a specific result--
She is following a strict regimen; she refuses to break her diet for the holidays.
If he follows this exercise regimen for a few months, he'll be like a new person.

Regiment or regiment means a military unit, made up of two or more battalions and a headquarters unit--
He's looking for someone to help him write the history of his regiment.
This regiment is one of the most decorated units in the army.

Regiment may also mean to form into an organized group, under the control of officers--
I don't think we should regiment the students so strictly; let them choose some of their courses.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Everyone in the regiment is following the same diet and exercise regimen."

Note--"regime" means a ruling system of government, or a set of political rulers--
When the old regime was in power, their family was very influential.

migrate, my great

Migrate or migrate ( one word ) means to move from one place or country to another, permanently, or with the seasons--
This bird will migrate to a warmer place before the weather gets cold.
Long ago, nomadic people would migrate from one part of the country to another, depending on the weather.

My great or my great ( two words, rhymes with migrate ) describes something fabulous, remarkable, or enormous ( great ) belonging to the speaker ( my )--
I thought everyone would be pleased with my great idea.
This was my great project, long ago when I had the time for it.

My great or my great may also describe or refer to a parent or sibling of  a grandparent ( great ) belonging to the speaker ( my )----
My great aunt is in the hospital; I want to go and visit her.
This once belonged to my great grandmother.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"My great grandparents decided to migrate west and buy a farm."

afar, a far

A far or a far ( two words ) describes one ( a ) person, place, thing or idea that is a great distance away, or remote  ( far )--
"It is a far, far, better thing that I do, than I have ever done..."
Just the thought of living in a far country made her homesick.

Afar or afar ( one word ), is an old-fashioned word  meaning at a great distance; a long way off--
The fire could be seen from afar, maybe even a mile away.
They could hear the sirens from afar, but they couldn't see anything.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"They walked for miles, and climbed a far hill, and from the top they could see the village from afar."

ingrate, in great

Ingrate or ingrate ( one word ) means someone who refuses to be thankful for a favor or gift--
The little ingrate never even mentioned the present we sent him.
You have a lot to be thankful for; don't talk like an ingrate.

In great or in great ( two words, rhymes with ingrate ) means large in quantity or number, or, more informally,  (in) marvelous or fabulous--
Is he in great pain?
The people turned out in great numbers to watch the funeral procession.
He's in great shape for his age.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Only a real ingrate could refuse to appreciate how hard he works to keep this place in great condition."

senior, seignior

Senior or senior means older or having more experience, as on a job--
He is five years senior to his brother, but he doesn't look it.
Mr. Jones is the senior clerk, and will be in charge while I'm away.

Senior may mean the elder of two persons with the same name--
I would like to speak to John Smith, Senior.

Senior may also mean one of the older students in a school, or a student in his or her last year--
He will be a senior next year, so he's applying to college.

Senior may also describe an old person, usually someone over the age of 65--
There's a senior citizen discount if you get there before 6 o'clock.

Seignior or seignior ( spelled seigneur in French ) means a lord or ruler--
He likes to play the grand seignior, distributing bounty to the peasants.
His father was the seignior of a great estate, but he is a wastrel.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"His brother is two years his senior, so he will be the next seignior of the manor."

Note--"señor" is Spanish for "Mister" or "sir"--
Excuse me señor, do you know where I can get a taxi?

ingest, in jest

Ingest or ingest ( one word ) means to take in, as food into the body, literally or figuratively--
You would need to ingest a pound of spinach to take in this many vitamins.
Be careful that the child doesn't ingest one of the small parts.
My tired brain can't ingest all of this information.

In jest or in jest ( two words ) means in a joking or facetious manner; for fun and not serious--
I'm sure he said it in jest; no one really believes in crop circles.
The remark was in poor taste, even if it was said in jest.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He meant it in jest; it isn't really possible to ingest one's shoes."

disown, disinherit

Disown or disown means to deny relationship to or responsibility for--
He attempted to disown the child; and asked for a paternity test.
They asked the judge if they could disown their son, and have him declared a ward of the state.

Disinherit ot disinherit means to exclude from an inheritance, as by altering a will--
He plans to disinherit his children, and give the money to charity.
His father threatened to disinherit him if he didn't straighten up and get a job.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"It may not be possible to disinherit the children, unless you can legally disown them first."

international, national

International or international describes something that involves more than one nation or country--
There is a lot of news coverage of the international trade agreement.
This should be turned over to an international body, such as the UN.

National or national describes something involving an entire country or nation, as opposed to only some of its states or provinces--
In the United States, we call our national government the federal government.
We were hoping for a national movement to ban corporal punishment in the schools.

National may also mean a citizen of a particular country or nation--
As a foreign national, he may be turned over to his country's embassy.
The revolutionaries have asked every American national to leave the country.
He's a Swiss national; he'll have no problem with his passport.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"We hope to reach a national consensus concerning our country's role in international affairs."

Note--the "Internationale" is a song of the Socialist or Communist party--
They still go to party meetings and sing the "Internationale".

eschatology, scatology

Eschatology or eschatology means the study or doctrine of the Biblical "last days", or death, resurrection, and final judgment--
He quotes the Book of Revelations, and talks about eschatology to anyone who will listen.
Most Christian sects believe in some form of eschatology or final judgment.

Scatology or scatology ( almost rhymes with eschatology ) means the study of or preoccupation with excrement or obscenity, including the scientific study of excrement--
If you want to know if that's bear poop or deer poop, you'll need to study some scatology.
He spends all day muttering to himself, usually scatology.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"When he isn't sedated, his rants are a weird mix of eschatology, religion, scatology, and general obscenity."

a crude, accrued

A crude or a crude ( two words ) describes one ( a ) raw or unrefined ( crude ) thing, idea, or person--
They built a crude shelter, and survived until help arrived.
That was a crude remark.

Accrued or accrued ( one word ) is the past tense ( yesterday, or some time ago ) of "accrue", meaning to grow or or to increase by regular addition, as interest on money invested--
With the accrued interest, you should have enough for a new car.
With the accrued interest and penalties, the debt is now more than $10,000.

Accrued may also be the past tense of "accrue", meaning to be come an enforceable right or demand, as through a will or legacy--
Control of the property has accrued to the heir; the decision is up to him.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"A crude estimate of the total, with the accrued interest, is just over a million."

a credit, accredit

A credit or a credit ( two words ) means one ( a ) acknowledgement or attribution--
Is there a credit at the bottom of the photograph?

A credit may mean a sum of money added to an account--
You have a credit of $50 in your account.

A credit may mean a record of academic work completed--
You still need a credit in art or music to meet the graduation requirements.

A credit may also describe a form of payment or payment agreement, or a related check on the solvency of someone--
If you pay with a credit card, you may get a discount.
The property manager will run a credit check before agreeing to rent the house.

Accredit or accredit ( one word ) means to ascribe or attribute to--
Many people accredit him with coining a famous phrase.
To whom should I accredit this quote?

Accredit also means to provide with credentials, as an official or representative, or to certify, as a school or college--
The inspectors will decide whether to accredit the school for another year.
The CEO will accredit him as an official representative of the company.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"If we accredit the image to him, we'll have to add a credit to his acount, as payment for the use of it."

a list, alist, A list

A list or a list ( two words ) means one ( a ) series of names or items grouped together, to form a record--
Make a list of everything we plan to buy today, so we won't forget anything.
Here is a list of the names of all of the students enrolled in this class.

Alist or alist ( one word ) describes something leaning to one side, particularly a ship--
The ship was alist, and seemed in danger of capsizing.
The boat was alist, and they started to bail it out.

A list or A list ( two words, always capitalized, as the letter 'A' ) means a record of the most important or influential people; the people invited to the most exclusive gatherings--
The two stars were always on the A list, and went to all of the best Hollywood parties.
They aren't on the A list anymore, and are rarely mentioned in the newspapers.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"That yacht alist and drifting is full of A list people out shooting a film; here is a list of their names."

attribute, a tribute

Attribute or attribute ( one word )  means to regard as belonging to or produced by--
We hope an expert will attribute this painting to a famous artist. 
If you don't sign your work, we may accidentally attribute it to someone else.

Attribute or attribute may also mean the quality or aspect regarded as belonging to someone--
His most outstanding attribute is his ability to keep up employee morale.
Keeping quiet while someone is talking is the main attribute of a good listener.

A tribute or a tribute ( two words ) means one ( a ) compliment or testimonial ( tribute )--
They had a special plaque made, as a tribute to his years with the company.
His popularity is a tribute to his kindness and generosity.

A tribute may also mean a payment levied or exacted by a king or state as a promise of peace or protection--
The general demanded a tribute paid in gold, as the price of leaving the city in peace.
The king offered the raiders a tribute of a dozen horses, to be paid if they agreed to leave.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The board plans to attribute the firm's success to the CEO, as a tribute to his dedicated service."

meringue, merengue

Meringue or meringue means a topping ot batter made with egg whites and sugar--
Ooh, look, lemon meringue pie!
You'll need to beat the egg whites for several minutes to make a meringue.

Merengue or merengue means a ballroom dance from Haiti or the Dominican Republic--
They won the merengue competition, but not the mambo.
He is trying to learn the merengue; he hopes to find a dance partner.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"We were tired from dancing the merengue, but the coffee and meringue cookies perked us up."

fineness, finesse

Fineness or fineness means the state or quality of something that is of the best, free from imperfections, or made of minute particles; thin or slender--
"You're ageless, timeless, lace and fineness..."
I'm not sure we can find a match for the fineness of the thread; this is an antique.

Finesse or finesse means a great degree of skill, delicacy, or subtlety--
He'll need a lot of finesse to pull this off.
He has years of experience, and now he fixes dents with finesse.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"You'll need to find someone with skill and finesse to match the fineness of this work."

doze, does

Doze or doze means to sleep or nap, in a light or fitful way--
He begins to doze whenever he sits still; it's embarrassing.
Don't doze in class; pay attention!

Does or does ( rhymes with doze ) is the plural ( more than one ) of "doe", a female deer--
Look, two does with their fauns.
You may see three or four does at the back of the field.

Doe's or doe's ( rhymes with doze ) is the possessive form of "doe", used to describe something that belongs to a doe--
I can still see the white of the doe's tail, even in the woods.
We could hear the doe's ears flapping as she ran past.

Doe's might also be a contraction ( a short, informal form ) of "doe is"--
The doe's eating the bread we left for her.

Dough's or dough's  is a possessive form of "dough", the batter used to make bread or some baked goods--
The dough's temperature is important.
I can't seem to get the dough's consistency right.

Dough's might also be a contraction of "dough is", meaning bread batter, or money--
The dough's ready when it is twice the size it was before.
This cookie dough's tasty even when it's raw.
People say the dough's not the issue, but I think it is.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He began to doze, and woke to find that two does had nibbled at the dough's edge."

Note--"does" ( rhymes with "buzz" ) is the third person singular ( he, she, it ) form of "do", meaning  to perform, execute, practice, or make--
She does yoga every morning.

politic, politick

Politic or politic means shrewd, wise, artful, tactful, or a combination of these--
That comment he made to the boss was hardly politic.
He is politic even when annoyed; I'm sure he can help with this.

Politic may describe something related to voting, most commonly in the phrase "body politic"--
He's just the candidate to appeal to the body politic.

Politick or politick means to engage in campaign or election activities, such as campaigning, making speeches, or asking for support--
He plans to politick across the county this week, wherever there are undecided voters.
Old-time ward heelers used to politick by buying drinks in every saloon.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Don't let him politick without an aide, one who can remind him to keep his remarks politic."

mule, mewl

Mule or mule means the offspring of a horse and a donkey, known to be strong and stubborn--
After the Civil War, many freedmen received 40 acres of land and a mule.
The mule is a sterile hybrid; you need another horse and another donkey to produce another mule.

Mewl or mewl ( rhymes with mule ) means to fuss or whimper like a baby--
This is drivel, he might as well "mewl and puke in his mother's arms" as write such stuff.
He thought he heard the mewl of a baby, but he didn't find anything.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He can be stubborn as a mule; he will mewl like a baby until he gets his way."

rational, rationale

Rational or rational means logical or sensible--
When he hit his head he was ranting, but he seems rational now.
Make sure the decision is rational, and not based on emotion.

Rationale or rationale means the set of reasons that account for a decision or for behavior--
His rationale for leaving was that the company would be better off without him, and he owns some of the stock, so he would profit by quitting his own job.
He has promised to explain the rationale that led to his decision.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"She claims it was a rational choice, but her rationale seems to be a sequence of revenge and gloating."

Note--"rationally" describes something done in a logical or sensible way--
He behaved rationally, so it was easy to predict his movements.

luminary, luminaria

Luminary or luminary means a famous or distinguished person, a leading light--
If we could get even one luminary to speak at our event, we would attract a larger crowd.
He's quite well-known, something of a luminary to the tech workers.

Luminary also means a celestial body that gives light, such as the sun or the moon--
Venus is the brightest luminary in the night sky, other than the moon.

Luminaria or luminaria means lights or candles set into sand in a bag, and placed outside in honor of a holiday--
There will be luminaria all over the neighborhood tonight, as a Christmas display.
Make sure to save the paper bags for luminaria.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Each luminaria is dedicated to a different philosophical luminary."

Note--"luminaries" is the plural ( more than one ) of "luminary", meaning a famous or distinguished person--
Among the luminaries were a famous artist and the mayor of the city.

skein, skene

Skein or skein means a length of yarn or thread, wound around a spool or reel, or something that is wound around in circles in this way--
I thought I had another skein of yarn; I'll have to make this a vest instead of a sweater.
The kitten got a skein of yarn out of the basket, and made a mess of it.

Skene or skene means the structure that forms the backdrop for players on a stage--
The skene should be painted with a temple and some trees.
We left the skene a blank wall; the audience will have to imagine the setting.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"When the witch unravels the skein of yarn, the skene should be moved forward a bit, making the stage smaller as the yarn runs out."

Note--"skean" means a knife or dagger once used in Scotland or Ireland--
He wore a kilt, with a skean tucked in his sock.

pâté, pate

Pâté or pâté ( pronounced pah tay ) is a French word that means food made into a paste--
We started with pâté, then we had soup, then a roast.
Many people refuse to eat pâté made from goose liver.

Pate or pate ( rhymes with "ate" ) is an old-fashioned word for "head" or "brain"--
He took a nasty knock on his pate, but he seems okay.
His old pate seemed too rusty to figure out what was going on.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He slipped, and his pate hit the tray of  pâté the waiter was holding."

Note--"pâte" ( rhymes with "pat" ) is a French word, meaning paste or dough--
We will fill the cream puffs with pâte, and top them with chocolate shavings.

Note# 2--"patty", in American cooking, means something made into a flat, usually round shape--
If you put a beef patty on the grill, it will cook in about five minutes. 

memento, momento

Memento or memento means a souvenir; something used to remember someone or something--
He kept that all these years as a memento of their first meeting.
This pressed flower must be a memento of a special occasion.

Momento or momento is Spanish ot Italian for "moment", meaning "in a moment" or "just a minute"--
The operator said "momento"; I think I'm on hold.
The waiter said "momento", and went to find a translator.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"We can keep the bilingual dictionary as a memento of when had to say "momento" while we looked up a word."

Note--"momentum" means the force or speed of motion--
The stone gathered momentum as it rolled downhill.

moonlight, moon light

Moonlight or moonlight ( one word ) means the light that comes from the satellite of the Earth ( the Moon )--
The moonlight is so bright you can read by it.
They will find their way home by moonlight.

Moonlight ( one word ) also means to work a second job, in addition to a regular job--
He plans to moonlight as a store clerk until after the holidays.
If you want to moonlight, you need the permission of the department head.

Moon light or moon light ( two words ) means the satellite of the Earth ( moon )  illuminate ( light )--
Will the moon light their way, so they can find the house?
Does the moon light the path all of the time, or only when it's full?

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Will the moon light the woods, so we can see who's coming by moonlight?"

motion, emotion

Motion or motion means movement--
"A body in motion tends to remain in motion..."
Be careful if you see that the machinery is still in motion.

Motion may also mean a gesture or signal, or to make a gesture or signal--
This motion means "stop".
Wait for the police officer to motion you to go.

Motion also means a suggestion or proposal, or an application to a court for a ruling or an order--
He made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
The defense lawyer made a motion for a postponement.

Emotion or emotion means feeling, as in an affective state of consciousness--
Think; don't get carried away by emotion.
Well-adjusted people rarely show emotion in public.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The lawyer made a motion that the defendant's display of emotion should be stricken from the record."

abound, a bound

Abound or abound ( one word ) means to be plenty or more than enough; to be full--
"...and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy..."
"A faithful man shall abound with blessings..."

A bound or a bound ( two words ) means one ( a ) jump or leap ( bound )--
"Down the chimney Saint Nicholas came with a bound..."
Superman is able to leap tall buildings in a bound--a single bound, that is.

A bound or abound ( two words ) may also mean one ( a ) person or thing that is tied or fastened ( bound ), literally or figuratively--
This tiny shoe was made for a bound foot.
They led a bound prisoner past the silent crowd.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"A bound serf escaped with a bound; he'll survive if the forests abound with wild game."

respectful, respective

Respectful or respectful means showing politeness or deference--
We are visiting a house of worship; make sure your behavior is respectful.
Make sure to use a respectful form of address; you are writing to a stranger.

Respective or respective means corresponding to or pertaining to--
Send them back to their respective classrooms; the room number is on each file.
Now let's discuss the respective merits of the different plans.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Speak to each person in a respectful tone, regardless of their respective positions."

affluent, effluent

Affluent or affluent means wealthy or prosperous--
Some of our more affluent citizens have donated generously.
Would you believe that those poor people were once affluent and influential?

Effluent or effluent describes something that flows out--
The effluent waste should be contained, and kept out of the river.

Effluent may also mean something that flows out, such as a small stream from a larger one--
This is only an effluent, but we can follow it to the stream.
The town wants the effluent from the factory tested for poisons

Now that you know that, you can say--
"This was an affluent community, until toxic effluent polluted the water."

influence, influenza

Influence or influence means the power to persuade other people, or to affect their behavior or decisions--
We hope he'll use his influence to get an appointment for our son.
He was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, or DUI.

Influenza or influenza ( often shortened to "flu" ) means a contagious disease caused by a virus--
The influenza epidemic that followed the war killed millions of people.
She caught influenza, and it took weeks for her to recover.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He is using his influence to persuade the government to fund a new influenza vaccine."

sachet, sashay

Sachet or sachet means a small bag or case filled with something pleasantly scented--
She wants to save the rose petals to fill a sachet.
She made a sachet for each of us, with an embroidered flower on it.

Sashay or sashay ( rhymes with sachet ) means to glide or move easily, as in some dances--
Now sashay over to meet your partner.
Watch her sashay into the room, not a care in the world!

Now that you know that, you can say--
"We watched her sashay over to the dresser, and remove a sachet form the drawer."

tuition, intuition

Tuition or tuition means a fee that is paid to attend school or college, or for instruction of some kind--
He borrowed the money for his tuition, so he has to graduate to pay it back.
He's dropping out because he can't afford the tuition.

Tuition also means instruction or teaching--
He might do better with private tuition, one-on-one.
They are offering tuition for the math finals after class.

Intuition or intuition means a sort of hunch or insight; a belief arrived at without going through a process of reason and evidence--
Intuition can be useful, if we use it to decide where to look for evidence.
Websites like this are meant to be navigated by intuition, whatever that may mean.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"My intuition is that he is so worried about tuition fees that he can't concentrate."

appetite, apatite

Appetite or appetite means a desire for food; often used figuratively--
Let's play one more game, to work up an appetite for lunch.
He seems listless and has no appetite.
He has an appetite for the bizarre and surreal.

Apatite or apatite means a mineral used to make fertilzer and  jewelry, among other things--
This is a phosphate fertilizer, made with apatite.
She wrapped silver wire around a piece of apatite to make a pendant.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"She lost her appetite for dinner when she found out that she lost her apatite ring."

raving, raven

Raving or raving is a participle ( used with a helper verb ) of "rave", meaning to talk wildly, as if mad or delirious--
He is raving; don't pay any attention to him.
The man raving at the sign on the corner may need some help.

Raving may also mean talking or writing with great enthusiasm--
They are raving about the new movie, but I didn't like it.

Raving is also an old-fashioned slang term meaning extraordinary or remarkable--
She was a raving beauty back in the day.

Raven or raven means the black bird that is similar to a crow--
"In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore."
Is that crow or a raven?

Raven ( sometimes spelled ravin ) also means to seek plunder or prey, literally or figuratively, or to eat voraciously, like an animal--
They were so hungry they were tempted to raven through the forest for something to eat.
Sit up and eat nicely; don't raven like a wild beast!

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He is raving about literature, and quoting an old poem about a raven."

rogue, rouge

Rogue or rogue means a scoundrel, mischief-maker, or dishonest person--
He was always a rogue, and quite a devil with the ladies.
The squire's men will catch the cunning rogue.

Rouge or rouge means a red or pink cosmetic for the cheeks--
What we call blush was once called rouge.
Women sometimes still use real fruit juice as rouge.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Even the rogue didn't know if the blush on her cheek was real, or rouge."

apathetic, apatetic

Apathetic or apathetic means not interested; unconcerned or indifferent--
Students should be intereseted in politics, not apathetic.
She gets excited about sports; he is apathetic.

Apatetic or apatetic means having or taking a form that makes camouflage or deception--
The insect's apatetic coloration helps him to elude potential enemies.
The caterpillars are apatetic; people don't usually notice them.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He was fascinated by the exhibit of apatetic coloring in insects; she was apathetic."

judgment, judge meant

Judgment or judgment  ( one word ) means the decision or verdict in a court case--
"It is the judgment of this court..."
No judgement is possible unless the witness will cooperate.

Judgment also means the ability to form an opinion or make a decision wisely--
He is a man of sound judgment; he won't do anything rash.
You showed good judgment; the customer gave a good recommendation.

Judge meant or judge meant ( two words, rhymes with judgment ) means what the court official ( judge ) intended ( meant )--
I wonder what the judge meant by that remark?
Do you think the judge meant to be so rude?

Now that you know that, you can say--
"I'm sure the judge meant this judgment to be fair to both parties."

therapist, the rapist

Therapist or therapist ( one word ) means a person trained to help people overcome psychological or physical problems--
He sees a therapist every week; he has a lot of emotional issues.
She has been seeing a physical therapist ever since the accident.

The rapist or the rapist ( two words ) means a certain ( the ) sex offender ( rapist )--
A woman was assaulted last night; the police are looking for the rapist.
In this episode, the rapist turns out to be a detective who was fired from his job.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"A therapist may help her get over her anxiety about the rapist."

mayhem, may hem

Mayhem or mayhem ( one word ), in law, means inflicting harm on someone attempting to defend himself or herself, or inflicting harm in order to render someone defenseless--
He was charged with mayhem and aggravated assault.
She is serving a sentence for mayhem and armed robbery.

Mayhem is sometimes used in a general sense, to means violent disorder or chaos--
When the teacher told them school would end early, mayhem ensued.
The cafeteria erupted into mayhem, but it was short-lived.

May hem or may hem ( two words ) means might or possibly ( may ) shorten or lengthen, or fold down and sew the edge of, a skirt, pants, curtains, or some other item (hem )--
I may hem these curtains; I think they're too long.
She said she may hem the dress tomorrow, so you'll have it for the wedding.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"I may hem this shirt and sew on the buttons, if the mayhem ever ends."

rancor, rank or

Rancor or rancor ( one word ) means bitterness or resentment; malice--
He answered politely, but his rancor was evident.
That kind of response will only engender rancor.

Rank or or rank or ( two words ) means official position or standing ( rank ) offered as an alternative ( or )--
Does this have something to do with his rank or position?
Did you notice his rank or unit?

Rank or may also mean a row or column ( rank ) offered as an alternative ( or )--
Do you want these people lined up in a rank or left seated until called?
He can't remember his rank or file; where does he belong?

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Don't refer to your rank or status; you'll only inspire rancor."

cause, caws

Cause or cause means the thing or person that produces an effect--
The label says this may cause drowsiness.
He imagines that philosophy has done away with cause and effect.

Cause may also mean an ideal or goal--
We'd like to donate these funds to a worthy cause.
 He spends his spare time working for the cause, which is what he calls environmental clean-up.

Cause may also mean the grounds for a legal action, or for some other human behavior requiring official justification of some kind--
This could be a cause for a lawsuit.
He was dismissed for cause, but he won't say what it was.

Caws or caws ( rhymes with cause ) is the third person singular ( he, she, it ) form of "caw", meaning, said of a crow, to cry or squawk loudly, or said of something or someone else, to make a noise like a crow--
A crow sits on the fence and caws every afternoon.
When our cat is hungry he caws like a crow.

Caws may also be the plural ( more than one ) of "caw", meaning the call or cry of a crow--
I hear the caws of a crow, but I don't see it.
His bark sounds like a crow's caws.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"When the crow caws, there must be a cause, but we don't know what it is."

insufficient, in sufficient

Insufficient or insufficient ( one word ) means not enough; lacking what is needed or required--
The case was dropped due to insufficient evidence.
The check came back marked "insufficient funds".
This answer is insufficent; you need to show your work.

In sufficient or in sufficient ( two words ) means [in] enough or adequate quantity or number--
The customer wants to know if we can produce these widgets in sufficient quantity.
If the marchers turn out in sufficient numbers, the press will be sure to take notice.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Our funds are insufficient to cover expenses, unless we get donations in sufficient quantity to make up the difference."

definite, definitive

Definite or definite means exact or precise; clearly defined--
We have no definite plans; we're just going to visit anyplace that seems interesting. 
Be sure to get definite directions, so we won't get lost.

Definite may also mean certain or sure--
We have no definite plans; we may stay home, or we may go out.
He won't give a definite answer; he just puts us off with vague comments.

Definitive or definitive, of a text or work of art, describes the most precise or exact version--
This is the definitive edition; it is an unedited transcription of the original manuscript.
Most people agree that the director's cut is the definitve version.

Definitive may also describe a statement that provides a specific or authoritative solution or answer to a dilemma--
Can we issue a definitve statement, one that will settle the controversy?
The manager has issued definitive instructions, so we'll all be doing it the same way.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"If you can't get him to make a definitve statement, try for a definite answer to a "yes or no" question."

singularly, singularity

Singularly or singularly means uniquely or exceptionally--
He seemed singularly indifferent to the shocking news; that's suspicious.
Our chief suspect is singularly proficient at anything devious.

Singularly, as a grammar term, decribes using a word that corresponds to one person, place, or thing, instead of more than one--
Can you conjugate the verb both plurally and singularly?
Plurally, it's "they run"; singularly, it's "he runs".

Singularity or singularity means a unique or unusual quality, or the fact of being exceptional or unique--
He has the singularity of being able to hear a pin drop.
This place has a singularity; the locals claim that water flows uphill.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"His use of language has a singularity; all verb forms are the same, plurally and singularly."

Note--"singly" means one at a time or separately--
Now march out singly, one after another.

in step, instep

In step or in step ( two words ) means keeping time to the beat or music, or keeping pace while marching in a group--
They have been drilling all week, so they'll be able to stay in step during the parade.
He's a fairly good dancer, always in step with the music, at least.

Instep or instep ( one word, rhymes with in step ) means the arched top part of the foot between the toe and the ankle, or the corresponding part of a shoe--
A board landed on his instep; they took him to the hospital.
She's looking for a pump with a leather instep.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The ache in his instep made it difficult to keep in step with the band."

venal, venial

Venal or venal describes a corrupt official or authority, one willing to accept bribes for favors--
We won't see any real reform until this venal administration is voted out of office.
The matter came before a venal judge, who decided in the company's favor.

Venal may also describe a thing unlawfully bartered or sold, such as a contract or court decision--
It was a venal contract; they bribed a city official to get it.
The jury was suspected of accepting bribes in return for a venal acquittal.

Venial or venial describes a  trivial or pardonable sin; a minor transgression--
It was a venial error, and easily overlooked.
The offense was venial; the penance will be light.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"In City Hall, a venal agreement is considered a venial sin."

infinity, affinity

Infinity or infinity means a span of space or time that is limitless, without a beginning or end--
Many people believe that space and infinity are the same thing.
The mathematical symbol for infinity looks like a sideways "8".

Infinity may also mean a boundless quantity or endless supply--
The number of grains of sand on the beach approaches infinity; it would not be possible to actually count them.

Affinity or affinity means a natural attraction or special liking for something or someone--
He's always had an affinity for the great outdoors; he feels at home in it.
He has an affinity for anyone who admires his garden.

Affinity may also mean a likeness or agreement between two things--
They have an affinity for one another, like ketchup and fries.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"They share an affinity for endless discussions of space and infinity."

America, amurca

America ( a proper name, always capitalized ) is most commonly used to mean the United States of America--
Today we remember Columbus, and the European discovery of America.
His grandparents came to America in 1890, and began to prosper after several years.

America may also mean the continent of North America, or the continent of South America, or both--
Canada, Mexico and the United States make up most of America.
He left Italy to go to Argentina, in America.

Amurca or amurca ( almost rhymes with America ) means the lees or sediment of olive oil--
The amurca is sold to a food processor; it is used in canned food.
The Romans fed amurca to their cattle.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"We grow olives right here in America, and we use the amurca as a pesticide."

Note--"Amurica" ( always capitalized, sometimes spelled 'murica or Amurika) was coined as part of a spoof or satire of ignorant, but supposedly patriotic, people--
"We get to have all the guns because this is Amurica."

misses, Mrs., Misses

Misses or misses is the third person singular ( he, she, it ) of "miss", meaning to pine for someone or something not present--
Our cat seems aloof, but he misses us when we're away.
He misses his old job, now that he's left it.

Misses or misses is also the third person singular of "miss", meaning to fail to hit what one aims at--
He misses nearly every time; I don't know why he keeps trying.
If he misses, it's your turn.

Misses or misses may also be the plural ( more than one ) of "miss", meaning a failure to hit a mark or target--
That's three hits and two misses. 
In baseball, misses are called strikes.

Mrs. ( always capitalized, rhymes with misses ) is the title or honorific used in front of a married woman's name--
How are you today, Mrs. Jones?
Jane Jones married Sam Smith, and now she's Mrs. Jane Smith.

Misses ( always capitalized ) is an old-fashioned way to address, as on an envelope, two or more sisters, or related unmarried women, or to refer to two sisters--
The invitation was addressed to the Misses Smith.
That looks like the Misses Jones coming down the road.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He misses his old teacher, Mrs. Green."

mill, mil

Mill or mill means a machine or device, large or small, for grinding grain or some other substance, or for producing fabric, paper, steel, lumber, or some other types of goods--
There is an old water-powered grist mill nearby that you might like to visit.
The lumber mill doesn't hire teenagers; it's too dangerous.

Mil or mil ( rhymes with mill ) means one tenth of a cent, or one thousandth of a dollar, usually for property tax purposes--
We are considering a property tax increase of one mil per dollar of assessed value.

Mil also means one thousandth of an inch--
He needs one mil wire for this job.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The only offer we had for the old mill was at one mil to the dollar."

ample, amble

Ample or ample means enough or more than enough, in size, extent, or quantity--
We ran out of these parts last month; make sure we have an ample supply.
You will have ample time to finish the exam.

Amble or amble means to walk or stroll in a leisurely way--
If you amble along like that it will take all day to get home.
He's trying to teach the horse to amble on command.

Amble may also be a noun ( thing or idea ), meaning a leisurely walk or stroll--
The old man still enjoys an amble in the garden.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"There will be ample time to amble about the grounds after we have seen the exhibit."

impressment, empressement

Impressment or impressment means drafting or forcing people into the military or some other government or public service--
One of the causes of the War of 1812 was impressment of Americans by the British navy.
Impressment was carried out by a press gang, that sometimes just kidnapped people.

Empressement or empressement means a display of friendliness or enthusiasm--
She greeted them with empressement, hoping they would feel welcome.
He could hear the sounds of empressement, and was sure that the news was good.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He was greeted with empressement; he brought news of the end of the war, and the end of impressment."

acorn, a corn

Acorn or acorn ( one word ) means the little nut that falls from oak trees--
An acorn hit him on the head as he was walking under the oak tree.
A squirrel is burying an acorn in the garden.

Acorn may also mean a kind of squash--
She made acorn squash soup; it's better than it sounds.

A corn or a corn ( two words ) describes something made of maize ( corn )--
They are building a corn maize for the party.
Our dog ran into a corn field, and we can't find him.

A corn may also mean a sore, usually on the foot; a type of callus--
He went to the podiatrist because he has a corn on his foot.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"They served each guest a corn casserole topped with an acorn."

socialist, socialite

Socialist or socialist means someone who believes in economic equality, through a system of collective ownership of land, factories, and other property--
He ran for office as a socialist party candidate, but he got very few votes.
In the 1950's he would have been investigated for his socialist writings.

Socialite or socialite means a prominent person at gatherings of the wealthy or elite--
She is just a socialite, lionized in the press for no particular reason.
He married a wealthy socialite, and hasn't worked a day since.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"She's actually a socialite; she advocates socialist principles because it shocks her family."

Note--"social list" ( two words, rhymes with socialist ) means a printed or written series of names of friends and acquaintances--
Shall we put him on the business list or on the social list?

successful, successive

Successful or successful means achieving a desired result, or turning out as planned--
The experiment was successful; the results support our theory.
His third attempt to climb the wall was successful.

Successful may mean, in a general sense, prosperous or famous--
He became sucessful, but only after many years of hard work.
He was a successful playwright, famous all over the world.

Successive or successive means following in a regular course or sequence--
Successive failures discouaged him, and he nearly gave up.
After successive attempts, he made it to the top.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"After successive delays, the launch was successful."

covered, covert

Covered or covered is the past tense ( yesterday, or some time ago ) of "cover", meaning to provide with a lid or blanket, or figuratively, with an excuse or alibi--
She covered the pot so the stew would stay warm.
He looked cold, so she covered him with a blanket.
I covered for him the last time he was late, but I won't do it again.

Covered is also the past tense of "cover", meaning to coat with something--
One can of paint covered the whole wall.
Look at the dog! He's covered in mud!

Covered is also the past tense of "cover", meaning to protect or shelter--
The tree covered the side of the house, and protected it from the wind.
The umbrella was so big that it covered both of them.

Covered is also the past tense of "cover", meaning to have withing scope or range--
Our new reporter covered the story.

Covert or covert means clandestine or secret--
This is a covert operation; you'll need a security clearance.

Covert also means a shelter or hiding place, such as a thicket where game animals might hide--
They watched from a covert, hoping a deer would pass by.
The rabbit ran into a covert, where even the dog can't get at him.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"His article covered the story of a some covert arms deals."

dark room, darkroom

Dark room or dark room ( two words ) means an indoor space with no light, or with no lights on at night--
The treatment for measles used to include keeping the patient in a dark room.
How can you read in a dark room? Turn on a light.

Darkroom or darkroom ( one word ) means the room a photographer uses to develop film negatives, which would be spoiled by light--
A darkroom may be lit by one dim red or green light bulb.
Don't open the darkroom door, or you may ruin the film.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"An ordinary dimly lit or dark room is okay for loading a film camera, but you'll need a darkroom to develop the film."

tray, trey

Tray or tray means a large platter; a flat or shallow container--
Here comes the waiter with a tray of drinks.
Does this desk have a keyboard tray?

Trey or trey ( rhymes with tray ) is an old-fashioned word for "three", in a deck of cards or a set of dice--
Ace, deuce, trey--I win.
Don't play a trey; we'll lose the trick.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The missing trey was stuck to the bottom of the sandwich tray."

encode, in code

Encode or encode ( one word ) means to convert or translate into code; to convert into symbols meant to convey meaning secretly, to another person, or to a computer--
He learned to encode messages in the army during the war; he still works for the government.
You'll need a computer engineer to encode that for the web page.

In code or in code ( two words ) describes something written in a cypher or code, something that has to be deciphered by another person who knows the code; or something written using computer code--
This looks like nonsense; I think it's in code.
I can't understand this email; some of the words are in code.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"This doesn't look like it's in code; but a clever spy may have used this ad to encode a secret message."

Note--"decode" means to convert something that is written in code into an understandable message--
The security agency spent weeks trying to decode the message.

dowager, dowitcher

Dowager or dowager means the widow of a titled person, or a widow who still has great influence or  status--
The dowager duchess still has great influence with the people.
Be careful not to offend the old dowager; you'll live to regret it.

Dowitcher or dowitcher is a kind of shore bird, with a long bill--
We were watching a dowitcher wade along the shore, but it flew away.
I think that's a dowitcher; let's look in the bird book.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The dowager was tall and thin, and resembled a dowitcher wading when she walked."

droop, drupe

Droop or droop means to bend, sag, or hang down, from weakness or exhaustion--
The flowers will droop if you don't put them in water soon.
He begins to droop every afternoon about this time.

Drupe or drupe ( rhymes with droop ) means a stone fruit, such as a peach, plum, or cherry, with soft pulp covering one hard shell or seed covering--
A newly planted drupe will take a few years to bear fruit.
They make a concoction of drupe pits, said to cure a lot of diseases.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Use some drupe branches in your arrangement; they won't droop, even when the other flowers are dead."

fluorescent, florescent

Fluorescent or fluorescent describes the production of light by passing electricity through gas in a tube, or the radiation of light when exposed to radiation, such as the sun or x-rays--
Fluorescent light may make it easier to work in here; it's too dark.
Some people think that fluorescent light makes them nervous.
Will this be fluorescent under an ultra-violet light?

Florescent or florescent ( rhymes with fluorescent ) describes a state of flowering or blooming--
This shrub is florescent only when a companion shrub is nearby.
This plant, when florescent, attracts bees.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"His poem compares the bright fluorescent clouds to the florescent apple trees ."

black male, blackmail

Black male or black male ( two words ) most commonly, means an American man or boy of African heritage--
We think a black male teacher would have a positive effect.
A young black male is missing; there's a poster in the store window.

Blackmail or blackmail ( one word, rhymes with black male ) is a slang or old-fashioned word for "extortion", meaning threatening to reveal a secret, and demanding payment or some other consideration to keep quiet--
He is trying to blackmail his boss; he found something irregular in the accounts.
She's wants a dirty secret on each member of the jury, something she can use to blackmail them.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"An unidentified black male was injured in the accident, and the driver is trying to blackmail the witnesses."

avoid, a void

Avoid or avoid ( one word ) means to keep away from; to shun or evade--
You should avoid this place on weekends; it's a madhouse.
He sat very still, to avoid drawing attention to himself.

A void or a void ( two words, rhymes with avoid ) means one ( a ) vacuum or vacancy ( void ), literally or figuratively--
Space seems like a void to many people, but to the astronomer it is an interesting place.
Her absence left a void in his life.

A void may also describe something null or ineffectual, or no longer legally binding--
This is a void contract; some of its provisions are unenforceable.
He is citing a void statute; it was repealed years ago.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Try to avoid the notion that there is a void in your life; think about what you can do, instead."

nice, niece

Nice or nice, said of a person, means pleasant or agreeable; decent or respectable--
The new neighbors seem like nice people. 
Be nice when you go to the party--no tantrums.

Nice may also mean showing or requiring tact, delicacy, or accuracy--
Perfect timing; that was a nice save.
That's a nice distinction, but it may not matter in the end.

Niece or niece means the daughter of your brother or sister--
Our niece is the same age as our daughter.
My sister is expecting; I'll have a niece or a nephew soon.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Our niece is nice; we're sure you'll like her."

Note--"Nice" ( rhymes with niece, a proper name, always capitalized ) is a city in France--
We are thinking of spending our vacation in Nice.

remain, rename

Remain or remain means to stay behind or to continue in the same place, state or condition--
The children will remain at home until they start school.
Please remain seated until your name is called.

Remain also means to be left over; to be left to be done--
Pack up the sandwiches that remain; we'll have them for lunch tomorrow.
A few little jobs remain; we can do them tomorrow.

Rename or rename means to give a new title or designation to--
Council plans to rename the highway.
We got this dog from the pound; we plan to rename him.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"If you rename the dog, he may remain confused for a while."

exert, excerpt

Exert or exert means to make a strenuous effort; to wield force or power--
"...who flew to him in great excitement, and implored him to exert himself."
The mayor has promised to exert his influence on behalf of our client.

Excerpt or excerpt means a short passage or piece taken from a longer work--
Here's a review of his latest book, with an excerpt you might enjoy reading.
If you liked the excerpt, you'll want to read the book.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Can you exert your influence with the author to obtain his permission to print the excerpt?"

clack, claque

Clack or clack means to make a sharp noise of striking or cracking--
I could hear his packages clack on his way up the stairs.
Clack may also mean a sharp striking or cracking noise--
I heard a clack, like something fell, but I don't see anything on the floor.

Claque or claque ( rhymes with clack ) means a group of persons hired to applaud or laugh at a show or at a comedian, or a group that would trade praise for a gain of some kind--
You can hear the claque in these old TV sitcoms.
He's afraid no one will laugh at his jokes, so he hired a claque.
This is a claque; the members write good reviews in exchange for free products.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"When the claque gets tired of clapping, it can clack these pieces of wood together."

acquaint, a quaint

Acquaint or acquaint ( one word )  means to introduce; to provide an intoduction--
We will have a meeting to acquaint the team members with the new plan.
Ask him to acquaint our new worker with our methods.
This course should be an easy way to acquaint even a novice with the subject.

A quaint or a quaint ( two words, rhymes with acquaint ) describes something ( a ) old-fashioned and charming ( quaint )--
We rented a quaint little cottage near the lake.
What a quaint little village!
That spinning wheel would make a quaint conversation piece.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"There is a quaint little inn, just the place to acquaint yourselves with the area."

approbation, a probation

Approbation or approbation ( one word ) means approval or commendation--
Our boss usually displays approbation in the form of a bonus.
He's earned our approbation for his hard work.

A probation or a probation  ( two words ) describes one ( a ) period of supervised testing or trial ( probation ), most commonly used to mean supervision of a convicted criminal in lieu of a jail term--
He's a probation officer, and he has several people to supervise.
He broke a probation agreement the last time he got in trouble; he'll go to jail this time.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The board has offered its approbation for a probation period of six months."

bobbin, bobbing

Bobbin or bobbin means a reel or spool for thread, yarn, or wire--
The sewing machine has a spool of thread on top, and a bobbin underneath.
The machine is working fine, but the bobbin is empty.

Bobbing or bobbing is a form of "bob", meaning to move up and down; to walk or move with an up-and-down motion--
He walked to the music, bobbing his head as he went.
The children want to try bobbing for apples.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"If you wind the bobbin too fast, you'll see it bobbing up and down."

Note--"bobbin' ", with an apostrophe at the end, is a way of trying to write colloquial speech, meaning "bobbing"--
"When the red, red, robin comes bob, bob, bobbin' along..."

attire, a tire

Attire or attire ( one word ) means clothing or apparel--
His attire was always impeccable, and in the latest fashion.
He looks older in business attire.

Attire may also mean to dress or adorn, particularly for a special occasion--
We want to attire the children as elves for the pageant.

A tire or a tire ( two words, rhymes with attire ) means one ( a ) round rubber band or ring that covers the rim of a wheel ( tire )--
Where can we get a tire fixed?
Can we buy a tire here? We had a flat.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Don't try to change a tire in your formal attire; call a tow truck."

ruin, rune

Ruin or ruin means to destroy or spoil; to render unfit for use, literally or figuratively--
You will ruin your new suede shoes if you wear them in the rain.
If he is indicted, it could mean financial ruin.

Ruin may also mean the remains of something destroyed, such as an ancient building--
There is a Roman ruin we want to see, just outside of the town.
The castle makes a charming ruin.

Rune or rune means one of the characters of an ancient alphabet, or something written in these characters--
It looks like a rune, from an Old Norse saga.
She thinks that each rune has a mystical meaning, and she uses them to tell fortunes.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"This ancient rune tells the story of the ruin of a Norse chieftan and his followers."

flesh, fleche

Flesh or flesh means the muscle, and fat of a body, either human or animal--
He doesn't have much flesh; he's much too thin.
They eat no flesh, only eggs, cheese, vegetables and grains.

Flesh may also mean the outer part of a body; the skin and some of the tissue beneath--
The dog tore his flesh, but he seems all right.
Thye were quite excited to see their hero in the flesh, at a public appearance.

Flèche or flèche ( rhymes with flesh ) means a spire, or a dart or arrow--
There is a flèche topped by a cross on each end of the building.
He threw a flèche, and missed the target completely.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He shot the flèche into the air, but it stuck in the flesh of a bystander."

Note--"fletch" means to equip an arrow with feathers--
He is looking for feathers to fletch his new arrows.
Note # 2--"fledge", of a bird, means to grow the feathers needed to fly--
This baby bird will fledge in another week or so, then we cna let him go.

meditate, mediate

Meditate or meditate means to contemplate or reflect--
He would sit in the corner for hours, and meditate revenge.
Let's take a few minutes each day to meditate on ways to improve.

Meditate may also mean extended thought or contemplation used as a religious or philosophical exercise--
She goes to yoga classes, and she's learning to meditate.
To some practitioners, to meditate means to contemplate nothing, silently.

Mediate or mediate means to settle a dispute or bring about an agreement--
They are trying to agree on a neutral third party to mediate the dispute.
He tried to mediate their quarrel, but they both became angry at him.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"In an effort to mediate their dispute, she sent them each to a separate room to meditate on the problem."

distant, distend

Distant or distant means far away, literally or figuratively--
He dreams of travelling to distant countries.
It's a distant memory now.

Distant may also mean remote in time, in relation to something or someone, or emotionally--
We can visit the distant past by going to the museum.
He finished the race a distant third.
He's a distant relation; we've only met a few times.
He seems distant, but he says nothing's wrong.

Distend or distend means to expand or swell--
If the puppy has worms, its stomach will distend; you'll notice it.
The stomach may distend from overeating, but it will return to normal.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"When he's angry his eyes flash and his nostrils distend, though he may seem distant."

Note--"distance" is the noun ( thing or idea ) form of "distant". "Distance" means the extent of space between two things, literally or figuratively--
We should be able to cover the distance in two hours.
"Distance" may also mean to set far away, literally or figuratively--
You have to learn to distance yourself; don't get emotionally involved.

Note # 2--"distends" is the third person singular ( he, she, it ) form of "distend", meaning to expand or swell--
His stomach distends when he overeats.

correspondence, correspondents

Correspondence or correspondence means an exchange of letters or emails, or the letters themselves--
His firm plans to publish the correspondence of the famous author.
Their correspondence doesn't mention the sale of any property.

Correspondence also means agreement; similarity--
There seems to be little correspondence between what he says and what he does.
The correspondence between the two sets of data is obvious.

Correspondents or correspondents ( rhymes with correspondence ) is the plural ( more than one ) of "correspondent", meaning one party to an exchange of letters or mail, including a business partner or reporter--
The correspondents wrote to each other for decades, but they never met in person.
They are both foreign correspondents for a New York newspaper.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The correspondents threatened to sue if the publisher printed their correspondence."

a right, aright

A right or a right ( two words ) describes something in the direction of the east when facing north--
Make a right turn at the light.

A right may describe one ( a ) correct ( right ) thing or idea--
Is there a right answer, or was that a rhetorical question?

A right may mean one ( a ) just claim or title, either legal, moral, or financial ( right )--
Let him speak; he has a right to be heard.

A right may also describe a perpendicular line, or an angle of 90 degrees--
If you cut the paper on the diagonal, you'll have a right triangle.
The two lines make a right angle, like the corner of a square.

Aright or aright ( one word, rhymes with a right ) is an old-fashioned word meaning correctly, or the way it should be--
He set the vase aright, but the flowers were all broken.
Set that picture aright; it's crooked.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Make a right when you get to the crossroads, and you'll come out aright."

Note--"all right" ( two words ) is an expression of assent or agreement--
Oh, all right, I'll go with you.
"All right" may also mean okay, good, or satisfactory--
Are you all right?
Does this look all right?

contingent, contingency

Contingent or contingent describes something possible or uncertain; depending on a condition--
The building plans are contingent upon the approval of the zoning board.
Our plans are contingent upon the weather, so let's have a backup plan ready.

Contingent is also a noun ( thing or idea ), meaning a quota of troops, or a  group making part of a greater assembly, as by lot or portion--
The duke sent a contingent of infantry to aid his brother.
We'll be part of the California contingent at the national convention.

Contingency or contingency is a noun ( thing or idea ), meaning dependence on chance or on a certain condition; uncertainty--
We have prepared for every contingency, including earthquake and flood.
It's best to be prepared for any contingency.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"We have to be ready for any contingency, and this trip is contingent on our finances, on our legal status, and on the goodwill of any people we encounter."

adopt, adapt

Adopt or adopt means to make one's own by selection or agreement--
The house voted to adopt the new resolution.
They have no children, so they decided to adopt one.

Adapt or adapt means to adjust or modify, so as to fit or suit--
We can adapt this to suit our needs.
It may take him a few days to adapt to his new surroundings.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"If you adopt a child, it may take him some time to adapt to his new home."

Note--"adept" means highly skilled or expert--
He has wonderful social skills; he's adept at getting people to talk.

credible, creditable

Credible or credible means believable, as a story that seems to be true--
At first she doubted his story, but later it seemed credible.
If you're going to be late, make sure your excuse is credible.

Creditable or creditable describes an action that brings honor or esteem--
His quick thinking and prompt action were creditable; he'll be rewarded by the management.
His creditable dedication and hard work earned him a position of trust.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"His bravery under fire was creditable; we think he'll make a credible witness."

omnivorous, omniferous

Omnivorous or omnivorous means eating everything, or eating food of all kinds, literally or figuratively--
Most people are omnivorous; they eat meat, vegetables, and grain.
He's an omnivorous reader; he reads all kinds of books and magazines.

Omniferous or omniferous means producing or bearing all kinds--
He painted a picture of one great omniferous tree of life.
He believes that the world and everything in it came from the omniferous mind of God.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"In the kitchen she's omniferous, producing all kinds of dishes, and her omnivorous family eats them with relish."

Note--"omnifarious" means of all kinds or varieties--
Ask several people to comment, so that we can show their omnifarious opinions.

eternal, internal

Eternal or eternal means lasting or enduring forever, without a beginning or end--
Some religions teach a doctrine of eternal life.
Even the stars are not eternal, just very ancient.

Internal or internal means on the inside of something; contained within; physically or mentally--
The biology students are learning about internal organs.
You'll want to contact the internal affairs department.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Talk of eternal life gives him an acute feeling of internal discomfort."

Note--"external" means on the outside of something--
"This product is for external use only; not to be taken internally."

oscillate, osculate

Oscillate or oscillate means to swing back and forth, like a pendulum, literally or figuratively--
The value may oscillate from two to negative two, along an axis of zero.
His opinions seem to oscillate between liberal and conservative, but he's really independent.

Osulate or osculate means to come into close contact; to kiss or touch, as two circles or geometric forms, or facetiously, people--
The two curves are said to osculate when they come into contact at one point.
Their wedding photo is funny; they seem to osculate, in profile, like a pair of kissing fish.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"His feelings seemed to oscillate between an ardent desire to osculate with the woman, and stone cold indifference."

unsalable, unassailable

Unsalable or unsalable describes something that cannot be sold, because of poor condition, legal restrictions, or lack of any buyer--
The flood rendered all of his goods unsalable, and he's not sure that insurance will cover the loss.
The house remains unsalable until the lien is paid.

Unassailable or unassailable describes something that is not open to attack or assault, physically or intellectually--
The fortress was virtually unassailable; they had to think of another way to win the battle.
His position is unassailable; there's no point in trying to argue with him.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"His defense seemed unassailable, but the goods remain unsalable unitl he can prove that he owns the legal rights."

a sail, assail

A sail or a sail ( two words ) means one ( a ) pice of canvas mounted to a part of a boat or ship, used to catch the wind and propel the craft--
Do you know how to mend a sail?
We can use this for a sail, and attach it to our toy boat.

A sail may also mean an excursion in a boat propelled by canvas catching the wind--
They went for a sail around the bay.

Assail or assail ( one word, rhymes with a sail ) means to attack or assault, physically or verbally--
He used the umbrella to assail people passing by, but the police caught him.
You won't win if you assail your opponent with nasty rumors.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"When idle worries assail your mind, just think about going for a sail around the island."

incredible, incredulous

Incredible or incredible describes something unbelievable, as in difficult to believe; impossible--
He told a long-winded and incredible tale of his youthful adventures.
That's an incredible story; no one will believe it.

Incredulous or incredulous describes a person unable to believe, or refusing to believe, something--
He declaimed his innocence, but the judge was incredulous.
She remained incredulous, even though he added convincing details to the story.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The story was incredible, and we were incredulous."

annul, a null

Annul or annul ( one word ) means to invalidate; to make legally void, as a law or contract--
They asked the judge to annul their marriage.
A court decision may annul the law, but it can't alter or rewrite it.

A null or a null ( two words, rhymes with annul ) describes something ( a ) without effect or consequence; something void or empty ( null )--
Without a signature, it's a null contract.
The set of people who have never used the internet may be a null set.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"This is a null statute for any practical purpose; it won't matter if the legislature decides to annul it."

till, til

Till or till means to cultivate the soil; to farm or to plow--
His only hope was to till the same piece of ground he'd worked on all his life.
He's sure that the land west of New York is full of simple folk who till the soil.

Till also means a drawer for keeping cash or valuables--
Did you count the money in the till?
There are no coins in the till; where are they?

Til or til, sometimes spelled 'til, is short form of "until", meaning up to the time; before--
We have to behave until our parents get home.
He didn't show up until we were nearly done.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The cash in the till can stay there til tomorrow."

Note--til may also mean the sesame plant--
They grow til for its oil, used in cooking.

teeter, titer

Teeter or teeter means to wobble or to move unsteadily--
The cart will teeter with a flat tire, but it should still do the job.
Their little girl likes to teeter around the house in an old pair of high heels.

Titer or titer ( most commonly pronounced to rhyme with teeter ) means a measure of the strength of a chemical in a solution, most commonly used as a test of the quantity of an antibody, to determine if a person is immune to a particular disease--
A titer can show us that he's already had the disease, or that he's been vaccintated for it.
We'll need a titer to find out if he's immune to the measles.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The doctor wants a titer for polio, to find out if that's what makes him teeter when he walks."

Note--"titer" , meaning a measure of antibodies, is sometimes pronounced to rhyme with "tighter", meaning more tense, taut, or firmly fixed--
Tie the laces tighter, so they won't come undone.
Note# 2--"titter" means to laugh in a silly or affected way--
If I have to listen to that mindless titter of his one more time, I may lose my temper.

bode, bowed

Bode or bode means to portend or to foretell--
This does not bode well for any future business relationship.

Bowed or bowed ( rhymes with bode ) means curved or bent--
The chair has bowed front legs and straight back legs.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The bowed drawer front doesn't bode well for restoring the dresser."

Note--"abode" ( one word ) means dwelling or residence; home--
Welcome to our humble abode.

Not to be confused with "a bowed" ( two words, rhymes with abode ), used to describe one ( a ) curved or arched ( bowed ) thing--
The shelf has a bowed front, with an ornate edge.

a firm, affirm

A firm or a firm ( two words ) means one ( a ) partnership or business association ( firm )--
He is a partner in a firm that manufactures widgets.
We are thinking about organizing a firm to promote our new technology.

A firm may also describe something solid, steady, or unwavering--
Look him in the eye and greet him with a firm handshake.
Our business will have a firm foundation; we have very few debts.

Affirm or affirm ( one word, rhymes with a firm ) means to state positively; to declare in a formal way, as before a court; to hold as true or valid, as one court concerning the judgment of another court--
"I do solemnly swear ( or affirm)..."
We hope the judge will affirm the decision of the lower court.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"When asked if the evidence would affirm his client's innocence, the attorney replied with a firm 'yes'."

a float, afloat

A float or a float ( two words ) means one ( a ) vehicle carrying a display or tableau in a parade ( float )--
We are making a float for the parade on Saturday.
She will be riding on a float, waving at the crowds.

A float may also mean a life preserver; something to keep a person buoyant in the water--
Man overboard! Throw him a float!

A float may also mean a buoyant ball used in pumbing--
There should be a float attached to the end of this rod.

Afloat or afloat ( one word, rhymes with a float ) means on top of the water; borne on the water--
How long can the ship stay afloat with that hole in her hull?

Afloat may also mean kept in business, financially, or kept from sinking--
A new marketing strategy may help to keep our busines afloat.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He remained afloat for hours, clinging to a float that he found near the ship."

a foul, afoul

A foul or a foul ( two words ) describes something dirty, smelly, or muddy, literally or figuratively--
There is a foul smell in the garage; we'll have to clean it out.
He has a foul mouth, and it gets him into trouble.

A foul may also mean a baseball that has been hit to the outside of the base line, or some other sporting error--
The umpire called it a foul, but he was sure the ball was inside the line.
He had to sit on the bench because he committed a foul.

Afoul or afoul ( one word, rhymes with a foul ) means to be entangled, or to come into conflict with--
He first ran afoul of the law when he was still in his teens.
The ship couldn't move with its lines afoul.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He has a foul temper, and he's run afoul of the referee several times."

Note--not to be confused with "a fowl" ( rhymes with a foul ), meaning one ( a ) chicken or other domesticated bird commonly raised for food, such as a turkey, goose, or duck--
We might roast a fowl for Sunday dinner.

a foot, afoot

A foot or a foot ( two words ) means one ( a ) part of the leg below the ankle, that goes in a shoe--
That opening should be too small for a foot to get stuck in.
These shoes won't do; a foot is either left or right.

A foot may mean the lower part of a table, or a machine part--
It's a foot from an old table, with a ball and claw.
It looks like a foot from an old sewing machine.

A foot or a foot also means one ( a ) measure of twelve inches ( foot )--
You'll need a board about a foot wide, and six feet long.
We'd like a foot long hot dog and a side of fries.

Afoot or afoot ( one word, rhymes with a foot ) means in progress or going on--
"The game is afoot."
There's mischief afoot.

Afoot may also mean walking, as a means of travel--
He came afoot, and needs a rest.
We can make twenty miles each day if we travel afoot.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"We have come ten miles afoot, and I couldn't go a foot farther."

plotting, plodding

Plotting or plotting means planning or scheming--
They were accused of plotting to overthrow the government.
Plotting this information on a graph might make it easier to understand.

Plodding or plodding ( almost rhymes with plotting ) means walking or moving heavily and slowly--
If he keeps plodding along like that, it will take all day to get there.
After what seemed like years of diligent plodding, he rose to the top of his profession.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The patrolman was plodding down the path when he came upon a gang plotting to rob the bank."

aloft, a loft

Aloft or aloft ( one word ) means into the air or high above the ground--
The balloon can remain aloft for several hours.
The captain sent him aloft, to see if land was anywhere near.

A loft or a loft ( two words ) means one ( a ) upper story of a warehouse or barn, or an upper gallery used for some purpose, such as a choir ( loft )--
They converted a loft into an apartment; it's very stylish.
The church has a loft in the rear, for a choir or musicians.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"It's easy to climb aloft on a ship, like climbing the ladder to a loft in a barn."

adjudge, a judge

A judge or a judge ( two words ) means one ( a ) public official who hears cases in a court, and administers the law ( judge )--
The retired lawyer will soon become a judge.
The case will be heard by a judge, but the jury will decide the outcome.

A judge may also be someone who decides the winner of a contest, or who offers an informed opinion--
He will be a judge at the next gymnastics competition.
As a judge of horses, he's an expert.

Adjudge or adjudge ( one word, rhymes with a judge ) means to decree or to pronounce formally, as from a court or some official position--
We hope the court will adjudge the most recent will to be valid.
The court may adjudge court costs to him, as well as an award.

Adjudge may also mean to consider or decide, in a more general sense--
A prudent person would adjudge it wise to avoid the situation.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Only a judge may adjudge the legal merits of a request for a search warrant."

Note--"judge" also means to try a case, or to determine the relative merits of contestants in a competition--
She will judge the contestants at the next event.

honorable, honorific

Honorable or honorable means upright or highly principled--
"So are they all, all, honorable men..."
He was an honorable man, and always did the upright thing.

Honorable may also mean noble or artisocratic, used as a form of address for the opffspring of British peers--
The Honorable John Smith will attend.

Honorific or honorific means a formal title of address, or a title of respect--
To many people, the use of an honorific in writing is archaic.
Should we include a drop-down menu to choose an honorific?

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The honorific given to a judge in the United States is The Honorable.

mall, maul

Mall or mall means a shopping center, usually confined to one large building, or a  public walk or promenade--
Let's go shopping at the mall.
They like to stroll up and down the mall when the weather is nice.

Maul or maul ( rhymes with mall ) means to injure by shoving or beating--
The keeper didn't expect the lion to maul him.

Maul may also mean a heavy hammer--
You may be able to drive these posts in with a heavy maul.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The pop star made an appearance at the mall, where his fans tried to maul him, hoping for a souvenir."

I let, eyelet

I let  ( two words ) means that the speaker ( I ) permitted or allowed ( let )--
I let the bread get stale; we'll have to toast it.
I let him stop at a friend's house on the way home from school.

I let may also mean that the speaker ( I ) leased or rented ( let ) something--
I let the apartment to a nice young couple.

Eyelet or eyelet ( one word ) means a small hole, round and finished on the edges, or fabric made with small holes or "eyes"--
We can make the belt bigger if we add another eyelet at the end.
She wore a jacket made of white eyelet; it looked very nice.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"I let her borrow my new eyelet dress, and she spilled coffee on it."

opposite, apposite

Opposite or opposite means contrary or radically different; the reverse or inverse--
We told him to drive west, but he went in the opposite direction.
The opposite of hot is cold.

Apposite or apposite means relelvant or suitable; apt--
His reply was somewhat rude, but apposite.
He seemed to digress, but in the end his remarks were apposite.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The opposite of apposite is irrelevant."

Note--"oppose it" ( two words ) means to  resist, combat, or act against ( oppose ) something ( it)--
Do you think he will support the measure, or oppose it?

Note # 2--"a posit" ( two words ) means one ( a ) assumption or postulate ( posit )--
If we can agree on a posit, we can begin our argument from there.

Note # 3--"op cit" is used in footnotes, an abbreviation of the Latin opere citato, meaning "in the work cited"--
See Chapter VII, op. cit.

a rose, arose

A rose or a rose ( two words ) means one ( a ) flower that grows on a shrub, usually with thorns, often used for cut flowers or perfume ( rose )--
She carried a bouquet of roses, and he had a rose in his lapel.
We planted a rose bush in the front garden.

Arose or arose ( one word ) is the past tense ( yesterday, or some time ago ) of "arise", meaning to spring up; to ascend or to appear--
The balloon arose slowly, and the people below seemed to shrink.
"When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter."

Now that you know that, you can say--
"A question arose at the meeting, concerning the use of a rose for our company logo."

arrange, a range

Arrange or arrange ( one word ) means to set in order; to put in place according to some system or plan--
If we arrange them in alphabetical order, they'll be easier to find.
Will you arrange the flowers?

Arrange may mean to make plans or a deal of some kind--
He wants to arrange for someone to meet him at the airport.
We want to arrange for delivery on Saturday.

A range or a range ( two words, rhymes with arrange ) means one ( a ) area or tract defined by the scope, extent, or limits of something ( range )--
After you go over the hill, you'll see a range of mountains in the distance.
This gun has a range of more than a mile.
A range may be used figuratively--
We have TV's in a range of prices.

A range may also mean one ( a ) stove ( range )--
We bought a range and a refrigerator when we moved here.
There is a range in the cellar; I wonder if it works.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The vehicle has a range of 500 miles; you'll need to arrange to refuel."

with, width

With or with means accompanied by--
I would like a hot dog with mustartd.
She went to the movies with her aunt.

With also means by or through the use of--
He painted it with a decorative finish.
She cut the bread with a knife.

With also means in the keeping of, or under the care of--
We left the children with a baby sitter.

With may mean of the same opinion; or as an ally--
Are you with us or against us?

Width or width ( almost rhymes with with ) means the measure of something from side to side; how wide it is--
He wants to know the width of the shoe.
Multiply the length by the width to find the area.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Check the width of the desk with a tape measure, to make sure it will fit in the truck."

Note--"withe" ( often pronounced to rhyme with with ) means a willow twig, or some other flexible twig--
She needs a willow withe to braid into a handle for her basket.