are a, area

Are a or are a ( two words ) is the plural, and the second person singular ( we, you, they ) form of "be" or "is", along with the article "a", used to refer to one thing or idea--
Those children are a nuisance; tell them to stop that.
We are a new tech firm; we hope to grow and become a publicly owned corporation.

Area or area ( one word ) means a section or region of land, space, or surface--
We have plans to develop this entire area.
There is a large fenced-in area in the back of the yard.
Do you remember how to find the area of a circle?

Area may also mean a space reserved for a particular use--
The dining area is small, but you can put a table in the kitchen.
Please take the children to the play area.

Area may also mean  professional scope, or intellectual or academic field--

Ask him to write the report; it's his area of expertise.
Ask the dean; that's his area of study.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"You are a whiz at math; will this carpet cover the whole area?"

ole, olé

Ole or ole ( sometimes spelled ol' ) is an attempt to write rural dialect, meaning "old"--
He drives a rusty ole truck stuck together with wire.
"As my grandpappy Ol' Reliable used to say..."

Olé or olé is a Spanish word often used in English writing. It's a cheer, meaning "bravo" or "hurray"--
He dreamed of being famous, and hearing the crowd shout "olé!"
We couldn't hear the announcer over the shouts of  "olé".

Now that you know that, you can say--
"This ole bull thinks we're shouting "olé" just for him."

Note--'ole ( apostrophe for the missing letter in front ) may be an attempt to write British working-class or Cockney dialect, meaning "hole" or "whole"--
There's a 'ole in me boot, and me foot's sore.
I can't believe they ate the 'ole thing.
Note # 2-- "-ole" ( also spelled -ol )  is a scientific suffix ( added to the end of a word ), meaning the final element in a chemical compound--
He wants to know that thiazole is, and what it's used for.

dislike, unlike

Dislike or dislike means a feeling of aversion, displeasure, or antipathy; to regard with displeasure--
I dislike these long introductions; I wish they would get on with the program.
The dog seems to dislike him; she growls when she sees him.

Unlike or unlike means different or dissimilar; not typical or characteristic of --
This vacation will be unlike any other trip we have ever taken.
This pizza is unlike any other I've tasted!

Now that you know that, you can say--
"It is unlike her to be rude; she must dislike him intensely."

Note--on Facebook "unlike" is used to mean "no longer like" or "have decided not to like anymore".

brigantine, brigandine

Brigantine or brigantine means a particular type of two-masted sailing ship--
They're looking for volunteers to help restore an old brigantine.
We'll need to find someone who knows how to sail an old brigantine.

Brigandine or brigandine means a kind of body armor, made with overlapping steel plates for flexibility, and covered with cloth--
This old brigandine is cumbersome, even if it is flexible.
He bought a rusty brigandine at an auction, and he's busy polishing it.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The captain of the brigantine was unharmed by the assault, protected by his brigandine."

home, holm

Home or home means a house or dwelling; the residence of one or more persons--
It's cold; let's go home.
What time will you get home?
He doesn't want to go home; he's having so much fun.
Home may mean the dwelling of a bird or animal--
The bird makes his home in a nest, one he builds himself.
That hollow tree might be the home of a groundhog.
Home may also mean the place where someone was born, or the city or country a person usually lives in--
Vacations are exciting, but it's good to be home.
"There's no place like home..."

Holm or holm means a small island in a river or lake--
Let's pack a picnic lunch and row out to the holm.
We go to the river each year in June, and camp on a holm not far from the shore.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He wants to make his home on the holm in the middle of the lake."

melt, meld

Melt or melt means to become liquid or to dissolve when exposed to heat--
Melt the butter before adding it to the mixture.
If it gets a bit warmer, the ice will melt.
Melt may also be used figuratively, meaning to gradually or slowly change or dissolve--
We saw his smile melt away, and we knew the news was bad.
His smile could melt a heart of ice.

Meld or meld means to combine in a series, as in a hand of playing cards--
You can meld those cards and win the hand.
Meld may also mean a series or continuing combination, as in a hand of playing cards--
He needs a six to complete his meld.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"We've been watching the ice in our drinks melt, waiting for you to put down your meld."

burnt, brunt

Burnt or burnt describes something or someone damaged or altered by fire, heat, or the sun--
There's nothing left to mark the spot but a burnt post.
You left the cake in the oven, and now it's burnt.
He forgot his sunscreen; he's burnt all over.
Burnt may describe a pigment or color, one traditionally made darker by burning--
Should we paint the room in burnt umber, or a lighter brown?

Brunt or brunt means the main impact of a blow or attack--
She was the only one in the office, so she bore the brunt of the criticism.
The fence bore the brunt of the collision; the house wasn't damaged much.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Breakfast bore the brunt of his anger; after he complained about the burnt toast, he forgot about the rest."

mystic, mystique

Mystic or mystic describes a spiritual mystery, one accessible only to the initiated, or through an epiphany or moment of  intuition--
He believes that he has mystic powers; she thinks he's a nut.
Here's a new book by a man who claims he's had a mystic revelation.

Mystic may also mean a practitioner of spiritual mysteries; a person with special spiritual knowledge or intuition--
He believes he's a mystic; she thinks he's a nut.
A man who says he's a mystic has founded a new cult, based loosely on Buddhism.

Mystique or mystique means an aura of mystery, a set of myths or ideas that add glamour and appeal--
The reclusive poet's mystique survives him; he has inspired many imitators.
He hopes the sunglasses give him a bit of the mystique of Hollywood.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The mystique of the famous mystic and evangelist was only enhanced by her disappearance."

linger, malinger

Linger or linger means to stay on after it is time to leave; to be reluctant to go, or to take much longer than usual to go--
He likes to linger over a cup of coffee after dinner.
The aroma may linger for as long as a day or two.
Those two can linger in the doorway for hours; they can't bring themselves to say good-bye.

Malinger or malinger means to feign illness to avoid work--
Private, if you malinger in this outfit, I'll have you in the stockade.
If he said he didn't feel well, his mother allowed him to malinger, and kept him home from school.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He was tempted to malinger--to call in sick, and use the morning to linger over a good breakfast."

proud, prowed

Proud or proud means satisfied or pleased at an accomplishment; or having a high opinion of one's own importance--
All that work paid off; you can be proud of what you've accomplished.
"Death be not proud, though some have called thee, Mighty and dreadful; for thou art not so..."

Prowed or prowed  ( rhymes with proud ) describes the bow or front end of a ship--
The sharp-prowed ship seemed to cut through the waves.
The red-prowed ship was still visible from the shore.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The captain's was proud of his crew and his keen-prowed ship."

first, foist

First or first means before in time, order, importance, or rank--
You go first; we're all too nervous.
The first thing we need to arrange is internet service.

Foist or foist means to impose upon by force or deception; to include by fraud--
He tried to foist an imitation on them, but they noticed the difference in quality.
Don't try to foist any of your jailhouse lawyer philosophy on these people; they'll think we're felons.


Now that you know that, you can say--
"Our customers come first. We can't foist this inferior stuff on them; we'll use it ourselves."

Note--Foist may also be used, when writing an attempt at a Bronx or Brooklyn accent, to mean "first"--
"Dey have a man on foist and thoid. Throw da ball home."

insane, inane

Insane or insane means mentally ill or crazy--
We didn't think he was insane, but the court declared him mentally incompetent.
He rants when he gets angry; he made some insane comments to his boss and lost his job.

Inane or inane means nonsensical or silly; as an empty space or void--
If she makes one more inane comment I'm going to leave.
That's beyond stupid; it's inane.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"His inane and repetitious remarks are driving us all insane."

earl, erl

Earl or earl is the title of a British aristocrat, equal to a count in other countries with titled aristocrats--
The wife of an earl is a countess.
Does a duke outrank an earl?

Erl or erl ( rhymes with earl ) means an elf or fairy; a mischievous spirit--
He was convinced that an accident was actually mischief perpetrated by an erl.
In the gloomy forest, it seemed that an erl hid behind every tree.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The earl and his men were waylaid in the woods by an erl, and led before the erl king."

improve, improv

Improve or improve means to make better; to make more useful, profitable, attractive--
A fresh coat of paint will improve the house.
Can you think of a way to improve the design?

Improv or improv is short for "improvisational", meaning extemporaneous; without script or rehearsal--
We are going to watch an improv theater group; would you like to come?
He likes to watch improv comedy acts at a local club.
Improv may also be short for "improvisationally", meaning extemporaneously; without a script or rehearsal--
Will they be doing it with a script, or improv?

Now that you know that, you can say--
"This act is dull; we could improve it by throwing away the script and doing an improv."

earthy, earthly

Earthy or earthy means unrefined, crude, or practical--
He has an earthy sense of humor, but he never means to offend.
He shouted an earthy but sincere greeting, and everyone turned to look.
Earthy may describe something reminiscent of soil or dirt--
It has the earthy smell of the garden after it rains.
It has a wonderful earthy taste, like red wine.

Earthly or earthly means worldly; of a practical nature, as opposed to a spiritual one--
It was inspired by "A Garden of Earthly Delights", by Bosch.
While you have been arguing about theology, we have considered the more earthly problem of dinner.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"His earthy approach has helped to solve more earthly problems than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

in tune, intone

In tune or in tune ( two words ) means adjusted to a correct pitch ( of an instrument ), or singing a part or melody properly ( of a person or voice )--
That doesn't sound right. Are you sure the piano is in tune?
She sings in tune, but her voice is annoying.

Intone or intone ( one word ) means to chant; to speak in a monotone voice, as if singing--
You should hear him intone his favorite poem in a deep, unearthly voice.
The speech is so familiar to him that he tends to intone it in an odd voice, without thinking about it.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"If you can't sing in tune, maybe you could intone the lyrics, like a chant or a rap."

avast, a vast

Avast or avast ( one word ) is nautical jargon for "stop!" or "cease!"--
Avast! Pull up alongside, we intend to board your ship.
Avast! Take down that Jolly Roger, or we'll open fire.

A vast or a vast ( two words ) describes something immense; of great size or proportion--
When they got to the top of the mountain, they could see a vast desert below.
There is a vast difference between making a resolution, and actually turning over a new leaf.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Avast! There's a vast panorama visible from the deck; stop that and come and have a look."

pew, pugh

Pew or pew means a bench, usually attached to the floor, that forms the seat in a church--
Keep going until you see an empty pew.
Seat the members of the wedding party in the front pew.

Pugh or pugh ( rhymes with pew ) is an expression of disgust, most commonly used to exclaim that something is foul-smelling--
Pugh! This is spoiled; throw it away.
Who left these dirty socks here? Pugh!

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Pugh! The baby in the pew behind us needs to have his diaper changed."

Note--"pew" may also be used to imitate the sound made by some video or computer games--
"Pew pew pew! My guy got them all!"

loon, lune

Loon or loon means a type of web-footed diving bird--
That's not a funny-looking duck; it's a loon.
The dog barks in sympathy every time he hears the cry of a loon.

Loon may also mean a crazy person--
Pay no attention to him; he's acting like a loon.

Lune or lune ( rhymes with loon ) means something shaped like a crescent moon--
The lune is used on several national flags, sometimes with a star.
The lune on the door once signified an outhouse.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"For the sign, he cut a large lune out of plywood, and painted a loon swimming on it."

limped, limpid

Limped or limped is the past tense ( yesterday, or some time ago ) of "limp", meaning to walk in a faltering manner, or with an irregular gait--
He limped all the way back to camp on his sprained ankle.
He needed a cane until his leg got better, but he only limped for a few months after that.

Limpid or limpid means clear or transparent, like a still pool--
"Those cool and limpid green eyes..."
Now try to imagine that you are gazing into a limpid pool.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He limped back to the spring on his sore foot, and sat gazing into the limpid blue water."

Note--not to be confused with "limpet", meaning the small sea creature with a shell that looks like a cone--
He found a limpet stuck to a rock, and now he wants to learn more about it.

nigh, nye

Nigh or nigh is an old-fashioned word meaning near, or almost--
It was nigh daybreak before they got home.
There is an old cabin back in the woods, with a burial ground nigh it.

Nye or nye ( rhymes with nigh ) means a nest or flock of pheasants--
The dog has flushed a nye, but we aren't hunting today.
That old cat thinks he'll catch a pheasant if he stalks the nye patiently.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"As soon as that pup gets nigh the field, he barks and frightens the nye away."

Note--"NYE" or "nye" ( usually pronounced "en why ee" ) may also be an abbreviation for "New Year's Eve"--
Here are the photos of our NYE party.

a new, anew

A new or a new ( two words ) describes one thing, place, or person that is fresh, unused, or different--
"Our best wishes for a new year that is happy and prosperous."
We need a new approach, an ad that will get people talking.
Let's start a new business this year.
You need a new umbrella.
We'll have an new employee when we get back from Christmas vacation.

Anew or anew ( one word ) means again; once more--
Let's start anew, and we'll try not to make the same mistakes this time.
Tell the story anew, but in your own words this time.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"We should begin anew, with a new set of rules, and a positive attitude."