stoke, stoic

Stoke or stoke means to tend a fire by adding fuel or stirring up coals, literally or figuratively --
He used a poker to stoke the fire.
Don't forget to stoke the fire before you go to bed, or you'll be cold in the morning.
He reads a poem every day to stoke the fires of his imagination.

Stoic or stoic means without passion or emotion, even when enduring pain or grief --
She never made a sound when they set her leg; she's a real stoic.
He's a stoic; he never says a word about what's bothering him.

Stoic ( always capitalized ) describes someone or something connected to a particular school of philosophy, founded by Zeno in Ancient Greece --
He's a fatalist, like a Stoic of Ancient Athens.
A real Stoic is supposed to accept fate or destiny without complaint.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The stoic burned himself trying to stoke the fire, but he never said a word."

sometime, sometimes, some time

Sometime or sometime ( one word ) means one day; at an unspecified future date --
"Come up and see me sometime."
I'd like to go there sometime; it's on my bucket list.

Sometimes or sometimes ( one word ) means now and then, or occasionally --
Sometimes I actually enjoy my job.
He can be very annoying sometimes.

Some time or some time ( two words ) means an unspecified amount or number ( some ) of days, hours, minutes ( time ) --
It will take some time, but he will recover.
If you are willing to spend some time on it, you can do it yourself.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"Sometimes I think about meeting my online friends sometime; I'd like to spend some time with them."

pass over, Passover

Pass over or pass over ( two words ) means to ignore or to skip --
You can pass over the terms and conditions; we've heard them before.
It can't be right to pass over a senior employee when an important account is awarded.

Pass over or pass over may also mean to travel or move on ( pass ) above ( over ) --
Will the plane pass over our house?
The balloon may pass over the park; let's watch for it.

Passover ( one word, always capitalized ) means the religious festival commemorating the deliverance of the Jews from the plagues that beset the Egyptians --
The Last Supper was a Passover celebration.
At the first Passover, the Jews were saved from the plagues of Egypt, and the Exodus began.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Grandpa, pass over the introduction, and tell them the Passover story."

pour us, porous

Pour us or pour us ( two words ) means to set liquid flowing or moving, as into a glass or container ( pour ) for the speaker and one or more others ( us ) --
Innkeeper, pour us another libation!
Ask her to pour us some coffee.

Porous or porous ( one word ) means full of small holes, through which air or water may pass --
The surface is porous; we'll have to seal it.
This rock is porous, and easily broken.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He meant to pour us a beer, but he spilled it on the porous floor, and it just disappeared."

hangover, hang over

Hangover or hangover ( one word ) means the discomfort or illness felt after drinking too much alcohol --
He has a hangover; there was a party last night.
You know you'll have a hangover if you drink too much.

Hangover may also mean something left behind from a previous state of affairs --
That sign is a hangover from when the building was a tavern.

Hang over or hang over ( two words ) means to be suspended; to dangle ( hang ) above ( over ) --
We should buy a picture to hang over the fireplace.
A cloud seems to hang over his head.

Hang over may also mean to fasten to a wall or ceiling ( hang ) more than ( over ) --
We had to hang over a dozen pictures.
We could hang over twenty posters on that long wall.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"This picture of him with a hangover is just the thing to hang over his desk."

Note --"hungover" ( one word ) is used to describe the feeling of illness or discomfort after drinking to excess --
He's hungover; don't even try to talk to him.

Note # 2 --"hung over" ( two words ) is the past tense ( yesterday, or some time ago ) of "hang", meaning to be suspended or to dangle ( hang ) above ( over ) , literally or figuratively --
The chandelier hung over the table, but then we moved the furniture.
A sense of expectation hung over the crowd.

Hung over may also be the past tense of "hang", meaning to fasten to a wall or ceiling, or to suspend from a height of some kind ( hang ) more than ( over ) --
He hung over a hundred pictures today.

Not to be confused with "overhang", meaning to be suspended over, literally or figuratively --
The chandelier should overhang the table.
Gloom will overhang the guests when they hear the bad news.

Overhang also means the upper part of a building that sticks out beyond the lower wall --
This building has an overhang of about three feet; the upstairs room is larger than the downstairs.

a wash, awash

A wash or a wash ( two words ) means one ( a ) cleaning with soap and water ( wash ) --
It's in pretty good shape; it could use a wash, though.
Where have you been? You need a wash!

A wash ( two words ) may also mean one ( a ) dry creek bed, or a creek bed when it is dry ( wash ) --
Go straight down the hill until you come to a wash, then turn right.
He found a gold nugget in a wash near here.

A wash ( two words ) may also mean one ( a ) sandbar that is exposed only at low tide ( wash ) --
There's a wash here at low tide; it's good for shell collecting.
When the tide goes out you'll see a wash right here.

A wash ( two words ) may also mean one ( a ) trail left by a boat or plane ( wash ) --
The birds look for fish where they see a wash.
Is that a cloud or a wash?

A wash ( two words ) may also mean one ( a ) result or an outcome that is unsatisfactory to both sides ( wash ) --
It's a wash; we'll have to start over.
They agreed to call it a wash, with no repercussions.

Awash or awash ( one word ) means flooded or swamped, literally or figuratively --
The deck was awash; we had to hang on to keep from going overboard.
The city is awash with newscasters; the convention is this week.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The road was awash in muddy water; we all need a wash."

precision, precisian

Precision or precision means exactness or accuracy --
This must be measured with precision, or the machine will break down frequently.
With practice, you'll be able to aim this with precision.

Precisian or precisian means someone who strictly follows the letter or rules of a code of belief --
He is a precisian, like an old-time Puritan, always quoting a rule, but lacking a sense of charity.
She chastised the precisian, and called him a hypocrite and a Pharisee.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"A precisian would insist on adhering to the letter of the law with precision."

abash, a bash

Abash or abash ( one word ) means to embarrass or disconcert; to destroy the self-confidence of someone --

He won't be easy to abash; he's quite a slick operator.

It wasn't nice to abash him in front of everyone.

A bash or a bash ( two words) means one ( a  ) party ( bash ) --

We are having a bash on Friday; be there at nine.

The neighbors are throwing a bash; what a racket!

A bash or a bash may also mean one blow or thump --

He took a bash on the head; he's feeling dizzy.

Now that you know that, you can say--

"I met her at a bash last week, but it seemed to abash her when I said hello."

indecent, in decent

Indecent or indecent ( one word ) means offensive to the common standard of morals or taste; socially unacceptable; lewd or smutty--
The store was asked to remove a poster; the neighbors found it indecent.
He was arrested for indecent exposure.

In decent or in decent ( two words ) means [ in ] morally acceptable or suitable, or acceptable in a general way ( decent ) --
They were dressed in decent clothes, but their behavior was erratic.
This old thing is in decent shape for its age.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He thought he was in decent company, until they made indecent remarks to a woman."

undercover, under cover

Undercover or undercover ( one word ) means disguised, or on a secret mission, as a law enforcement official pretending to be a gang member --
He was undercover for months; you wouldn't have recognized him.
They're not sure if he's a drug dealer or an undercover agent.

Under cover or under cover ( two words ) means beneath ( under) something that conceals or protects ( cover ), literally or figuratively --
They moved under cover of darkness, slowly and quietly.
He writes under cover of a pen name.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"They didn't see the undercover detective, coming closer under cover of night."

a rose, arose

A rose or a rose ( two words ) means one ( a ) flower, the popular flower for gardens or bouquets ( rose ) --
She cut a rose from the garden and put it in a bud vase.
He wore a rose in his lapel, and she carried a bouquet.

Arose or arose ( one word ) is the past tense ( yesterday, or some time ago ) of "arise", an old-fashioned term meaning to get up or wake up --
The big cat arose, and walked slowly away.
He arose at dawn, while everyone else was still asleep.

Arose or arose may also be the past tense ( yesterday, or some time ago ) of "arise", meaning to turn up or appear, as a difficulty or complication --
The project was nearly done when a new problem arose.
We needed a lawyer when complications arose.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He gave her a rose, hoping she'd forget the doubts that arose while he was away."

artistic, artful

Artistic or artistic means having or showing creative or expressive skill --
He has an artistic way of arranging furniture.
That's an artistic flower arrangement.
He wrote an editorial about artistic freedom.

Artful or artful may also mean having or showing creative or expressive skill, but it most commonly means sly, crafty, or cunning --
That's an artful arrangement.
He's an artful liar, so don't take what he says seriously.
The Artful Dodger was a very skillful pickpocket.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He tells her that she has unusual artistic ability, and pays her artful compliments."

rouse, rows

Rouse or rouse means to stir up, excite, or wake up --
He wants to rouse the audience to a fervor with his inflammatory rhetoric.
We've called him more than once; nothing will rouse him.

Rows or rows ( rhymes with rouse ) is the plural ( more than one ) of "row" meaning an argument or a noisy dispute of some kind --
There were several rows at the party last night, but nothing serious.
They had so many late-night rows that the neighbors called the police.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The rows were blamed on the music; its violent theme can rouse tempers."

a bet, abet

A bet or a bet ( two words ) means one ( a ) wager or gamble --
He placed a bet, but he didn't expect to win.
She made a bet that she would finish the marathon.

Abet or abet ( one word ) means to help someone to commit a crime, or to aid in wrongdoing --
If you abet a crime, you may serve a prison sentence.
It's a felony to aid or abet a robbery.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"If you take a bet from him, you will abet his gambling problem."

ablate, oblate

Oblate or oblate means a person connected to a religious order, but not a member --
He doesn't want to join the order; he wants to remain an oblate.
He follows the rule of the monastery, but he is an oblate, not a monk.

Oblate is also the formal name of some religious orders of Christian monks, friars, or nuns --
He belongs to the Oblates of Saint Francis.

Ablate or ablate, most commonly a medical term, but also a general term, means to destroy or remove something from a surface --
The doctor wants to use electricity to ablate the tumor.
Uncommonly warm weather may ablate the glacier significantly.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The old oblate has cancer; the doctor used radio frequency to ablate his liver."

amount, a mount

Amount or amount ( one word ) means quantity, sum, or total --
Let me know the final amount due on this bill.
Make sure to use a generous amount of shortening.

Amount may also mean to add up to or to be the equivalent of, literally or figuratively --
This may amount to a large sum of money.
He'll never amount to anything if he doesn't apply himself.

A mount or a mount ( two words ) means one ( a ) support for a piece of equipment or machinery ( mount ) --
I can use this as a mount for my camera.
This machine will need a mount that can support its weight.

A mount may also mean one ( a ) support on which something is displayed ( mount) --
He's making a mount for a statue he found in the attic.
This could be used as a mount for that old shield.

A mount is also an old-fashioned term for one ( a ) horse for riding ( mount ) --
The squire demanded a mount worthy of his status.
Do you have a mount that a child could ride?

A mount is also an old-fashioned or poetic term for one ( a ) hill or mountain ( mount ) --
The sun's rays glanced off a mount in the distance.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Can you estimate the amount of wood we'll need to make a mount for this?"

a beam, abeam

A beam or a beam ( two words ) means one ( a ) square piece of wood or metal, used in construction ( beam ) --
He was knocked off the building by a beam the workers were moving.
You'll need a beam the right size to replace this one.

A beam may also mean one ( a ) ray or shaft, as of light ( beam ) --
A beam of light comes through the shade, very early in the morning.
The cat will chase a beam of light for hours.

Abeam or abeam ( one word ) means at a right angle to the length of a ship or plane --
There is a ship abeam of us, but I can't identify it.
The ship was abeam of the dock, and couldn't get closer.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The ship lay abeam of us, flashing a beam of light to signal for help."

repinned, repined

Repinned or repinned is the past tense ( yesterday, or some time ago ) of "repin", meaning to fasten or attach, again, with a thin sharp piece of metal, or the figurative equivalent --
The pattern came loose, so I repinned it.
She repinned one of the recipes that I shared.

Repined or repined is the past tense ( yesterday, or some time ago ) of "repine", meaning to mope or to be dejected --
He repined at the loss of his Summer romance.
It was useless, but he repined over the verdict for weeks.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He sat and repinned the ribbon to all of her old letters, and repined at the loss of his youth."

failure, fail your

Failure or failure ( one word ) means defeat or a lack of success; a malfunction or defeat, or the neglect of an obligation --
He started his own business, but it was a failure.
They blamed their failure on poor coaching.
His failure to comply with the regulations led to his dismissal.

Fail your or fail your ( two words, rhymes with failure ) means to be unsuccessful or inadequate ( fail ) followed by "your" --
You will fail your exam if you don't study.
The teacher will fail your paper if you hand it in late.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Your failure last semester doesn't mean that you'll fail your finals this term."

shell, she'll

Shell or shell means a hard outer case of some kind --
The turtle won't come out of its shell.
I got a bit of egg shell in the batter.

She'll or she'll is a contraction ( short, informal form) of "she will" --
"She'll be driving six white horses when she comes..."
When she gets home she'll be glad to see you.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"Ask Grandma if she'll help you look for a shell to put on your sandcastle."

often, oft in

Often or often ( one word ) means frequently, or on many occasions --
Is he often this grouchy?
It's our favorite restaurant; we go there often.

Oft in or oft in ( two words ) is an old-fashioned or poetic term meaning frequently ( oft ) [ followed by in ] --
"Oft, in the stilly night..."
The bard is oft in love; it fuels his poesy.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The students were oft in high spirits, and even more often in trouble."