Word Trap

Word traps are ever so inviting, swallowing us into gaffes and indiscretion. Some borne of sheer ignorance others of confusion.  The pedagogue instinct in me prompts me to  question, why should I learn alone? Then again, nothing is selfless. Driven by selfish motivation, to have you walk into fewer word traps and in the bargain check me when I do, a list of word traps follows:

1. 100s ≠ hundreds. It is one hundreds.
2. 360 degrees = back to square one. Diametrically opposite is 180 degrees
3. A.D. ≠ After Death. A.D. = Anno Domini - Latin for "in the year of the Lord."
4. B.C.E = Before the Common Era and C.E = Common Era is the new, less sectarian A.D. and B.C.
5. A.M. = Ante Meridiem Latin for "before noon". P.M. = Post Meridiem -"after noon." Hence 12 A.M. L. It is noon. Period.
6. Able to: People are "able to". Things are not "able to".
1. You will be able to read through this document.
2. Crawler will be able to read through this document. Incorrect.
7. Accurate ≠ Precise
1. Accurate measurements reflect true values.
2. Precise: The degree to which an instrument or process will repeat the same value.
8. Actionable  ≠ Doable
1. It is a legal term for something that provides ground for legal action or lawsuit. So please watch text of your next email and MOMs.
9.  Ad nauseam  ≠ ad nauseum and definitely not ad nausea.
1. Ad nauseam is  misspelled to quite a "sickening degree"!
10. Administer not administrate. The latter is just an unnecessary substitute.
11. Admission works across contexts but admittance is physical entry to a place. Hence signs say "No Admittance"
12. Advice vs Advise
1. Advice is a noun- I want to seek advice on this matter.
2. Advise is a verb- She makes a living by advising people on self-development.  
13. Agnostic ≠ Atheist
1. Agnostic: do not believe that existence of god can be proven.
2. Atheist: do not believe in god.
14. All in all not All and all.
1. Meaning: All things considered, after all, nevertheless.
15. Allude vs Refer
1. Allude = indirect reference or suggestion
2. Refer = direct reference
16. Almost & Only
1. Modify the word or phrase that follows immediately after
2. Almost: She almost donated twenty grands to the NGO. She donated almost twenty grands to the NGO. There is a big difference!!
17. Alternate vs Alternative
1. When you mean " every other" it is alternate.
2. Her spa appointments are on alternate Sundays.
18. Amoral vs Immoral
1. Amoral is unrelated to morality
2. Immoral is when you denounce someone's behavior.
19. Ancestor vs Descendant
1. Your grand-parents are your ancestors, you are their descendant. (Famous Harry Potter verbal bumble)
20. Antihero vs Villain
1. Antihero is a central hero who is not very admirable. Not a villain.
21. As Best vs As best as
1. Eliminate the second as. Example: I will do as best I can.
22. A Piece vs Apiece
1. Apiece = each | A piece = part of something
2. Example: the shoes are just 500 bucks apiece. Serve me a piece of the pie.
23. Attain vs Obtain
1. Attain = reach, often with difficulty and effort | Obtain = get
24. Augur vs Auger
1. Augur = foretell | Auger = tool for boring holes
25. Avenge  ≠ Revenge
1. You avenge a wrong not revenge it.
26. Avocation vs Vocation
1. Avocation = hobby | Vocation = Job
27. Awhile vs a while
1. Awhile (adverb) = for a time. Example stay awhile
2. A while = object of preposition. Example stay for a while.
28. Asocial vs Antisocial
1. It is in the intensity. Indifference to society is asocial, hostility is antisocial.
29. Asterisk *
1. Pronounce it with the "isk". Not as Astericks / Asterix/Asterik!
30. Back seat vs Back-seat
1. Back seat as a noun: sit in the back seat.
2. Back-seat as an adjective: back-seat driver. Back-seat area
31. Back up vs Back-up
1. Back up: as an activity. Back up the car.
2. Back-up: as a thing. Back-up files.
32. Backward vs Backwards
1. As an adjective it is always, Backward. Example: backward approach, backward glance. When in doubt use backward.
33. Based around vs Based off vs Based on
1. Based on it is. Plot is based around/ off is incorrect. Plot is based on…
34. Beg Belief vs Beggar belief
1. Beggar: implies to make one's abilities seem poor or inadequate. Hence beggar belief/description.
35. Beg the question
1. An argument that improperly assumes as true the very point the speaker is trying to argue for is said in formal logic to "beg the question."
2. Example: This car is expensive because it evidently cost a lot.
36. Belief vs Believe
1. Acid test: You have a belief; you do believe.
37. Benefactor vs Beneficiary
1. Benefactors give benefits; beneficiaries receive them
38. Beside vs Besides
1. Beside = next to. She was sitting beside me.
2. Besides = other than/ in addition to. What are our options besides the ones I stated?
39. Better
1. I better get dinner, before the kitchen shuts: is incorrect. It is I 'had better' shortened to 'I'd better'.
40. Between
1. Between X and Y, X to Y. Visit me between 3 and 4 not 3 to 4.
2. Between you and me, not you and I
41. Bi and Semi
1. Bimonthly/weekly  = every 2 months/weeks
2. Semimonthly/weekly = twice every month/week
42. Blatant
1. Means brazen not obvious. Hence use it with discretion. It is definitely not flattering.
43. Blindsided vs Blindsighted
1. When you are struck by surprise from an unexpected direction, you are blindsided, as if from your blind side.
44. Bloc vs Block
1. A group of people or nation are referred to as a bloc. Hence, bloc of right winged leaders, united nations bloc.
45. Bon appetit
1. pronounced "bone ah-puh-TEE". All other versions are bon a rien (good for nothing)
46. Bored of vs Bored with
1. when you get tired of something you are bored with it (not of it).
47. Born of vs Born out of
1. It is born of and borne out.
48. Brainchild
1. A person is not a brainchild, a product or thing is of one's creative mind.
49. Bring vs Take
1. Bring = Arrival | Take = Departure
2. Bring me chocolates from Switzerland. Take her presents from India, when you travel next.
50. British vs English
1. Britain = England + Scotland + Wales and are called Britons
2. English = England only.
51. Bumrush vs Bum's rush
1. Bumrush: to crash into a show hoping to see it, for free. A police raid.
2. Bum's rush: To be thrown out unceremoniously.
52. Buck naked vs butt naked
1. It is actually buck naked!
53. Celibate vs Chaste
1. Celibate = unmarried. Could be having wild sex hence not chaste!
2. Chaste = someone not having illicit sex. Could be having wild sex with spouse!!
54. Censor | Censure | Sensor | Censer
1. Censor: think movie censor board
2. Censure: is to official denounce as offender
3. Sensor: your electronics are equipped with sensors!
4. Censer: Church incense burner
55. Centre on and revolve around.
1. Centre around! No.
56. Chicano | Hispanic | Latino
1. Chicano = Mexican American
2. Hispanic = Spanish + Latin Americans
3. Latino = includes Portuguese speaking Brazilians
57. Coat Tails vs Apron Strings
1. Coat Tails: to hold on to coat tails is to be a free loader, get unearned benefits
2. Apron Strings: dependency. Mama's boy
3. No such thing as coat strings!
58. Coiffeur | Coiffure
1. Coiffeur- Hairdresser | Coiffure- Hairdo
59. Colon vs Semicolon
1. Colon : connects. The grocery list is as follows: Tea, sugar, coffee, milk
2. Semicolon: separates. I have been working on this post for 2 hours; I can't get enough of it.
60. Compare to /with
1. When drawing similarities use 'to'
2. When comparing similarities and dissimilarities use 'with'
61. Concerted effort
1. Is always of a team, not of an individual.
62. Conflicting vs Conflicted
1. Conflicting feelings not conflicted feeling.
2. One does not feel conflicted.
63. Continual vs Continuous
1. Continuous = uninterrupted.
2. Continual = happening periodically /repeated
64. Connote vs Denote
1. Denote = literal meaning | Connote = how it is understood
2. Example determined and pig-headed denote stubbornness. The former has a wise connotation the later a foolish one.
65. Cope with not Cope up
66. Couldn’t care less not could care less
67. Council | Counsel
1. Council: official group that deliberates
2. Counsel: get advice
3. Consul: local rep of a foreign government. Foreign consulate
68. Crepe is pronounced as rhyming with step.
69. Craft
1. When used for vehicles like aircraft/watercraft it is both singular and plural. Hence two aircraft
2. When used for hobbies add the 's'. Handicrafts
70. Criterion-Singular | Criteria - Plural
71. Crucifix | Cross
1. Crucifix: Cross with Christ -Catholics
2. Cross- Just the cross- Protestants
72. Ethnicity
1. Afghan = citizens of Afghanistan, Afghan food/clothes/women. Currency is Afghani.
2. Arab = person from Arabian peninsula. Arabic = their language. Hence Arab food/clothes/women/customs/countries/group
73. Hybrid
1. "in the same vein" = "along the same line" but their hybrid "along the same vein" = No go.
74. One Word
1. Nowhere | Somewhere | Anywhere
75. Two words
1. "After all"
2. When Anyone means anybody then 1 word. When it means any single one then 2 words any one.
1. Example: Anyone can dance. Any one can qualify to the next round.
3. Any time is 2 words, traditionally.
4. Anyway over Anyways. Any way wins over anyway.
5. A cappella ≠ Acapela or any other version. Two words, two Ps, two Ls.
76. Gender and Numbers
1. Alumnus -male singular | Alumni - male plural
2. Alumna- female singular | Alumnae- female plural
3. When in doubt use the abbreviation alum!
77. Quantity matters:
1. Amount vs Number-Acid test: If you can't count to measure, use number not amount.
2. Few = count, Less ≠ count. Example: I drink less coffee. I drink a few cups of coffee.
3. Likewise Many = count, Much ≠ Count. Example: Many people showed up at launch. Not much crowd showed by the launch.
4. Between 2 people but amongst 3 of us. Amongst is used for 3 or more.
5. It is As follows, always. Never as follow. Irrespective of the number that follows. My request is as follows.
6. Plural of basis = bases
7. Behavior is always singular.
78. UK vs US
1. Centre vs Center | UK = re,  US = er. That's all!
2. In US: Anymore = Nowdays | Any more = all other uses. In U.K. there is just one version - any more.
1. I don’t party anymore.
2. You won’t make mistakes any more.
79. Redundancies
1. This year we got an additional bonus for the company announcing its IPO.
2. It was a memorable experience and plus we got some unique souvenirs. Same rule applies for 'and also' = and or also.
3. Advocate for- just advocate. I advocate for right to gender orientation.
4. All: In negative statements, one does not need all. All the guests were dressed in formals.
5. ATM not ATM machine. ATM = Automated Teller Machine.
6. As per | In accordance with: PFA the note as per /in accordance with your requirement . How about- PFA the note as required.
7. As yet / as of yet can be replaced with yet. I have yet not received the communication.
8. Close proximity
9. Compare and Contrast
10. Considered as | Regarded as | Deemed as. Do away with the as.
80. Be positive
1. 'At all' is used in negative contexts. Good: Can you not help me at all? Bad: Can I help you with anything at all?
2. Thank you- Good: You are welcome. Bad: No Problem. Unless you really would not like another such ask coming your way, be gracious and positive.

A lot more to come! WIP. Stay tuned