Palate or Palette? A Professional Editor’s Top-10 Nightmare
A wine critic describes a bold red blend as having a remarkably complex “palate,” noting hints of dark cherry and ...
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Complacent or Complaisant? Same Root, Opposite Reputations
A business consultant warns a client’s leadership team against becoming “complacent” after years of steady success, worried that comfort might ...
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Bazaar or Bizarre? A Market and a Mystery, Explained
A travel blogger describes wandering through Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, marveling at rows of spice merchants and handwoven rugs. Meanwhile, in ...
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Ensure, Insure, or Assure? They Used to Be One Word
A project manager promises her team she’ll “ensure” the deadline gets met, no matter what obstacles arise. Meanwhile, across town, ...
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Discreet or Discrete? They Used to Be the Same Word
A financial advisor promises a wealthy client complete “discretion” when managing a sensitive family trust, while in an entirely different ...
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Complement or Compliment: Meaning, Difference & Correct Usage
Have you ever written, “Thank you for the wonderful complement,” only to wonder later whether you chose the correct spelling? ...
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Suit or Suite? Don’t Make This Common Mistake
Imagine you’re booking a luxury hotel for an important business trip. You proudly tell your colleague, “I reserved a suit ...
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Sole or Soul? The Homophone That Trips Up Even Careful Writers
A shoe repair shop hangs a sign in the window advertising “sole replacement services,” while just down the street, a ...
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Habibi or Habibti? Getting This Arabic Term of Endearment Right
A tourist visiting Beirut strikes up a friendly conversation with a shopkeeper, who warmly calls him “habibi” while wrapping up ...
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Lots or Lot’s? The Apostrophe Mistake Almost Everyone Makes
A text message reads, “Thanks so much, that means lot’s to me!” The sender hits send without a second thought, ...
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