When you seek help from a friend, are you asking for advice or advise? If you are wealthy, are you affluent or effluent? Is a soft blanket an afghan or an Afghan? Would your friend be an allay, an alley, or an ally?
Double Shells Afghan Blanket, www.etsy.com
adverse, averse
Adverse means opposite, opposing, or unfavorable.
The adverse criticism left Melody wondering whether she should choose another career.
Averse means having a strong feeling of repugnance or opposition.
After watching her mom struggle with an addiction to pain medications, Julia was averse to taking medication of any kind.
advice, advise
Advice is a recommendation given to try and help one through a troubling situation.
Charla asked her best friend’s advice on whether or not she should continue dating Derrick.
When you advise someone, you give counsel to them or offer an opinion.
Patricia longed for someone who knew what the situation was to advise her.
affinity, infinity
Affinity is a natural strong attraction between people or a strong attraction to certain things.
Their affinity for each other was obvious to everyone they met.
Infinity is unlimited space, time, or distance.
“Our love will last for for infinity,” Mark said as he looked deep into Debra’s eyes.
pile of hundred dollar bills, picturesofmoney.org
affluence, effluence
Affluence is an abundance or wealth.
The author had worked hard for her affluence.
Effluence is the act of process of flowing out.
The effluence of nasty language on prime-time television is unbelievable.
affluent, effluent
Affluent means having an abundance of money or property.
Tabitha is searching for an affluent husband so she can keep living in the manner to which she has grown accustomed.
An effluent is something that flows out.
Huge barrels were set up to catch the effluent from the fish farms.
affront, effrontery
An affront is an offensive act or word.
Lenore took his response as an affront to her reputation.
Effrontery is disrespectful boldness.
Marlene was shocked at the effrontery of her date when he demanded a table immediately at the obviously full restaurant.
affusion, effusion
Affusion is the act of pouring of water or some other liquid on something.
The affusion of cream of mushroom soup on the roast before putting it in the pressure cooker will make it tender.
Effusion is unrestrained expression.
Kiel’s habitual violent effusions doomed the marriage from day one.
Afghan women, wikimedia commons
afghan, Afghan
An afghan is a soft blanket or shawl, usually one that has been knitted or crocheted.
For a wedding gift, Sonya received an afghan that had been crocheted by her great-great-great-grandmother.
An Afghan is someone who is from the country of Afghanistan. Afghan is also the language spoken there.
The Afghan language proved to be extremely hard to learn.
Africans, Afrikaans, Afrikans
Am I the only one who didn’t realize that Afrikaans and Afrikans were words?
Africans are natives or inhabitants of Africa.
The Africans made their home next to the river.
Afrikaans is a South African language.
Jeannie had to learn her lines in Afrikaans for the play.
Afrikans are the South Africans who speak Afrikaans.
Jeannie had two Afrikans teach her how to speak Afrikaans.
after noon, afternoon
After noon is after midday or twelve o’clock noon.
The going away party will take place sometime after noon in the park.
Afternoon is the period of time between noon and sunset.
The going away party will take during the afternoon in the park.
agape, Agape
When a person stands agape, he or she is standing there with mouth wide open in wonder, surprise, or eagerness.
Mouth agape at the terrific news, Amber ran and wrapped her arms around Jerry.
Agape is a perfect, undying, and unselfish love.
Agape describes the love that Christ has for mankind.
albumen, waynesword.palomar.edu
albumen, albumin
Albumen is the white of an egg.
The albumen was not completely cooked.
Albumin is also the white of an egg, but when spelled this way, it can also be any of the water-soluble proteins found in many vegetable tissues and fluids.
Albumin is a biochemistry term.
alimentary, elementary
If a food is described as alimentary, then it is nutritious.
Maria made a New Year’s resolution to always prepare alimentary meals for her family.
If something is described as elementary, then it is simple.
The solution to the mystery of the disappearing mittens is elementary.
all-around, all around
I realize that these words appear to be exactly the same, but they are not. The hyphen changes the meaning.
All-around means talented in many areas.
Todd, an all-around musician, can play just about any instrument he picks up.
All around is two words and it means surrounding.
The dog chased her all around the block.
Childwell Alley Public Footpath, wikimedia commons
allay, alley, ally
Allay means to calm, to quiet, to settle
What was discovered today should allay your fears.
An alley is a narrow back street or a passageway.
The bank robber ran down the dark alley.
Ally as a verb means to unite. As a noun an ally is a friend.
Britain was an ally of the United States during World War II.
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