Is an epitaph or an epithet written on a tombstone? Is a male horseback rider an equestrian or an equestrienne? Is a mistake an era or an error? Do you essay or assay something when you test it?
epic, epoch
Epic means heroic or very large. It is also a narrative poem, such as The Iliad by Homer.
The gang besieged the city with a crime wave of epic proportions.
Epoch is a period of time in which a memorable event takes place, or it is a memorable date. It is also a geologic period of time.
The attack on Missy, my weiner beagle, by a vicious animal that almost resulted in her death, was a traumatic epoch in her life and mine.
epicenter, center
Epicenteris the point directly above the true center of a disturbance. It is used to tell from where the shockwaves of an earthquake spread out from. Now it seems that people are starting to use epicenter as a synonym for center, whether or not there has been a disturbance.
The epicenter of the earthquake was in Harlan, Kentucky.
Center is the middle point. It is the principal point on which a person focuses, the source of action or influence.
The center of her life is her animals.
epitaph, public domain
epitaph, epithet
An epitaph is the words written on a tombstone.
She searched the cemetery for an epitaph that had been written during the Civil War.
An epithet is a nickname. It is also a word or phrase used to express hostility or contempt.
Sandra was determined to not earn a mean epithet at her new school.
equable, equitable
If something is equable, it is steady, uniform, and unchanging.
After experiencing long, cold winters for most of her life, the warm, equable climate of southern California was a welcome change.
If something is described as equitable, it is fair and just.
Each student is treated in an equitable manner.
equestrian, wikipedia
equestrian, equestrienne
An equestrian is a male horseback rider.
The talented equestrian won the race.
An equestrienne is a female horseback rider.
The talented equestrienne won the race.
era, error
An era is a period of time.
This era is the beginning of the rest of our lives, so we need to make it a great one.
An error is a mistake.
One error on the test ruined her perfect score in the class for the year.
grocery store, flickr
errand, arrant
An errand is a short trip.
Granny sent me on an errand to the grocery store.
Arrant means notorious or extreme.
Her arrant hypocrisy was noticed by every resident of the town.
essay, assay
An essay is a literary composition.
Mandi’s first assignment in her English class was to write an essay.
When you assay something, you evaluate or test it.
The scientists planned to assay the samples they had gathered from the crime scene.
commercial robbery, youtube
evert, avert
When you evert something, you turn it inside out.
Please evert your shirt so that the stain is on the inside and not visible.
Avert means to prevent.
The police were able to avert the robbery.
every body, everybody
Every body is two words. You use it when you are talking about two or more bodies.
Every body had to be examined by the coroner.
Everybody is talking about two or more people.
Everybody had to be questioned by the police.
walking the dog,watercolour silhouette, flickr
every day, everyday
Every day means each day.
Every day I take my dog for a walk.
Everyday is used to describe the noun used as common or ordinary.
The everyday activity of walking my dog was known to every person in the neighborhood.
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