Is the burial of a dead body interment or internment? If a person dies without making a will, do they die interstate, intestate, or intrastate? Is a small island an aisle or an isle? Which one is possessive: it’s or its?
interment ceremony, wikimedia commons
interment, internment
Interment is the burial of a dead body in a grave or tomb. It is also the act of removing from sight or consideration.
The interment of the professor was attended by the entire faculty and student body.
Internment is confinement.
Internment of the prisoner will begin immediately.
a will, flickr
interstate, intestate, intrastate
We’re going to look at the adjective definitions of these words.
Interstate means connecting or involving different states.
Interstate commerce is thriving.
If a person dies intestate, it means that this individual has died without making a will.
Melinda’s parents died intestate.
Intrastate means existing or occurring within the boundaries of a state, especially of the United States.
She plans on growing her intrastate business into an interstate one.
Coast Guard Flotilla 10 prepares to sail the English Channel and invade Nazi-occupied France, Coast Guard Compass
invade, inveighed
To invade is to enter forcefully with hostile intent. Enemy forces could invade a town or country A robber could invade your home. A virus could invade your bloodstream. To invade also means to intrude upon, infringe upon, or permeate.
The tribe planned how to invade the village.
Inveighed means to have protested strongly or attacked vehemently with words.
The peaceful group inveighed against illegal immigration.
iron, wikimedia commons
ion, iron
An ion is an electrically charged atom or group of atoms formed by the loss or gain of one or more electrons.
In chemistry class today, we are going to learn about ions.
Iron is a ductile, malleable, silver-white metallic element, scarcely known in a pure condition, but much used in its crude or impure carbon-containing forms for making tools, implements, and machinery. Iron is also something hard, strong, rigid, unyielding, or the like.
The flag was hung atop an iron pole.
wedding aisle decorated, wikimedia commons
isle, aisle
An isle is a small island.
A fire was burning on the distant isle.
An aisle is a walkway between or along sections of seats in a theater, classroom, or the like.
The bride ignored the flutters in her stomach and concentrated on not tripping as she walked down the aisle.
Islet of Pontikonisi – Corfu – Ionian Islands – Greece, wikimedia commons
islet, eyelet
An islet is a very small island.
The boaters could see the islet was filled with animals.
An eyelet is a small hole for decoration, as in embroidery. It is also the metal ring that lines this small hole. An eyelet is also a peephole.
She had trouble poking the needle through the eyelet.
It’s a Wonderful Life, wikimedia commons
it’s, its
A lot of people confuse these two words, and I can understand why. We are taught that to make a word possessive, you add an ‘s to it. So, it’s looks like it would be possessive.
It’s is a contraction though. It is another way of saying it is or it has.
It’s going to be a long day.
It’s got to be a joke.
Its is possessive.
Its eyes glowed in the dark.
reading, the-bookworm.net
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