Ignorance Is Bliss Broken Down Into the Sum of Its Parts To uncover the meaning of ignorance is bliss, let’s first look at the individual words that comprise this saying. Ignorance (noun): Ignorance is the state of being ignorant, or
What is the origin of Et al? Et al is most commonly an abbreviation of the Latin phrase et alia, which means “and others,” with et being the Latin word for and and alia meaning others. It is also an
Beware of exceptions There is one exception to using the word than, which stems from its Old English and West Germanic roots. Nearly 417 years ago, it was common to use than in place of “when” “when as,” or even
What is the difference between subjective and objective? The word subjective, or subjectivity, is used to interpret the way we understand information from our own point of view. A subjective perspective is one that is based on personal opinions and
Examples of sociopath vs. psychopath Patients who display sociopathic traits are incapable of following social norms, although they can understand their own. Under Hare's definitions, we might find an example of a sociopath in the character of Dexter Morgan from
How are i.e. and e.g. similar? The terms i.e. and e.g. are Latin abbreviations used to clarify concepts within sentences while saving breadth for readers. After all, Shakespeare once wrote, "since brevity is the soul of wit... I will be
What is Latin, anyway? Latin is one of the oldest languages used throughout several regions of the world and is first documented in Rome, Italy around the time of 753 BC. Latin has had a profound influence over the way
Empathy is an experience of sharing one’s perceived emotions of another. We empathize with somebody based on our point of view and personal experience. Although we can come close to understanding how somebody feels in their circumstances, it’s impossible to
What’s the difference between toward and towards? The confusion surrounding the usage of toward and towards involves three primary editorial preferences: the geography of writing (i.e., British vs. American English), the Associated Press Stylebook, and formal academic writing. For casual
What’s the difference between lay vs. lie? Learning the difference between lay and lie is complicated because both irregular verbs are synonymous with each other in specific contexts. For instance, if we look up the definition of lay in a
What is the difference between capitol and capital? We associate the word capital with several different definitions, such as word title case, locations of central government offices, the act of legally executing people, finances, etc. But the word capitol is
What is the difference between to and too? To and too are some of the most common words used in the English language, but they are also two of the most confused. Both terms are prepositions, which are the little
What is the difference between principal vs. principle? There are very few instances in one's professional life that are less embarrassing than sending an important message to a supervisor or client, where simple English Language is misused. This is especially
What’s the difference between that vs. which? The confusion between that and which lies in their use as pronouns for a modifying relative clause. In a sense, we use these terms to shout out, “look here!” and to make our
How Do You Abbreviate the Word Additional? This word can be abbreviated in three common ways. The most popularly used abbreviation for additional is add’l., but other abbreviations include addt’l. and add. To use the correct additional abbreviation, you have
What Is the Abbreviation? There is one common abbreviation for the word example, derived from the Latin words exempli gratia: e.g. Example Noun In English, the abbreviation e.g. would be used to replace the phrase “for example.” It’s one of
What is the difference between alot or a lot? One of the most common mistakes in the English language involves the confusion between “alot” and “a lot." To make matters more tricky, there's also the verb "allot,” which is a
What is the difference between loose vs. lose? One of the most common mistakes English writers make involves mixing up terms like loose or lose. While we spell these easily confused words similarly, they're pronounced differently and have separate meanings.
What is the difference between advice vs. advise? Advise and advice are commonly confused words because they share similar definitions, spelling, and, often, pronunciations. But it's important to know that we use advice and advise in different parts of speech.
What is the difference between alot or a lot? One of the most common mistakes in the English language involves the confusion between “alot” and “a lot." To make matters more tricky, there's also the verb "allot,” which is a
What is the difference between fiancé vs. fiancée? The foreign words fiancé and fiancée are straight-forward when it comes to the English language because we use them to discuss one topic: marriage. Either term is gendered and adapted from the
What Does Bar None Mean? To understand the meaning of this idiomatic phrase, we must first look to one very specific definition of the word bar. In American English, bar can mean many different things and is used as many
What Does Blood Is Thicker Than Water Mean? This phrase is used to express the idea that family ties are more important than other social ties, i.e. friendships or romantic relationships; that family bonds, or those connections you have with
What’s the difference between breath and breathe? If somebody said, “I thought my train my think,” you’d be quick to say, “don’t you mean, ‘your train of thought?’” Terms like think vs. thought are exactly like breath vs. breathe. While
What is the difference between theatre vs. theater? If you’re watching a film, do you go to the movie theatre or movie theater? Do the words theatre and theater have different meanings for live performances? Understanding why the two terms
What Does Once Bitten, Twice Shy Mean? You might expect this expression to be used when someone has been bitten, say by a dog or another animal. But that’s not the case. You see, as an idiomatic expression, this phrase
What is the difference between aid vs aide? It’s easy to see why aid and aide are commonly confused words. Either term describes the concept of assistance, whether it’s helping someone in need or contributing toward a cause. But although
What is the difference between flier vs. flyer? The English words flier and flyer are simply alternate spellings of the same noun, but as an adjective, flyer can also have different meanings. The predominant way to use flier or flyer
What is the difference between clip vs magazine? If you’re writing about guns for any reason, it’s important to learn the difference between clips and magazines. Writers that misuse the terms clip and magazine risk communicating to their audience that
What is the difference between fewer vs. less? We use the words less and fewer to indicate a decreased amount of something in comparison to another, but we don’t use these terms interchangeably. According to Garner’s Modern English Usage, the
What is the difference between was vs were? The words “was” and “were” are past tense forms of the verb “to be,” a word English speakers use more often than they realize. Whenever we use the terms are, is, am,
1. Run-On Sentences You may benefit from understanding the two types of run-on sentences—fused sentences and comma splices. A fused sentence occurs when you write an independent clause, then follow it with another independent clause without punctuation. When you separate
What is the difference between canceled vs. cancelled? We’re all familiar with the word canceled. Homebodies love it, and type-A's hates it. But for everyone else, it's just another excuse to debate over English grammar. The difference between canceled and
What is the difference between affective vs. effective? Next on our list of tricky everyday language are the words affective and effective. Both terms share similar pronunciations, spellings, and they help us describe other nouns. But if we’re describing a
Why Do We Credit Shakespeare? The Guardian quotes Shakespeare lecturer Dr. David McInnis: "The OED [Oxford English Dictionary], which saw its original volumes published between 1884 and 1928, includes more than 33,000 Shakespeare quotations...with around 1,500 of those 'the first
What is the difference between fiction and nonfiction? The terms fiction and nonfiction represent two types of literary genres, and they’re useful for distinguishing factual stories from imaginary ones. Fiction and nonfiction writing stand apart from other literary genres (i.e.,
What Does No Quarter Mean? In everyday conversation, the idiom no quarter means “no mercy.” Typically the phrase is preceded by a form of the verb give; you may also hear the expression used with some form of the verb
What is the difference between presume and assume? Whether you’re learning English as an ESL student or brushing up on your writing skills, learning the differences between presume and assume is confusing. Presume and assume share similar contexts, word origins,
What Does the Road to Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions Mean? In general, this common idiom and proverb expresses the idea that good intentions don’t necessarily guarantee good results, and that good intentions matter little—if at all—if they don’t
What is the difference between supper and dinner? Most people look forward to certain meals throughout the day, whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Depending on where you live, you might use terms like brunch, high tea, or siu yeh.
What is the difference between cannot and can not? If someone is unable to do something, do you write “cannot” or “can not”? As it turns, you can use both! However, the word “cannot” is more common for English speakers
What is the difference between has and have? The words “have” and “has” share the same root verb (“have”), which means “to obtain, possess, or maintain.” But since “have” is such an auxiliary verb, many English speakers struggle to use
COMMON QUESTIONS Some of the common questions that these words may give rise to are as follows: – Do these words have different functions or different meanings in a sentence?Defence vs Defense - are they the variants of the same
WHAT ARE HOMOPHONES? Let’s begin by understanding what homophones are. It’s a term in the English language that refers to words having the same pronunciation but completely different spellings and/or meanings. So, now that you know that compliment and complement
What is the difference between ageing and aging? If you’re discussing someone that’s getting older, are they ageing or aging? As it turns out, both words are simply alternate spellings of the same word. The main difference between aging and
What Does Let Sleeping Dogs Lie Mean? Although the expression originally did have to do with furry canines (more below), that’s no longer the case. When you hear or see it used today, it means “to ignore a situation or
What is the difference between is and are? There are several confusing verbs in the English Language, but none are more tricky than “to be,” which contains eight different verb forms. “Is” and “are” are simply two of these forms,
What is the difference between may and might? May and might are modal auxiliary verbs that indicate a possibility, probability, hope, or a request. For instance, one “might” or “may” attend a concert. “May I?” and “might I?” are also
What is the difference between wellbeing and well-being? His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, once tweeted, “Compassion is concern for others–– sincere concern for others well-being founded on awareness of our experiences.” Whether you agree with the message or not,
What is the difference between explicit and implicit? The words explicit and implicit may appear similar, but they actually have opposite meanings. As phrased by Merriam-Webster, the general definition of implicit is ‘to understand without words’ or ‘to possess no
What is the difference between good and well? Did you know that statements like “I’m doing good” are grammatically incorrect? If not, you’re not alone. Even the most seasoned writers make this common mistake due to ever-changing dialects. In general,
What is the difference between systemic and systematic? The adjectives systematic and systemic derive from the word system, which is either a ‘set of interdependent things that form a complex whole’ or a ‘set of organized principles or procedures for
What is the difference between whilst and while? English speakers have used the words while and whilst for hundreds of years. But when it comes to Modern English, many writers are unsure of when to use either term. The word
Why Is There a Plural for Sky? The sky is a very large amount of space. When talking about the great extent of the sky, it is appropriate to use the plural version of sky, which is skies. Often times,
What is the Definition of the Word Curriculum As Merriam-Webster phrases it: The courses offered by an educational institutionThe high school curriculumA set of courses constituting an area of specialization The engineering curriculumThe biological sciences curriculumThe liberal arts curriculum History and
Definitions of Either and Neither According to Merriam Webster, both either and neither are a set of words that can become confusing when learning English. Using them in the correct context can take a bit of practice and in conversation,
What is the difference between ax and axe? The words axe and ax have different spellings, but they share the same pronunciation and meaning. For instance, we use an ax to split wood (noun), or we might ax down a
What is the difference between conscience and conscious? The words conscience and conscious are homophones, which means they have similar pronunciations but different spellings and meanings: The word “conscience” is a noun that describes your inner-moral compass.“Conscious” is an adjective
What is the difference between dreamed and dreamt? Dreamed and dreamt are both past tense forms of the verb dream. The main difference between the two is that “dreamt” is the irregular past tense form, while “dreamed” is the regular
What is the difference between hanged and hung? The words hanged and hung are past tense forms of the verb hang, yet they are different words with separate meanings. So what makes them different? Mostly death, actually. What-to-know for hanged
What is the difference between persons and people? If you’re talking about a group of people, should you use “persons” or “people”? Both terms are a plural form of person, but English speakers don’t always use them for the same
What is the difference between hypo and hyper? The words hypo and hyper sound and look similar, but they are actually opposite terms. As prefixes, hyper- appears in words that describe something as ‘above,’ ‘excessive,’ or ‘beyond normal.’ Meanwhile, the
What is the difference between manga and anime? Manga and anime are creative forms of Japanese storytelling known for their imagination, style, elaborate plotlines, and relatable characters. Popular examples include cult television classics like Dragon Ball Z and Naruto, which
What does the phrase chalk it up mean? Chalk it up is an English language phrasal verb that means to ascribe or credit, according to Merriam-Webster English Dictionary. This phrase is used to link an event that has occurred to
What is the definition of much obliged? Much obliged, according to Collins Dictionary, is a British English phrase used to express gratitude or thanks. The phrase is usually formal or old fashioned, an can also be written as “I am
What does the abbreviation n/a mean? According to Cambridge English Dictionary, n/a stands for not applicable or non applicable in American English. Applicable is an adjective meaning able to apply to, or affecting a person or thing. If something is
What is the meaning of the phrase pray tell? Pray tell is an idiomatic expression usually used for emphasis, or to demand an answer from someone, according to Merriam-Webster. Archaically, the phrase was used genuinely, to ask someone to explain
What does the Portuguese word obrigado mean? According to Cloze Master, the Portuguese word obrigado means “thank you.” In Portuguese, this word changes depending on who is saying it. If someone is male, they should say “obrigado.” If one is
What does the acronym TWF mean? According to Dictionary, the internet slang TWF stands for “that was funny” or “that was fun.” Urban Dictionary states that using TWF may imply a lesser reaction than an acronym like LOL, which stands
What does the word sauvage mean? According to Collins Dictionary, the English translation of the French word sauvage is “wild” or “unspoiled” when referring to animals and nature, contrasting urbanization. When referring to a person, it can mean “unsociable.” One
What is the definition of sugoi? Sugoi has a plethora of uses. Coto Academy details twenty different ways the word can be used in the Japanese language. Generally, it means “wow," which is the closest English translation. The word can
What does WYF stand for? The acronym WYF means “where you from,” most commonly, according to Urban Dictionary. This is a term that is used to ask someone’s birthplace of place of residence, and is a piece of internet slang
What does the acronym TIFU stand for? According to 7 E S L and Cyber Definitions, TIFU is an internet slang term that stands for “Today I F***ed Up.” The phrase is used to admit when someone did something wrong,
What does the acronym GDI stand for when it comes to Greek life? According to The GW Hatchet, GDI stands for “God Damn Independent” when referring to Greek organizations, i.e. a sorority or fraternity on a college campus. This refers
What is the definition of omni? According to Dictionary and Lexico, omni is a prefix or combining form that means “all” or “in all ways or places” and is used in the formation of different compound words. According to Grammarly,
What does the acronym AITA stand for? According to Wired, the term AITA is short for “Am I the Asshole?” This is used in reference to the subreddit, or subforum, of the message board site Reddit. The subreddit is entitled
What does the abbreviation FYP stand for? According to Dictionary, Urban Dictionary, and Cyber Definitions, amongst other dictionary apps, the abbreviation FYP stands for “for you page.” The for you page is the homepage of the social media app TikTok
What does the acronym MILF stand for? According to Dictionary, Cyber Definitions, and Cambridge Dictionary, the English term MILF stands for “mother I’d like to f*ck” or “mom I’d like to f*ck.” This is a very vulgar and inappropriate term
What is the definition of SFS? According to Dictionary and The Sun, there are multiple different meanings for SFS. This piece of internet slang is commonly used on TikTok, Snapchat, and other social media platforms. This slang term can either
What is the difference between biannual and biennial? What do the words biannual and biennial have in common? Time and prefixes. These two confusing adjectives use the same prefix bi-, which means ‘two’ or ‘having two.’ Therefore, we use “biannual”
What does the song 25 Or 6 To 4 mean? According to Song Facts, The Straight Dope, and Rapid City Journal, 25 Or 6 To 4 is a song by the rock band Chicago, from their 1970 album Chicago II.
What does the word brash mean? According to Dictionary and Merriam-Webster Unabridged English Dictionary, the word brash (pronounced bræʃ) is an adjective that is used to describe someone who is impertinent, hasty, or energetic but in an irreverent way. This
What does the word feisty mean? According to Vocabulary and Merriam-Webster Unabridged English Dictionary, the word feisty (pronounced ˈfaɪstɪ) is an adjective that is used to describe a person who can either be spirited or courageous, or touchy and ready
What does the abbreviation MCM stand for? According to Dictionary and Cyber Definitions, the term MCM is an internet slang term that stands for Man Crush Monday. This term is often used on social media sites like Instagram, Snapchat, and
What does the word intimate mean? According to Merriam-Webster Unabridged English Dictionary, the word intimate can be used as a noun, adjective, or verb. As a noun and adjective, it is pronounced ˈin-tə-mət. As a verb, it is pronounced ˈin-tə-ˌmāt
What is the difference between effective and efficient? When something produces an effect, we can say it’s effective or efficient. But while these buzzwords have similar meanings and spellings, that doesn’t mean we should use them the same (especially if
What is the difference between titled and entitled? The verb entitle primarily means ‘to give a right, privilege, or title (i.e., authority) to do or receive something.’ For example, authors are entitled to write their own stories, and editors are
What does the word heteroflexible mean? According to Mind Body Green and Healthline, the word heteroflexible is a type of sexual orientation in which a person considers themselves “mostly straight.” They are usually attracted to those of a different gender,
What does the word quasi mean? According to the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language as well as other dictionaries like American Heritage and Collins English Dictionary, the word quasi is an adjective that means having a resemblance by
What does the word reign mean? According to Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language and Dictionary, the word reign (pronunciation: reɪn) can be used as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, this describes the period in
What is the difference between much and many? "Much” and “many" are common English words we use to describe large quantities of things, and both quantifiers are often interchangeable with phrases like "a lot of” or “lots of." But while
What does the word strife mean? According to the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language as well as other dictionaries like Collins English Dictionary and American Heritage, the word strife is a noun that refers to a bitter or
What does the phrase touch base mean? According to Grammarly and Cambridge English Dictionary, the term touch base is an idiom that is used commonly in business contexts to mean to connect with, chat with, or check in with someone.
What does the word veracity mean? According to Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language and Dictionary, the word veracity means truthfulness or fact. In journalism, one might try to verify the veracity of the stories they are telling, or
What does the word bet mean? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary of the English Language and other dictionaries like Collins English Dictionary and American Heritage, the word bet is a noun that refers to some stake or pledge between two
What does the word bet mean? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary of the English Language and other dictionaries like Collins English Dictionary and American Heritage, the word bet is a noun that refers to some stake or pledge between two
What does the abbreviation COB stand for? According to Hub Spot, the term COB stands for close of business. This refers to the end of financial markets in EST, which define the US business hours. This is used in business
What does the abbreviation BSF stand for? According to Dictionary, the abbreviation BSF stands for best friend. This is often used on social media sites like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, and Twitter to refer to folks you consider to
What does the acronym YT mean? According to Cyber Definitions and Newsweek, the acronym YT can either stand for YouTube or whitey, meaning a white person, or a person who is not a person of color. This slang term is
What does the word doe mean? According to Collins English Dictionary and the American Heritage Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, the word doe is a noun that means a female hare, deer, antelopes, kangaroos, mice, or female rabbit. This
What does the word desu mean? According to 80 20 Japanese, the word desu is one of the first words that Japanese students encounter when using the language. Desu, or です in hiragana, is the polite form of the copula
What does the term god speed mean? The term god speed is a common misspelling of the term godspeed or Godspeed. According to Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary as well as other dictionaries like the American Heritage Unabridged Dictionary of the English
What does the word attrition mean? According to Collins English Dictionary, and the American Heritage Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, the word attrition is a noun that has a couple of different meanings. First, the word attrition is a
What does the word capricious mean? American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language and Collins English Dictionary state that the word capricious is an adjective that means something that changes unexpectedly or on a whim. A person could be capricious,
What does the word ICYMI mean? According to Cyber Definitions, the best resource for internet slang terms, the meaning of ICYMI is “in case you missed it.” This term is used to give someone information in case they are unaware
What does the word scratch mean? According to Collins English Dictionary, Your Dictionary, and the American Heritage Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, the word scratch can mean many different things as a noun, adjective, and verb. The pronunciation of
What does the acronym IDM stand for? According to Pitchfork, Urban Dictionary and Cyber Definitions, the term IDM can either stand for intelligent dance music or I don’t mind. The latter is a slang term or shorthand that one might
What does the word gnarly mean? According to Collins English Dictionary and the American Heritage Unabridged Dictionary of the English language, the word gnarly is an adjective that has a few potential meanings. The adjective gnarly can be used to
What does DL stand for? According to Urban Dictionary, the abbreviation DL stands for down low. This is a shorthand term used in text messaging when something is to be kept a secret. The meaning of the DL is to
What does the word pendejo mean? According to Dictionary and Urban Dictionary, the word pendejo is a Spanish slang term for “asshole” or “idiot.” Literally, this word translates to public hair. The word pendejo is a masculine noun and would
What is the difference between a stalagmite and a stalactite? There’s a time and place for everything in English grammar, and today our focus is on two geology terms we’re all bound to confuse: stalagmite and stalactite. The nouns “stalagmite”
What is the difference between an adjective and an adverb? Adjectives and adverbs are descriptive words that we use for different parts of speech: Adjectives modify nouns or pronouns.Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, phrases, and other adverbs. How to spot an
Analog is an American spelling of analogue, but more people are using analog as an adjective for computers/physics and analogue as a noun for the analogous. What is the difference between analog and analogue English dictionaries list analog and analogue
What is the difference between yea and yeah? Yes. Si. Oui. Ja. Da. Yeah! Yea. Yep. Yasss. If you live in the United States, you know we have many different ways of saying “yes.” But when it comes to writing
What are comparatives? According to Your Dictionary, comparatives or comparative adjectives are words that describe something by comparing it to something else. For many people, it is easier to describe something in comparison to another item for which someone already
What is a masculine gender? According to Grammar Monster, masculine gender uses he/him.his pronouns and is one of three genders in English grammar. People often use different words, i.e. masculine words and feminine words, to refer to gendered things and
What does the word punctuation mean? Punctualation is a typo or misspelling of the word punctuation. Someone might use it in a sentence to make a joke, such as “I don’t understand all those punctualation things. I can’t say them
What is a possessive noun? According to Your Dictionary, possessive nouns show ownership of a person, place, thing, idea, quality or action by adding an apostrophe, an "s" or both. This varies with whether you are making a single noun
What is a feminine gender? According to Grammar Monster, feminine gender uses she/her/hers pronouns and is one of three genders in English grammar alone with masculine gender and neuter gender. Masculine in the grammatical gender system uses he/him/his, and neuter
What is a compound noun? According to Your Dictionary, a compound noun is where two or more words join together to form a single noun. There are also compound verbs, compound adjectives, and other resulting compound forms. These can be
What is a reciprocal pronoun? According to Word Sense, there are many different types of pronouns with different functions: object pronoun/objective pronoun substantive pronoun subject pronoun subjective pronoun resumptive pronoun intensive pronoun gender-neutral pronoun pronoun demonstrative reflexive pronoun indefinite pronoun personal subject pronouns reciprocal pronoun substantival pronoun personal pronoun demonstrative pronoun epicene pronoun prepositional pronoun determinative pronoun adjective
What is a predicate? According to Dictionary, a predicate is the part of a sentence or clause that is not the subject. It is the part of a sentence in which something is said about the subject. Predicate is three
What is the difference between adaptor and adapter? If you’re looking for a hot debate regarding spelling variants, look no further than the noun “adapter,” which we can also spell as “adaptor.” Is there a correct spelling for British vs.
If you’ve heard people say surname and don’t know what it means, the Word Counter is here to help! Read on to learn everything you need to know about this common word. What Does the Word Surname Mean? According to
You may have heard about AAVE in the news or on social media. While this is a vernacular that has birthed many popular slang terms, AAVE is commonly misused and appropriated in American culture. Learn more about AAVE today so
You may have heard about the importance of staying away from GMOs — but do you actually know what the acronym stands for or what GMOs really are? Don’t worry; we’re here to clear up the confusion. In this post,
What is the difference between labor and labour? “Labor” and “labour” are two spellings of the same word: “Labor” is the preferred spelling for American English“Labour" is standard for British English (i.e., English spoken in England, Canada, Australia, New Zealand,
We all remember the stimulus payments during the first year of the pandemic. That incredible stimulus package helped many people stay afloat during an incredibly difficult time and relieved some anxiety about their finances. The stimulus served its purpose to
If you’re in business, knowing the definition of procurement is absolutely essential. In a world of supply chain management, purchase orders, stakeholders, and social responsibility, procurement covers many grounds. From purchasing goods and services to meeting the company's needs and
Cue is a word that we can use in several ways. It can be a verb, noun, adjective, interjection, adverb, or abbreviation. It can also act as a conjunction or prefix, or suffix. In addition to these usages, you may
Since emerging on social media in 2019, the phrase "OK boomer" has been used to dismiss or mock attitudes stereotypically attributed to older members of the baby boom generation and to highlight generational differences. It is also now being used
Purple is easily one of the most important colors in the world — historically, culturally, and religiously. It's a color that has maintained many different meanings ever since ancient times and has signified everything from royalty to pure extravagance. While