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Too Close Together

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March 24, 2008, 13:46
Timbo
Too Close Together
adjure/abjure

abnegate/abdicate/abrogate/arrogate

fatuous/patulous/petulant/feculent/feckless

These, gentlemen, are my bugaboos. Nay! My incubi. What words have you had a modicum of difficulty learning due to their fraternal resemblance to neighboring words? Also, what was the best way you found to overcome such encounters?
March 24, 2008, 14:56
jerry thomas
I am adverse to answering your questions and the best way to overcome such encounters is to avoid them. Writers who seriously want to communicate will be averse to being entrapped by the averse / adverse controversy...

Conversely, it was good of you to bring it up, albeit indirectly.
March 24, 2008, 15:01
neveu
quote:
Also, what was the best way you found to overcome such encounters?

Abjure Latinate sesquipedalianisms.
March 25, 2008, 06:26
shufitz
quote:
Originally posted by neveu: Abjure Latinate sesquipedalianisms.
Eschew obfuscation.

(neveu, see PM)
March 25, 2008, 07:00
pearce
quote:
Originally posted by Timbo:
Also, what was the best way you found to overcome such encounters?


Avoid euphuisms
March 26, 2008, 09:20
Vanderhoof Verbivore
One that I, personally, don't have much of a problem with but have noticed frequently in newspaper copy I edit is affect/effect.
I once told the chief editor at one paper I was at that he could change affect to effect and vice versa in the copy turned in and he'd be making the right move 90 per cent of the time.
March 26, 2008, 09:43
zmježd
Carpe amphibolias.


—Ceci n'est pas un seing.
March 26, 2008, 11:01
shufitz
caveat editor
March 26, 2008, 11:25
jerry thomas
If any of this inspires you to seek Dan Quayle quotes, here
is a link.
March 27, 2008, 04:47
wordmatic
quote:
carpe amphibolias


Seize the frog?
the salamander?

flaunt/flout, flounder/founder are two other pairs that fool people.

Wordmatic
March 27, 2008, 07:36
arnie
Seize the ambiguity.


Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
March 27, 2008, 07:59
arnie
Stationary/stationery
Access/excess
Allusion/illusion

Lots more ...


Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
March 28, 2008, 11:35
arnie
Another pair often confused is discreet/discrete.


Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
March 28, 2008, 11:47
zmježd
discreet/discrete

Not helped by the fact that they're both of the same origin.


—Ceci n'est pas un seing.