Posts by Kathrine

Rime and rhyme are both correct English spellings, but they are not equally common in everyday writing. Rhyme is the standard spelling when referring to words with matching sounds, poetry,…

Accessory is the standard spelling used in modern English for an additional item that complements, improves, or completes something. Accessary is also a legitimate English word, but it has a…

Collaborate and corroborate are both correct English words, but they have very different meanings. Collaborate means to work together with another person or group to achieve a shared goal, while…

Gaudy is the correct and standard spelling of the adjective meaning excessively bright, showy or decorated in a way that attracts attention and often looks unattractive. Gawdy is a nonstandard…

Creek and creak are two correctly spelled English words, but they have completely different meanings. Creek is a noun that refers to a small stream or narrow waterway, while creak…

Ardor and ardour are two correct spellings of the same English word. Both mean intense enthusiasm, passion, or strong devotion toward something. The difference is regional spelling: ardor is the…

Prove and proof are closely related, but they normally play different grammatical roles. Prove is mainly a verb meaning to show that something is true, correct, or valid. Proof is…

Sole and soul are pronounced the same, but they have different meanings, spellings, and grammatical uses. Sole can mean “only,” the bottom of a foot or shoe, or a type…

Both “this is she” and “this is her” are used in English, but they reflect different approaches to pronoun use after the linking verb is. “This is she” follows the…

Both conform with and conform to are grammatically correct, but conform to is generally the more natural choice when something follows a rule, standard, requirement, or specification. Conform with is…