Born in Miami, Florida, Mateo is a bilingual educator with a Master's in Spanish Education. He has spent the last decade developing Spanish curricula. Mateo is passionate about helping students master conversational Spanish and everyday vocabulary.
A council is a group of people. Counsel is advice, or the lawyer giving it. The city council met. She sought legal counsel. The test that settles it Ask whether you mean a body of people or the giving of advice. Only counsel can be a verb. Try it “the parish ___ voted” → a…
Credible describes something worth believing. Credulous describes a person who believes too easily. A credible account. A credulous audience. The test that settles it Ask which side of the belief you are describing. The thing believed is credible; the believer is credulous. Try it “a ___ explanation” → the explanation is believable, so credible. “a…
Canvas is heavy cloth, or a surface to paint on. To canvass is to ask people for their views or votes. A blank canvas. They canvassed the whole street. The test that settles it The double s belongs to the verb. If you are doing something to people, it is canvass. Try it “an oil…
Capital covers cities, money and big letters. Capitol is one specific building. Dhaka is the capital. The Capitol in Washington. The test that settles it The o in capitol matches the o in the dome of the building. Everything else takes -al. Try it “the ___ of France” → a city, so capital. “marched on…
To censure is to criticise formally. To censor is to cut material out. The board censured him. The scene was censored. The test that settles it Ask what happened to the words. If they were removed, that is censor. If a person was condemned, that is censure. Try it “the committee ___ the minister” →…
Cite is to quote a source. Site is a place. Sight is what you see. Cite the study. A building site. Out of sight. The test that settles it Only cite is normally a verb. If the word is a thing, ask whether it is a location (site) or something seen (sight). Try it “please…
Climactic belongs to a climax. Climatic belongs to the climate. The climactic scene. Climatic change. The test that settles it Count the syllables in the root. Climactic keeps the c of climax. Climatic keeps the t of climate. Try it “the ___ final chapter” → the high point, so climactic. “___ conditions in the Arctic”…
Coarse means rough or crude. Course is a path, a class, or part of a meal. Coarse sand. A history course. The test that settles it Coarse is only ever an adjective. If the word is a thing, it is course. Try it “___ language” → describing the language, so coarse. “the main ___” →…
The whole comprises the parts. The parts compose the whole. The book comprises ten chapters. Ten chapters compose the book. The test that settles it Look at what comes first in the sentence. If the whole is the subject, use comprises. If the parts are, use compose — or the more natural make up. Try…
Bare means uncovered. Bear means to carry or endure — and it is also the animal. Bare feet. I cannot bear it. The test that settles it If you can put naked or minimal in its place, it is bare. Otherwise it is bear. Try it “the ___ minimum” → the smallest amount, so bare….
Because always gives a reason. Since gives either a reason or a point in time — which is why it can be misread. We left because it was late. I have not seen him since Tuesday. The test that settles it Try replacing the word with from the time that. If that reading is possible,…
Beside means next to. Besides means in addition to, or apart from. Sit beside me. Besides, it is too late. The test that settles it The s adds something. Beside is position; besides adds an item or an argument. Try it “He stood ___ the door” → a position, so beside. “___ the cost, there…
Breath is the noun. Breathe is the verb. Take a deep breath. Try to breathe slowly. The test that settles it The silent e marks the verb, and it changes the sound: breath rhymes with death, breathe with seethe. Try it “out of ___” → a thing you can run out of, so the noun…
Bring moves something towards the speaker. Take moves it away. Bring it here. Take it there. The test that settles it Ask where you are standing in the sentence. Movement towards that point is bring; movement away from it is take. Try it “Please ___ the file to my desk” → towards me, so bring….
Anxious carries worry. Eager carries enthusiasm. Anxious about the results. Eager to begin. The test that settles it Ask how the person feels. Dread points to anxious; keenness points to eager. Try it “___ about the interview” → nervous, so anxious. “___ to start the new job” → keen, so eager. Anxious: worried Uneasy about…