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.
You assure a person, ensure an outcome, and insure against loss. I assure you. Please ensure it is locked. The van is insured. The test that settles it Look at what follows the verb. A person means assure. A result means ensure. Money and risk mean insure. Try it “___ the doors are locked” →…
Advice is the noun — the thing you give. Advise is the verb — what you do. She gave good advice. I advise caution. The test that settles it Listen to the ending. Advice ends in an S sound, like ice. Advise ends in a Z sound, like wise. The spelling follows the sound. Try…
Both can mean to influence. Affect is the safe verb; impact as a verb still irritates careful readers. The delay affected sales. The delay had an impact on sales. The test that settles it If you need a verb, use affect. If you need a noun, impact is natural — and so is effect. Try…
To allude is to hint at something. To elude is to escape it. He alluded to the delay. The answer eludes me. The test that settles it Ask whether something is being mentioned or being avoided. Mentioned indirectly is allude; escaping or slipping away is elude. Try it “She ___ to a possible merger” →…
An allusion is an indirect reference. An illusion is a false impression. A literary allusion. An optical illusion. The test that settles it Ask whether something is being pointed at or being faked. Pointed at indirectly is allusion; not what it seems is illusion. Try it “an ___ to Shakespeare” → a reference, so allusion….
An altar is a table in a place of worship. To alter is to change. They married at the altar. Please do not alter the file. The test that settles it Only one is a verb. If the word is doing something, it is alter. If it is a thing, it is altar. Try it…
Use between for distinct, named things. Use among for an undivided group. A treaty between three states. Popular among students. The test that settles it Ask whether you could list the items. If each one is being considered separately, use between — however many there are. If they are a mass, use among. Try it…
Immoral breaks a moral rule. Amoral stands outside morality altogether. An immoral act. An amoral algorithm. The test that settles it Ask whether the thing is capable of knowing right from wrong. If it is and it chose wrong, that is immoral. If the question does not apply, that is amoral. Try it “He lied…
You’re is short for you are. Your means belonging to you. You’re late. Bring your coat. The test that settles it Say you are in place of the word. If the sentence survives, you want the apostrophe. Try it “___ going to love this” → you are going works, so you’re. “Take ___ time” →…
Fewer is for things you can count. Less is for amounts you cannot. Fewer cars. Less traffic. The test that settles it Try to put a number in front of the noun. If three of them makes sense, use fewer. If it does not, use less. Try it “___ chairs” → three chairs works, so…
Accept is a verb meaning to receive or agree to. Except means apart from. She will accept the offer. Everyone came except him. The test that settles it Ask whether you are leaving something out. If you are, it is except. If someone is taking something in, it is accept. Try it “Everyone ___ me”…
Two is the number. Too means also or excessively. To is everything else. Two of us went to the shop, and it was too far. The test that settles it Deal with the number first — if you mean 2, it is two. Then try also or excessively; if either fits, it is too. Otherwise…
Complement completes something. Compliment praises someone. The wine complements the dish. She paid him a compliment. The test that settles it Look at the middle letter. Complement has an e, like complete — and that is what it does. Try it “The scarf ___ the coat” → it completes the outfit, so complements. “He ___…
Stationary means not moving. Stationery is paper and pens. The bus was stationary. She ordered new stationery. The test that settles it Stationery holds envelope’s e. Stationary holds the a of stand. Try it “traffic was ___” → it was standing still, so stationary. “the ___ cupboard” → it holds paper, so stationery. Stationary: not…
Lay needs an object — you lay something down. Lie does not — you simply lie down. Lay the book on the table. Go and lie down. The test that settles it See whether a thing can follow the verb. If something is being put down, use lay. If a person or thing is settling…