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.
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…
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…
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…
There is a place. Their shows possession. They’re is they are. Put it over there. Their car. They’re late. The test that settles it Try they are. If the sentence still works, the answer is they’re. If not, ask whether you mean a place or an owner. Try it “___ coats are wet” → the…
Whose shows possession. Who’s is who is or who has. Whose turn is it? Who’s next? The test that settles it Expand the apostrophe to who is. If the sentence still works, it is who’s. Try it “___ bag is this” → who is bag fails, so whose. “___ calling” → who is calling works,…
Lose is a verb — to no longer have something. Loose is an adjective — not tight. Do not lose your keys. The handle is loose. The test that settles it Count the letter O. One o and you are losing something. Two, and it is loose, which rhymes with goose. Try it They are…
It’s is short for it is or it has. Its means belonging to it. It’s raining. The dog wagged its tail. The test that settles it Read the sentence with it is in place of the word. If it still makes sense, you want the apostrophe. Try it “___ been a long day” → it…
Than compares. Then is about time or what comes next. Taller than me. We ate, then left. The test that settles it Ask whether you are holding two things up against each other. If you are, it is than. If you could say next or at that time, it is then. Try it “Cheaper ___…