You emigrate from a country and immigrate to one. Same journey, different end of it. They emigrated from Poland. They immigrated to Canada. The test that settles it Follow the prefix. E- means out, as in exit. Im- means in, as in import. Try it “___ from Ireland in 1890” → leaving, so emigrated. “___…

Eminent means distinguished. Imminent means about to happen. An eminent historian. An imminent announcement. The test that settles it Ask whether you are describing a person’s standing or an event’s timing. Reputation is eminent; timing is imminent. Try it “an ___ surgeon” → distinguished, so eminent. “___ collapse” → about to happen, so imminent. Eminent:…

Empathy is feeling with someone. Sympathy is feeling for them. She showed real empathy. He sent his sympathy. The test that settles it Ask where the feeler is standing. Inside the other person’s experience is empathy; alongside it, looking on, is sympathy. Try it “she knew exactly how it felt” → shared experience, so empathy….

To envelop is to wrap around. An envelope is the paper thing. Fog enveloped the town. A stamped envelope. The test that settles it The silent e makes the noun, and it changes the stress: en-VEL-op is the verb, EN-vel-ope the thing. Try it “seal the ___” → a thing, so envelope. “darkness ___ the…

Especially means above all. Specially means for one particular purpose. Cold, especially at night. A suit made specially for him. The test that settles it Try above all. If it fits, use especially. If you mean for that purpose, use specially. Try it “I love autumn, ___ October” → above all, so especially. “a tool…

One word is an adjective meaning ordinary. Two words mean each day. Everyday clothes. She walks every day. The test that settles it Try putting single in the middle. If every single day works, use two words. Try it “I check it ___” → every single day works, so two words. “___ language” → every…

Farther is for physical distance. Further covers everything else — and distance too. Two miles farther. No further questions. The test that settles it If you could measure it in metres, either word works. If you could not, only further does. Try it “walk a little ___” → measurable, so either, though farther is traditional….

To elicit is to draw something out. Illicit means illegal. The question elicited a smile. An illicit trade. The test that settles it Only elicit is a verb. If the word describes something, it is illicit. Try it “___ a response” → an action, so elicit. “an ___ affair” → describing it, so illicit. Il-…

Dessert is the sweet course. Desert is dry land — or, as a verb, to abandon. Pudding for dessert. The Sahara desert. The test that settles it The sweet one has two s, because you always want a second helping. Try it “what is for ___?” → the sweet course, so dessert. “crossing the ___”…

Device is the noun — a thing. Devise is the verb — to invent. A clever device. They devised a plan. The test that settles it Same pattern as advice / advise. The c word is a thing; the s word is an action, and it ends in a Z sound. Try it “a mobile…

To die is to stop living. To dye is to colour something. The plant will die. She dyed her hair. The test that settles it The y stands for the colour. If there is pigment involved, it is dye. Try it “___ the fabric blue” → colour, so dye. “the batteries will ___” → stop…

Discreet means careful not to attract attention. Discrete means separate. A discreet enquiry. Three discrete stages. The test that settles it Look at where the es sit. In discrete the two es are separated by a t — and that is what the word means. Try it “kept it ___” → quiet and tactful, so…

Disinterested means impartial. Uninterested means bored. A disinterested referee. An uninterested audience. The test that settles it Ask whether the person has something to gain. No stake in the outcome is disinterested; no attention paid is uninterested. Try it “a ___ observer” → no stake, so disinterested. “___ in football” → bored by it, so…

Dual means two of something. A duel is a fight between two people. Dual nationality. A duel at dawn. The test that settles it Only duel is a thing that happens. Dual never stands on its own — it always describes a noun. Try it “a ___ carriageway” → two of something, so dual. “fought…

Conscience is your sense of right and wrong — a noun. Conscious means awake or aware — an adjective. A guilty conscience. She was conscious throughout. The test that settles it Only one is a thing you can have. If you can put a or my in front, it is conscience. Try it “my ___…