Continual means repeated with breaks. Continuous means unbroken. Continual interruptions. A continuous line. The test that settles it Ask whether it ever stops. If there are gaps, it is continual. If there are none, it is continuous. Try it “___ complaints from neighbours” → they come and go, so continual. “a ___ supply of water”…

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…

Criterion is one standard. Criteria is more than one. A single criterion. Three criteria. The test that settles it Count them. One takes criterion; two or more take criteria. The verb has to agree. Try it “the only ___ that matters” → one, so criterion. “the ___ are set out below” → several, so criteria….

Decent means acceptable. Descent is going down, or ancestry. Dissent is disagreement. A decent meal. The descent from the summit. A note of dissent. The test that settles it Only decent is an adjective. Of the two nouns, one is about going down and the other about disagreeing. Try it “a ___ proposal” → describing…

To defuse is to remove danger. To diffuse is to spread out. He defused the argument. Light diffused through the glass. The test that settles it Look for the fuse. Defuse takes the fuse out of a bomb, or out of a situation. Try it “___ the tension” → make it safe, so defuse. “heat…

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…

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…

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…

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” →…