Quick Answer Illicit (adjective) means illegal or not allowed: “illicit trade”. Elicit (verb) means to draw out a reaction or answer: “Her joke elicited a laugh.” They sound identical — the meanings are worlds apart. Illicit and Elicit — See the Difference Same sound, completely different jobs. Look: Did you see the pattern? Illicit describes…
Quick Answer Ensure = make sure something happens. Insure = buy insurance (money protection). Assure = tell a person “do not worry.” “I will ensure the door is locked.” “We insured the car.” “She assured me it was safe.” Ensure, Insure, and Assure — See the Difference These three words look and sound almost the…
Quick Answer Awhile (one word) means “for a short time.” Use it after a verb. A while (two words) means “a period of time.” Use it after words like for, in, or after. ✓ Stay awhile. (= Stay for a short time.) ✓ Stay for a while. (= Stay for a period of time.) Awhile…
Quick Answer Cite means to mention or quote a source. Site means a place or location. Sight means the ability to see, or something you see. They all sound the same, but they mean three very different things. Cite, Site, and Sight — See the Difference These three words sound exactly the same when you…
Quick Answer The past tense of sweep is swept. “Sweeped” is not a real word. Use swept for the past and with have/has/had. Every day: I sweep the floor. Yesterday: I swept the floor. Many times: I have swept the floor this week. Sweep, Swept — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Look at how…
Quick Answer The past tense of take is took. When you use it with have, has, or had, say taken. Example: “I took the bus yesterday” and “I have taken that class before.” Take, Took, Taken — See the Pattern The verb take changes in a special way. It does not follow the usual “-ed”…
Quick Answer The past tense of swim is swam. With “have,” “has,” or “had,” use swum. Every day: I swim in the pool. Yesterday: I swam in the pool. Many times: I have swum in the pool before. Swim, Swam, Swum — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Look at how the verb changes: Did…
Quick Answer The past tense of strike is struck. With “have” or “has,” use struck. But when you talk about feelings or suffering, use stricken. Every day: I strike the ball. Yesterday: I struck the ball. Feeling: She was stricken with fear. Strike, Struck, Stricken — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Look at how…
Quick Answer The past tense of stink is stank. With “have,” “has,” or “had,” use stunk. Every day: Old fish stinks. Yesterday: The bin stank all morning. With have: My shoes have stunk since the rain. Stink, Stank, Stunk — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Look at how the verb changes: Did you see…
Quick Answer The past tense of spring is sprang. Use sprung with have, has, or had. Yesterday: The cat sprang off the wall. With have: The cat has sprung off the wall before. Spring, Sprang, Sprung — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Can you see the pattern? Did you see it? The vowel changes:…
