Published on
October 8, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
Madam is a polite way of addressing a woman (the equivalent of “sir”), but Madame (with an “e”) is sometimes used in English instead of “Mrs.” to address a woman from France or another French-speaking country.
Madam vs Madame
Madam in a sentence
Madame in a sentence
Are you ready to order, madam?
How are you Madame Dubois?
Follow me please, madam, your table is this way.
Marie Tussaud, better known as Madame Tussaud, opened her wax museum in 1835.
Published on
October 7, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
Stationary (spelled with an “a”) describes something that is “not moving,” while stationery (spelled with an “e”) means “writing materials” such as pens and paper.
So, if you want to write a letter, buy some stationery, but if you want to save on gas, turn off your engine whenever your car is stationary.
Stationary vs stationery
Stationary in a sentence
Stationery in a sentence
The dog ran across the street between the stationary cars at the traffic lights.
She wrote the letter on the paper from her personalized stationery set.
She thought she could see a dark, stationary figure standing under the tree.
He found the pen in a convenience store that had a section selling greeting cards and stationery.
One man remained stationary while the rest of the crowd dispersed.
They are having a sale on stationery and business cards this weekend.
Published on
October 7, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
Preventive and preventative mean the same thing and are used interchangeably, but since most style guides recommend “preventive,” it’s the better choice for formal writing (e.g., academic writing).
Preventive is used more frequently than preventative, especially in writing.
In spoken English, preventative is more common in the UK than it is in the US.
Preventive vs preventative in a sentence examplesThe company has put in place preventive/preventative measures to avoid similar data breaches in the future.
Despite clear signs of financial instability, the CFO failed to take preventive/preventative action to avert the situation.
Published on
October 2, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
We use evoke to mean “cause” something (especially a feeling or a memory), but invoke to mean “apply” or “reference” (a law, principle or right).
Use evoke to mean “provoke” an emotional reaction or memory (e.g., “Her painting evokes feelings of warmth and comfort”), but invoke when this is done to intentionally to support an argument (e.g., “She invoked the memory of past civil rights leaders in her speech”).
Use invoke to mean “use” a law or right (e.g., “They could invoke Article 2 of the treaty”) or “ask for assistance” from a spirit, god etc. (e.g., “The villagers would say the prayer to invoke the rain gods”).
Invoke vs evoke examples
Invoke in a sentence
Evoke in a sentence
Looking at the photo invoked some very happy memories.
Looking at the photo evoked some very happy memories.
She was criticized for purposefully invoking the words of such a controversial figure to justify her position.
She was criticized for purposefully evoking the words of such a controversial figure to justify her position.
He can invoke his fifth amendment right not to testify.
He can evoke his fifth amendment right not to testify.
The tribal ritual invokes the blessings of the participants’ ancestors.
The tribal ritual evokes the blessings of the participants’ ancestors.
Published on
September 27, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
Peek means to “look at something quickly,” while a peak is the highest point of something.
Peek can be used as a verb (e.g., “Did you peek at the gifts?) and a noun (e.g., “Did you take a peek at the gifts?”).
Peak can also be used as a verb (e.g., “We think the water level will peak at 20 ft”) and a noun (e.g., “The water was 20 ft high at the peak of the floods”).
Peek vs peak examples
Peek in a sentence
Peak in a sentence
I caught him taking a peek at the answers to the test.
The peak of the mountain rises to nearly 10,000 feet.
In tomorrow’s show, we’ll be taking a sneak peek at the latest phones to hit the market.
Her training schedule is designed to ensure that she reaches the peak of her abilities at the Olympics.
He climbed on the bench so he could peek over the wall.
Published on
September 27, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
A queue is a line of people waiting for something, while a cue is a signal indicating that something should happen or a stick used to play games like pool and billiards.
Queue is mainly used in British English and means the same as “line” in American English.
Cue and queue are pronounced in the same way (i.e., they are homophones).
Published on
September 25, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
Imbedded is an alternative spelling of embedded. The two words can be used interchangeably, but embedded is much more common and is the recommended spelling in many style guides.
If something is embedded/imbedded in a material, it is fixed deeply and tightly in that material.
Embedded/imbedded is often used figuratively to express that something is a strong and important part of a larger whole.
Embedded or imbedded in a sentence examplesThe archaeologists found a coin embedded/imbedded in the concrete foundations.
Tradition and respect are values that are deeply embedded/imbedded in the culture of the institution.
This new technology will soon become embedded/imbedded in our everyday lives.
Published on
September 25, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
Latter means “near the end” (of a period, or part of something) or refers back to the last item in a series or list, while later means “at a future time” or “more late than.”
Latter can function as an adjective (e.g., “During the latter stages of his career”) or a noun (e.g., “I prefer the latter of the two options”)
Later can function as an adverb of time (e.g., “Let’s meet later to discuss it”) or a comparative adjective (e.g., “I’d prefer a later appointment please”).
Later vs latter examples
Later in a sentence
Latter in a sentence
I asked her about it years later, but she had forgotten.
This began to change in the latter half of the century.
The parcel arrived later than they promised.
Health or wealth? Well, the former depends to a great extent on the latter.
Opera became his main focus during his later years.
There had always been ups and downs, but the latter were now becoming much more frequent.
NoteThe words latter and later are pronounced differently.
The first syllable of “latter” [latt-er] rhymes with “hat,” but the first syllable of “later” [lat-er] rhymes with “hate.”
Published on
September 23, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
Elicit means to “obtain or receive” (e.g., a response, a reaction, or information), while illicit describes something as “prohibited,” “illegal,” or “socially unacceptable.” The two words are commonly confused because they are pronounced in the same way (i.e., they are homophones).
Elicit is a verb (e.g., “Teachers often elicit what students know about a topic before teaching it”).
Illicit is an adjective (e.g., “The police found boxes of illicit goods in the truck”).
Elicit vs illicit examples
Elicit in a sentence
Illicit in a sentence
His attempts to elicit a confession were unsuccessful.
He has a history of illicit activities such as drug dealing.
The joke elicited a few smiles from some of the guests.
The platform has been criticized for allowing users to post illicit content.
They were just crocodile tears, an attempt to elicit sympathy.
The Hollywood studios would go to great efforts to cover up the illicit romances of their stars.
Published on
September 23, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 11, 2025
The phrase be supposed to is commonly used in everyday language to express obligation, expectation, or intention. A frequent misspelling of this phrase is “be suppose to.”
If you think something “is supposed to happen,” you expect it to happen because it is a prediction or plan (e.g., “It’s supposed to rain today”).
If you say someone “is supposed to do” something, you think that they should do it because it is the right thing to do, or because it is a rule or instruction (e.g., “You’re supposed to put glasses in this cupboard, not that one”).
Supposed to in a sentence examplesWe’re supposed to be going to a party this weekend.
