Word Mix-Up: HEROIN and HEROINE

HEROIN: The English word "heroin," a powerful opioid drug, is from the German word Heroin, a brand name that was trademarked by Friedrich Bayer & Co. in 1898. The drug was given this name because of the euphoric feeling that it can give its users, making them feel like "heroes," strong, invincible, etc.

HEROINE: The English word "heroine" refers to a female hero.

So, the word "heroin" and the word "heroine" are related, both ultimately being derived from the Greek word "hero," and they share the same pronunciation — but the two words mean very different things!

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Word Mix-Up: BARE and BEAR

BARE: The English adjective "bare" is from the Old English baer, meaning naked, without clothes (or without shoes), uncovered. It can also mean that something is empty, as in the phrase "the cupboard is bare."

BEAR: The noun "bear" is an animal, from the Germanic root *beron, meaning "the brown (one)."

There is also a verb "to bear," meaning to carry, which is from the Old English verb beran.

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Word Mix-Up: DESERT and DESSERT

DESERT: The noun "desert" (stress on the first syllable: DESert) means a wasteland, an empty place. The verb "desert" (stress on the second syllable: deSERT) means to abandon something, to leave. You can see how the two words are related: a desert is a place that is deserted, abandoned. In particular, a desert often refers to a place that is without water.

DESSERT: The noun "dessert" refers to something sweet you eat after a meal. It is from the French noun dessert which comes from the verb desservir, to clear the table, so a dessert is something served after the main meal has been removed.

The phrase "just deserts" is something different from either of the two words above! In this phrase, "deserts" is related to the English verb "deserve," and it is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable, "just deSERTS." So, when someone gets their "just deserts" that means they are getting just what they deserve. You will often see this misspelled because the stress on the second syllable really does make it sound like "dessert" rather than the usual noun "desert."

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Word Mix-Up: DEFINITELY and DEFIANTLY

DEFIANTLY: The word "defiantly" means boldly, in the sense of putting up resistance, making a bold challenge, defying someone or something.

DEFINITELY: The word "definitely" means certainly, for sure, really, without a doubt. It is an adverb from the word "definite," which means certain.

This mix-up is usually the result of a spellcheck error: if you type "definately," the spellchecker will guess that you are trying to type "defiantly."

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Word Mix-Up: PEAK and PEEK

PEAK: The "peak" of something is the top, the highest point, as in the phrase "mountain peak."

PEEK: To "peek" at something is to take a quick look at something, to sneak a glance. Little kids like to play the game "peek-a-boo" (I see you!).

There is another word that has the same pronouncitation: pique. This word is quite rare, though, since it is really used only in the phrase to "pique" someone's interest.

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Word Mix-Up: ARC and ARK

ARC: An "arc" is a curved line, part of the circumference of a circle. It is from the Latin word arcus. You can see the same Latin root in the words "arch" and "arcade."

ARK: An "ark" is a large box or container, from the Latin word arca. It is mostly used in reference to Noah's Ark and the Ark of the Covenant in the Bible. You can see the same Latin root in the word "arcane," which refers to things that are secret, locked away.

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Word Mix-Up: CAPITAL and CAPITOL

CAPITAL: The word CAPITAL has several different meanings. When you type in all-caps, you are typing in capital letters. States and countries have capital cities (Oklahoma City is the capital of Oklahoma). Capital punishment is a death sentence. Capital can also refer to wealth or other types of assets (so you pay a "capital gains" tax, for example). These are all connected to the Latin word caput meaning "head" and, by metaphorical extension, something that is superior in some way: "That's a capital idea!" (i.e. a good idea).

CAPITOL: The word CAPITOL almost always refers to a building used by a legislative body, like the United States Capitol shown below.

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Word Mix-Up: NAVAL and NAVEL

NAVAL: The adjective "naval" means having to do with ships, with the navy. It comes from the Latin adjective navalis, which in turn is from the Latin word for ship, navis. You can see that same Latin root in the English word "navigation."

NAVEL: The word "navel" means the belly button. You can also see this word in the phrase "navel orange," which refers to a variety of orange that has a little belly-button-like growth at its apex. The word "navel" is Germanic in origin, not related in any way to the Latinate "naval."

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Word Mix-Up: SUIT and SUITE

SUIT: The word "suit" (rhymes with boot) refers to a set of matching clothes, and it also refers to matching cards in a deck of cards (diamonds, clubs, hearts, spades). The verb "to suit" means to fit, to match, to be convenient. The word comes from Latin sequi, meaning "to follow, attend, pursue." This is also where the word "lawsuit" comes from, in the sense of a legal prosecution.

SUITE: The word "suite" (rhymes with street) is used to refer to a set of connected rooms or a set of matched furniture. The word "suite" comes from the same origin as a "suit" of clothes, but with a different spelling and pronunciation, as well as a different meaning.

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Word Mix-Up: AISLE and ISLE

AISLE: An "aisle" is a walkway, such as the aisle between the seats in a theater. or the aisle in a store or a church.

ISLE: The word "isle" refers to an island; it comes from the Latin insula, which you can also see in the word "peninsula" (almost-an-island).

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Word Mix-Up: IDLE and IDOL

IDLE: The adjective "idle" means inactive, not working, unemployed.

IDOL: An "idol" is a statue or some other image that represents a god or goddess. By metaphorical extension, an idol can be anyone or anything that is worshiped or admired. To "idolize" somebody is to treat them like an idol.

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Word Mix-Up: CLICK and CLIQUE

CLICK: The word "click" (rhymes with sick) is an example of onomatopoeia: to "click" means to make the sound "click," a snapping sound. This verb gives us the noun "click," and something that makes a clicking sound is a "clicker."

CLIQUE: The word "clique" (rhymes with seek) refers to a small, exclusive group of people.

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Word Mix-Up: DISCRETE and DISCREET

DISCREET: The adjective "discreet" means careful, prudent, cautious. Someone who is "indiscreet" is imprudent, reckless, inclined to reveal things that should be kept secret.

DISCRETE: The adjective "discrete" means separate, distinct, divided into pieces. Some people remember the spelling of this word because of the way that the T separates and divides one E from the other. The Es in this word are discrete!

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Word Mix-Up: TIDE and TIED

TIDE: The noun "tide" refers to the rise and fall of the sea, as in the phrase "low tide" and "high tide." The word "tide" was originally connected to the idea of due time, a division of time; you can still see that usage in the phrase "Yuletide."

TIED: This is from the verb "tie," so something that is "tied" is something that is knotted, tied together.

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Word Mix-Up: STAKE and STEAK

STAKE: A "stake" is a pointed stick or pole. It later came to refer to the post or pole where people were tied to be "burned at the stake." Stakes could be used to mark land boundaries, hence the phrase "to stake a claim."

STEAK: A "steak" is a thick slice of meat.

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Word Mix-Up: ANGLE and ANGEL

ANGEL: An "angel" is a heavenly messenger, as found in the Hebrew Bible and also in the New Testament. The English word comes from Latin angelus, which is a borrowing from Greek angelos, meaning "messenger," without any heavenly or religious connotation. The Hebrew word malakh also means "messenger," human or divine.

ANGLE: An "angle" is the space between intersecting lines. It comes the Latin word angulus. You can see the Latin root more clearly in the word "angular." There are several compounds of this word in English: triangle, rectangle, quandrangle, etc.

Although these words are pronounced differently, this is a typographical error that I have seen many times!

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Word Mix-Up: SEW and SOW

SOW: To "sow" (rhymes with "go") is to plant something in the ground. It is what the OU Sower does, for example, planting the seeds of learning. It is an irregular verb: I sow, I sowed, I have sown.

SEW: To "sew" (also rhymes with "go") is to stitch, to put together with thread.

Just to make things more complicated, there is also a noun "sow" (rhymes with "now") which refers to a female pig.

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Word Mix-Up: DAIRY and DIARY

DAIRY: The noun "dairy" dates to the late 13th century, when it referred to a building where butter and cheese were made. It is now also used as an adjective referring to cheese and other products made from milk.

DIARY: The word "diary" refers to a day-by-day journal. It is from the Latin word diarium which in turn comes from Latin dies, meaning "day."

Although these words are pronounced quite differently, it's an easy typographical error to make — and one that the spellchecker will not catch.

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Word Mix-Up: COMPLEMENT and COMPLIMENT

COMPLEMENT: The verb "complement" means to make something complete. You can see the connection between the words: comple-ment and complete. They are both from the Latin verb complere, meaning to complete.

COMPLIMENT: The verb "compliment" is from the French verb complimenter, meaning to express praise or admiration. The word "compliment" can also be a noun, meaning praise or commendation. The adjective "complimentary" means something that is given free of charge.

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Word Mix-Up: RIGHT and RITE

RIGHT: The English adjective "right" means straight, direct, not bent. It also refers to the direction right (as in the right hand), the opposite of left. The noun "right" means something that is morally right, a duty, an obligation. The Germanic root *rekhtaz is related to the Latin root reg- which you see in English words such as regulate, regular, etc.

RITE: The noun "rite" refers to a religious ceremony or custom. It is from the Latin word ritus. You can see this same root in the English adjective "ritual."

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