Category Archives: Words of the Week

It’s time for “Confusing Words of the Week” where I take a set of two or three words that get confused and give you definitions and try to give you a memory trick to help you remember when to use which word. If you have words that confuse you, use the Ask PTB tab on the website or send an email to [email protected] and they may appear here soon!

This week’s words are:

• Casual – incidental; informal
  • The party attire was casual, so I wore jeans.
• Causal – causing
  • The casual link to the accident was her cell phone.

Memory tips:

Casual – “You all” (casUAL) are more comfortable in an informal atmosphere

Causal – Root is “cause” so “causal” is “causing”

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It’s time for “Confusing Words of the Week” where I take a set of two or three words that get confused and give you definitions and try to give you a memory trick to help you remember when to use which word. If you have words that confuse you, use the Ask PTB tab on the website or send an email to [email protected] and they may appear here soon!

This week’s words are:

Envelop – to cover; to wrap

She used the blanket to envelop her cold feet.

Envelope – a wrapper for a letter

The letter was returned as the envelope was missing postage.

Memory tips:

• envelop – Think about this as wrap ending the same way as envelop
• envelope – Since this has an extra “e,” I would use the extra “e” to designate the letter that is going inside

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It’s time for “Confusing Words of the Week” where I take a set of two or three words that get confused and give you definitions and try to give you a memory trick to help you remember when to use which word. If you have words that confuse you, use the Ask PTB tab on the website or send an email to [email protected] and they may appear here soon!

This week’s words are:

plague – an epidemic disease; a disastrous evil or affliction

The flu is quickly becoming a plague.

plaque – a decorative tablet that honors someone or commemorates something

He received a plaque to commemorate his 10th anniversary at the firm.

Memory tips:

• plague – A disease usually makes your tongue feel weird or coated, so I would remember the word plague having to do with your tongue.
• plaque – A plaque you put on the wall will make people question how you earned it, so remember that a plaque will make people question.

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It’s time for “Confusing Words of the Week” where I take a set of two or three words that get confused and give you definitions and try to give you a memory trick to help you remember when to use which word. If you have words that confuse you, use the Ask PTB tab on the website or send an email to [email protected] and they may appear here soon!

This week’s words are:

discreet – prudent

She was discreet about the secret her friend shared with her.

discrete – distinct; separate

The book had a discrete section on citations.

Memory tips:

discreet – think of the ee as eyes seeing something that shouldn’t be posted on the internet or something that you have to be discreet about.

discrete is separate – both end in te

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It’s time for “Confusing Words of the Week” where I take a set of two or three words that get confused and give you definitions and try to give you a memory trick to help you remember when to use which word. If you have words that confuse you, use the Ask PTB tab on the website or send an email to [email protected] and they may appear here soon!

This week’s words are:

Shown – displayed; revealed; past participle of show

The results had shown that their efforts were successful.

Shone – gave off light; did shine

The light shone directly in her eyes.

So what memory trick can we use to help remember these?

Shown is showing off something that you own.

Shone means did shine so it’s a change of one letter.

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It’s time for “Confusing Words of the Week” where I take a set of two or three words that get confused and give you definitions and try to give you a memory trick to help you remember when to use which word. If you have words that confuse you, use the Ask PTB tab on the website or send an email to [email protected] and they may appear here soon!

This week’s words are:

Elicit – to draw forth

• He was trying to elicit a confession from his son.

Illicit – Unlawful

• Stealing a car is an illicit act.

Tips to help remember:

Illicit – Illegal

Elicit – think of the legs of the “e” as trying to pull something out of the “back” of the “e”

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