More Confusing Pairs
Alternate/alternative
As a verb, alternate means ‘to succeed in alternation’ (The two speakers alternated in answering questions form the audience); as a noun, ‘a substitute (I can’t attend the conference, but we’re allowed to send an alternate); as an adjective, ‘occurring by turns’ (The cake consists of alternate layers of cake, whipped cream and fruit filling)
Alternative involves a choice between two options: An alternative choice to cake is fresh fruit.
Forceful/forcible
Forceful means ‘powerful, effective’; forcible is ‘using force or violence’.
The lawyer made a forceful plea for clemency on behalf of the accused; The complainant alleges that her treatment by the mall’s security guards amounted to forcible confinement.
Militate/mitigate
The first is to ‘lend support, have force’; the second, to ‘alleviate, make less severe, moderate.
The totality of the circumstantial evidence militates in favour of a finding of guilt; The youth of the accused and her lack of a previous criminal record are mitigating factors that should be considered in sentencing her.
Complex/complicated
These are interchangeable, both meaning (1) involved or intricate and (2) made up of different elements, compound.
We tend, I think, to say complex litigation but a complicated problem.
Every one/everyone
Two words in the ‘each and every’ sense, one where you could substitute everybody.
I ate every one of the sandwiches BUT Everyone ate a sandwich.
In spite of/despite
Actually, no difference in meaning.
Despite (shortened from the earlier in despite of) perhaps sounds a little more old-fashioned?
Although or even though would also work.
Start the discussion!