To cite is a verb meaning “to point to examples, sources, evidence, reasons, or authors.” In other words, it is a kind of speaking or writing.  Cite appears in other English words, such as to recite “read aloud” and citation (noun), which can mean (1) “the act of citing” or (2) certain kinds of documents […]

These two adjectives both mean “like a child” but in different ways.  Childish means “like a child” in a negative sense—incompetent, ignorant, selfish, or overly emotional for trivial reasons: It is childish to get angry when you don’t get what you want. Childlike, in contrast, means “like a child” in a neutral or positive way:The […]

Chafe is a verb meaning “to rub in a hurtful way, to annoy, or to abrade”—or “to feel annoyed”: The straps on her backpack chafed her shoulders.She was chafed at how long she had to wait in line for her visa. Chaff, in contrast, is a noun referring to any materials that are typically rubbed […]

These two adjectives could be easy to confuse!  Ceremonial describes objects, actions, or words that are used in a ceremony. A ceremony is a ritual—a formal event consisting of a specific series of actions, often to honor a person or event: In the ritual of the Passover dinner, a special ceremonial cup of wine is put […]

Ah, English! These four words are pronounced almost exactly alike (SEN-ser), except for censure, which is pronounced “SEN-shure.” Let’s look at each more closely. A censer (noun) is a kind of incense-holder. Incense is a mixture of herbs, wood, leaves, or other materials that one burns in order to create a pleasant smelling smoke. A censer […]