Both of these words can be used as a noun and a verb. Though their meanings are different, both refer to giving someone something because of something they have done.Award is always positive, as one could guess from it’s a- prefix. You can award someone, award something to someone, or give an award to someone, […]

The first two of these three nouns, avocation and vocation have related meanings.  Avocation means “hobby” and vocation means “profession”: My professor’s avocation is playing in a jazz band.But his vocation is research scientist. Also note the English term vocational school—which is a college where people learn only job skills (no philosophy classes!) in order to […]

These two words are extremely close in meaning, and very common, as you may know. Both words mean “(to take) an action to punish someone in return for something bad they have done.”  Avenge is a verb, while revenge is a noun, and one “takes revenge against someone”: Who will avenge the crimes of our own […]

These two nouns are completely unrelated. An auger is a kind of tool used for drilling holes by hand, such as in wood, or the Earth. It has a handle, which turns a screw-like shaft in order to make a hole. Augur, on the other hand, means “a person who tells the future by reading omens” or […]

These two verbs have very similar meanings but must be used quite differently. They both mean “to get (acquire) something”—but while to attain means “to acquire to some status or condition,” or “to achieve,” or “to reach,” to obtain means “to acquire some object or substance”: Attain (achieve a status or condition): If you practice […]