Definition of Avert: To turn attention to   Definition of Advert: To turn something away Avert and Advert are both verbs in their neutral forms, and have opposite meanings. Advert means “to turn attention to” and avert means “to turn something away”: The teacher adverted our attention to the lesson on the board.We averted our eyes when the violence […]

Affect and Effect, which can be verbs or nouns, are often mixed up by English speakers because their meanings do overlap—and change in confusing ways between the noun and verb versions. What I mean is that when you affect something, you create an effect. And when you effect something, you also create an effect in a […]

Affectation and Affection are both nouns, relating to the noun affect, which means, basically, “emotion.” This meaning is clear with affection, which means “fondness” or “loving behavior”: She showed her cat so much affection that the animal became spoiled and demanding. An affectation, however, is completely different! An affectation is a behavior, or pattern of behavior, […]

Afflict and Inflict are verbs that have similar and overlapping meanings, but they maintain a distinct usage. Both can mean “to cause suffering” (to someone): The guest inflicted his need to watch television on his hosts.They were afflicted with a guest who watched television every night. Generally inflict is paired with the preposition on (inflict on), while […]

Affinity and Infinity sound alike but have different meanings.  Affinity means “connection,” “attraction,” or “kinship.”  Infinity means “without end.” Although affinity has several meanings, they all revolve around the idea of “kinship,” which is closest to the word’s original meaning. The most common usage expresses “liking”: She felt an affinity for other immigrants because they shared […]