Accidentally or Accidently? The answer is that both spellings are acceptable, but accidentally is the safer choice. According to the authoritative Merriam-Webster Dictionary, both spellings are correct; however, many people believe that accidently is an error and only accidentally is correct. This mistake is probably based on comparison with words such as mentally and dentally. Because accidently mirrors […]

Both Accessible and Assessable are adjectives made from verbs. They consist of the base verb (access or assess), followed by the suffix -ible / -able, which means “able” or “possible.”Accessible is, thus, an adjective meaning “able to be accessed”; access means “reach” or “get into”:Accessible in sentence: The entrance to the building was not accessible after […]

Accessory is a noun or adjective, meaning “a helper” or “a non-essential object, something secondary.” It is most often spelled accessory, with an “o;” however, accessary (with an “a”) is also considered acceptable as a noun—but not as an adjective:Accessory (noun):  He was accused of being an accessory to the crime because he drove the getaway […]

These commonly confused words come from the same Latin root, -cept, meaning “hold” or “take.” Here’s how to make sure you use these words correctly in your writing: Accept is a verb, meaning “receive, embrace, or tolerate.”   Except is a preposition, conjunction, or verb, expressing exclusion (see below for example sentences).Remember that words beginning in “ac-” […]

The different meanings of these words are important to understand. Not only are they often misunderstood, but these misunderstandings affect the way we see and treat people, both personally and officially; these words can be connected to issues of discrimination, prejudice, and social justice.Accent is easy to understand; an accent is a pattern of pronunciation […]