A widow is a woman who’s husband has died. A widower is a man whose wife has died. Yes, this seems a little strange, considering the -er ending for widower, suggesting a weird and outdated sort of active/passive relationship. In reference to same-sex or gender-fluid couples, any woman who has lost her partner to death would […]

Ware and wear sound the same but have unrelated meanings.Ware Ware is a noun, meaning “goods” or “merchandise,” “items for sale.” Wear is a verb with two unrelated meanings:  “to have clothing on” and “to erode (eat away) a material.” Ware is a simple word, only meaning “merchandise”—what a person is selling. Its grammar is a little […]

Renouncs and Denounce are verbs have the same root -nounce, “to shout” which also appears in the words announce and pronounce.Renounce means “to commit to stop doing something or stop having something”— such as when you quit smoking, or stop eating meat. It can also be used for more abstract things. Denounce ,on the other hand, is […]

Hanger and Hangar are nouns that sound the same but have different meanings. Hanger:  a device used to suspend or hang something, typically tubular in shape and made of plastic, wood, or wire material. It can come in various shapes and sizes depending on the needs of the user. Hangar: A large shed or indoor area used […]

Pray and Prey sound the same but are not related in origin or meaning. Pray originally meant “ask or beg (for something)” in a non-religious sense, and it can still be used this way—in limited ways—with unique grammar:             (a) I pray you not to arrive late.             […]