Module 7.4 (Part 2): Commonly misused terms Flashcards
What is the difference between ‘like’ and ‘such as’?
‘Like’ is used for comparisons that aren’t inclusive, while ‘such as’ presents specific examples.
Example: ‘I want to do something outdoors like hiking’ vs. ‘I partake in activities such as orienteering.’
When should ‘and’ be used instead of ‘as well as’?
‘And’ signifies equal importance between items, while ‘as well as’ implies lesser importance.
Example: ‘Sofia and Pedro want to go to the cinema’ vs. ‘George likes chocolate and cake as well as celery.’
What does ‘ironic’ mean?
‘Ironic’ refers to something that opposes expectations, not something fitting or unfortunate.
Example: ‘My physician was called Dr. Deadman. How ironic!’
What is the proper use of ‘literally’?
‘Literally’ should mean ‘actually’ and not ‘figuratively.’
Example: ‘I literally died from laughing’ should be corrected to ‘I felt as though I was dying.’
When should ‘less’ be used instead of ‘fewer’?
‘Less’ is for uncountable nouns, while ‘fewer’ is for plural countable nouns.
Example: ‘You will get fewer points on your test.’
What is the difference between ‘much’ and ‘many’?
‘Much’ is for uncountable nouns, while ‘many’ is for plural countable nouns.
Example: ‘You won’t have many friends’ is correct.
When should ‘amount’ be used instead of ‘number’?
‘Amount’ is for uncountable nouns, while ‘number’ is for plural countable nouns.
Example: ‘A large number of people are confused by uncountable nouns.’
What does ‘disinterested’ mean?
‘Disinterested’ implies a lack of bias, while ‘uninterested’ implies a lack of interest.
Example: ‘We asked a disinterested party to judge the results.’
What is the correct meaning of ‘refute’?
‘Refute’ means to prove something wrong, not just to disagree.
Example: ‘I will refute that by conducting a study.’
What is the difference between ‘consequently’ and ‘subsequently’?
‘Consequently’ refers to cause and effect, while ‘subsequently’ indicates a later point in time.
Example: ‘He kicked the dog. Consequently, it started to rain.’
What does it mean to ‘imply’ something?
‘Imply’ means to suggest something indirectly, while ‘infer’ means to deduce from clues.
Example: ‘When you say I’m cold-blooded, are you implying I’m a lizard?’
What is the correct interpretation of the idiom ‘the exception that proves the rule’?
It suggests that the existence of a rule can be demonstrated via an exception, not that a contradiction confirms a rule.
Example: ‘No White Swans in the Pond implies black swans are allowed.’
What does ‘begging the question’ originally mean?
‘Begging the question’ refers to a logical fallacy where the conclusion is assumed in the premises.
Example: ‘Your late arrival begs the question of where you were last night.’
