Using the right word is important when trying to be accurate and specific while writing or speaking. Following are some (more) commonly confused words, with examples in usage.
Among vs. Between
Similar to the rule of ‘both’ and ‘all’ the difference between among and between rests on how many things you are discussing. Among is used to distinguish among groups of more than two and between is used to distinguish between groups of two.
- The difference between the brother and sister was noticed by everyone that knew them.
- The differences among the triplets were surprising.
Accurate vs. Precise
Accuracy refers to how true a measurement is to what has been measured – or, as in the sentence at the top of this page – how close a choice of word is to the intended meaning.
- The finishing times of the marathon runners were accurately measured by a stopwatch.
Precision refers to how relatively close a given set of measurements are to each other, without regard to how true any of the measurements may or may not be to what has been measured. When discussing more than one measurement, precise is usually the appropriate word to use.
- He always showed up at precisely the right time to eavesdrop on all the latest gossip.
There is no precise means of measuring human intelligence, because multiple methods yield multiple results.
Ascent vs. Assent
Despite how similar these words seem, there is no similarity in their meaning. Ascent means to rise and Assent means agreement. The first is a verb and the latter a noun.
- The family watched the hot-air balloon make its ascent into the sky.
- The family assented that on their next trip they would take a hot-air balloon ride.
The easiest trick to remember this rule is to consider the word ‘descend’ and use that to clarify the difference between the two.
SchoolTutoring Academy is the premier educational services company for K-12 and college students. We offer tutoring programs for students in K-12, AP classes, and college. To learn more about how we help parents and students in Cerritos, CA visit: Tutoring in Cerritos, CA.