Tuesday Tip: Poisonous or Venomous?

You may have heard the words poisonous and venomous used interchangeably, but they're not the same.

Poisonous means its deadly to eat or touch.

Venomous means it has a deadly bite or sting.

Tuesday Tip: Advise or Advice?

This is the final post on some common words that can be confusing.


Advise is a verb meaning to give counsel to or to offer an opinion or suggestion. 

The doctor will advise you on the best treatment.

Advice is a noun meaning an opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action. 

It's often wise to get advice from someone with more experience. 

Tuesday Tip: Anymore or Any more?

For the past few weeks, I've posted about some common words that can be confusing. I'm wrapping that up this month. 

Anymore means "any longer."  

The child told his mom he didn't need help anymore.

Any more means "additional." 

The boy said he didn't need any more help besides his brother.

Tuesday Tip:Specially or Especially?

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to be posting about some common words that can be confusing.


Specially means it's for a specific purpose. 

The dress was made specially for the bride.

Especially means particularly or "above all." 

The boy loves all animals, especially turtles.

Tuesday Tip: All Together or Altogether?

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to be posting about some common words that can be confusing.


All together means everyone together or everything included. 

All together there are six kids coming to the party.

Altogether means completely, all things considered, or on the whole. 

I don't think you've been altogether honest with me.

Tuesday Tip: Torturous or Tortuous?

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to be posting about some common words that can be confusing.


Torturous means very unpleasant or painful. 

It was a torturous decision, but he left his job.

Tortuous is marked by repeated twists or turns. 

The country streets are narrow, tortuous, and inaccessible to trucks.

Tuesday Tip: Criterion or Criteria?

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to be posting about some common words that can be confusing.


Criterion is a standard. 

The main criterion for joining the country clue is one's ability to pay the annual fee.

Criteria is the plural form of criterion. Criteria are two or more standards. 

When she saw the criteria for getting into Harvard, she decided to attend a local university instead.

Tuesday Tip: Hanged or Hung?

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to be posting about some common words that can be confusing.


Hanged is when someone is put to death by hanging from a rope. 

The prisoner was hanged.

Hung is the correct past tense for of "hang" in all other uses. 

The child hung from the fence before he climbed over it.

Tuesday Tip: Warranty or Warrantee?

Over the next few months, I'm going to be posting about some common words that can be confusing.


Warranty is a written guarantee. 

The tablet comes with a year's warranty on all parts.

Warrantee is a person who is given a written guarantee or a warrant. 

Sarah was the warrantee for the tablet.

Tuesday Tip: Vise or Vice?

Over the next few months, I'm going to be posting about some common words that can be confusing.


Vise is a tool used to hold an object firmly.

Clamp the starter in a vise.

Vice is a bad habit or immoral practice. 

He thought gambling was a vice.

Tuesday Tip: Elicit or Illicit

Over the next few months, I'm going to be posting about some common words that can be confusing.


Elicit is a verb that means to evoke.

The telemarketing phone calls elicited no response from the homeowner.

Illicit is an adjective that means illegal.

She dumped her boyfriend because of his illicit drug habit.

Note: Elicit and evoke both begin with the same letter, as do illicit and illegal.

Tuesday Tip: Adverse or Averse

Over the next few months, I'm going to be posting about some common words that can be confusing.


Adverse is an adjective that means unfavorable or antagonistic in purpose or effect.

She had an adverse reaction to her medication.

Averse is an adjective that means to have strong feelings of opposition, antipathy, or repugnance.

Many children are averse to the idea of year-round school.

Tuesday Tip: Historic or Historical?

Over the next few months, I'm going to be posting about some common words that can be confusing.


Historic is an adjective that means well-known or important in history.

A historic event is memorable.

Historical is an adjective that pertains to past events.

A historical event occurred many years ago.