Tiếng anh oxford 10 ppsx

Though you’re unlikely to bother many people by falling into the common confusion, you can show off your education by observing the distinction... POPULACE/POPULOUS The population of a c

POMPOM/POMPON

To most people that fuzzy ball on the top of a knit hat and the implement wielded by a cheerleader are both “pompoms,” but to traditionalists they are “pompons,” spelled the way the French—who gave us the word—spell it A pompom, say these purists, is only a sort of large gun Though you’re unlikely to bother many people by falling into the common confusion, you can show off your

education by observing the distinction

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POPULACE/POPULOUS

The population of a country may be referred to as its populace, but a crowded country is populous

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PORE/POUR

When used as a verb, “pore” has the unusual sense of “scrutinize,” as in “She pored over her

receipts.” If it’s coffee or rain, the stuff pours

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possessed of/possessed by/possessed with

POSSESSED OF/POSSESSED BY/

POSSESSED WITH

If you own a yacht, you’re possessed of it If a demon takes over your body, you’re possessed by it If that which possesses you is more metaphorical, like an executive determined to get ahead, he or she can be possessed by or with the desire to win

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PRACTICE/PRACTISE

In the United Kingdom, “practice” is the noun, “practise” the verb; but in the U.S the spelling

“practice” is commonly used for both, though the distinction is sometimes observed “Practise” as a noun is, however, always wrong in both places: a doctor always has a “practice,” never a “practise.”

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PRACTICLE

PRACTICAL

Some words end in “-icle” and others in “-ical” without the result being any difference in pronunciation But when you want somebody really practical, call on good old AL.

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PRAY/PREY

If you want a miracle, pray to God If you’re a criminal you prey on your victims Incidentally, it’s

“praying mantis,” not “preying mantis.” The insect holds its forefeet in a position suggesting prayer

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PRECEDE/PROCEED

“Precede” means “to go before.” “Proceed” means to go on Let your companion precede you through the door, then proceed to follow her Interestingly, the second E is missing in “procedure.”

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PRECEDENCE/PRECEDENTS

Although these words sound the same, they work differently The pop star is given precedence over the factory worker at the entrance to the dance club “Precedents” is just the plural of “precedent": “If

we let the kids adopt that rattlesnake as a pet and agree to let them take it for a walk in Death Valley, we’ll be setting some bad precedents.”

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PRECIPITATE/PRECIPITOUS

Both of these adjectives are based on the image of plunging over the brink of a precipice, but

“precipitate” emphasizes the suddenness of the plunge, “precipitous,” the steepness of it If you make

a “precipitate” decision, you are making a hasty and probably unwise one If the stock market

declines “precipitously,” it goes down sharply

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PREDOMINATE/PREDOMINANT

“Predominate” is a verb: “In the royal throne room, the color red predominates.” “Predominant” is an adjective: “The predominant view among the touts is that Fancy Dancer is the best bet in the third race.”

See also predominately

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