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English is full of words that sound similar but have completely different meanings. One common mix-up is between “invincible” and “invisible.”
Imagine a superhero who can’t be defeated ā that’s someone or something invincible. It’s all about being unbeatable or indestructible.
Example: The superhero felt invincible with his incredible powers.
Now, think about something that can’t be seen ā that’s invisible. It’s about things that are not visible to the naked eye.
Example: The magician made the rabbit invisible with a magic trick.
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Other tricky pairs like invincible and invisible
Immigrate and Emigrate
Immigrate:
When people move into a new country, they immigrate. “In” is for coming in.
Example: They decided to immigrate to a different country for a better life.
Emigrate: On the flip side, when people leave their current country to go somewhere else, they emigrate. “Em” is for exiting.
Example: Many Irish families emigrated during the potato famine.
Affect and Effect
Affect: This is a verb and is all about making an impact or influencing something.
Example: The weather can affect our mood.
Effect: On the other hand, effect is usually a noun, representing the result or outcome of an action.
Example: The new law had a positive effect on the community.
Effect as a verb means cause (something) to happen; bring about, as in the prime minister effected many policy changes.
Principal and Principle
Principal: Think of the person who runs a school ā that’s the principal.
Example: The principal announced the upcoming school event.
Principle: This refers to a fundamental belief or rule.
Example: She believes in honesty as a guiding principle.
Lastly, compliment and complement (praising or completing?) also fall under these tricky pairs like invincible and invisible.
Understanding these differences can save you from some common mix-ups.
So, whether you’re talking about unbeatable superheroes, invisible magic tricks, or immigration plans, knowing the distinctions makes your communication crystal clear.
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