Editor's Corner

Vocabulary Quiz: Commonly Confused Words

The following quiz comes to you from Daily Writing Tips. See how well you do. I’ve placed the answers far down toward the bottom so that you don’t “accidentally cheat.” You’re so competitive!

If more than one word seems correct, choose the one that seems best.

And have fun!

1. She likes to __________ his facial tics.
a) imitate
b) emulate

2. He __________ a talent for music when he was very young.
a) evoked
b) evinced

3. The floral print __________ her green blouse.
a) complimented
b) complemented

4. They __________ the tension by beginning with an apology.
a) diffused
b) defused

5. The __________ look on her face told him that his excuse had not satisfied her.
a) incredulous
b) incredible

Answers and Explanations

1. She likes to imitate his facial tics.
a) imitate

To emulate is to try to be like someone or something admired; to imitate is to copy behavior or another quality.

2. He evinced a talent for music when he was very young.
b) evinced

To evince is to reveal or to demonstrate evidence of; to evoke is to bring to mind or call forth.

3. The floral print complemented her green blouse.
b) complemented

To compliment is to express one’s admiration or approval; to complement is to add so as to complete or enhance.

4. They defused the tension by beginning with an apology.
b) defused

To defuse is to reduce the impact of an unpleasant quality; diffuse means to spread out over a wide area.

5. The incredulous look on her face told him that his excuse had not satisfied her.
a) incredulous

Incredible means “unbelievable” or “extremely good or large”; incredulous means “disbelieving.” (His excuse may have been unbelievable, but her expression was one of disbelief.)

Donna Bradley Burcher | Senior Technical Editor | Symitar®

8985 Balboa Ave. | San Diego, CA 92123 | Ph. 619.278.0432 | Extension: 765432

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