Editor's Corner

I received so many positive responses after the last vocabulary quiz, I decided to give you another. I found this quiz on DailyWritingTips.com. We’re dealing with commonly confused words here, so finish your coffee, fire up your brain cells, and put on your thinking cap.

Like before, there’s no prize for getting them all right. We’re working on a tight budget. I’ve added space between the quiz and the answers. If more than one answer seems correct, pick the most likely answer. No peeking, until after you’ve answered them all.

Ready, set, go!

1. They didn’t realize that they were in __________ danger

a. imminent

b. eminent

2. He __________ an example to illustrate his point.

a. cited

b. sited

3. Albany is the __________ of New York.

a. capitol

b. capital

4. Her __________ manner was appealing at first, but her eagerness to help soon became annoying.

a. complaisant

b. complacent

5. I am __________ to delegate that responsibility to him.

a. loath

b. loathe

Answers and Explanations

1. They didn’t realize that they were in imminent danger.

a. imminent

Eminent means “well known and respected”; imminent means “happening very soon.”

2. He cited an example to illustrate his point.

a. cited

To site is to locate or situate; to cite is to give an example or source.

3. Albany is the capital of New York.

a. capital

A capitol is a building or building complex in which legislators meet (the term is often capitalized to specify a particular building); a capital is a seat of government.

4. Her complaisant manner was appealing at first, but her eagerness to help soon became annoying.

a. complaisant

Complaisant means “willing to please”; complacent means “self-satisfied, smug.”

5. I am loath to delegate that responsibility to him.

a. loath

To loathe is to hate; loath means “reluctant” or “unwilling.”

Donna Bradley Burcher | Senior Technical Editor | Symitar®

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