Compliment and Complement 'Complement' and 'compliment' are sometimes confused because they are pronounced the same and have very similar spellings. Both function as noun and verb, but are quite distinct in meaning. As a noun, 'compliment' refers to an expression of esteem, admiration or praise. For example, to call someone handsome/beautiful is to pay him/her a compliment, and the verb refers to this action, ie, the paying of a compliment. On the other hand, as a noun, the 'complement' of something supplies what that something is missing, ie, completes or perfects it. For example, wine can be said to complement a meal.
Stationery and Stationary These two words are among the most frequently confused in the English language, although their meanings are vastly different. 'Stationery' is a noun that refers to writing material and office supplies such as pens, paper, clips, etc. 'Stationary' is generally an adjective that is used to describe something that is not moving. For example, a man who is standing in one place can be described as stationary. The difference in the spellings of the two words can be used to remember their meanings: the second 'a' in 'stationary' can be thought to stand for 'adjective'. It is replaced by an 'e' in 'stationery'.
Elicit and Illicit 'Elicit' and 'illicit' are homophones, but they have different spellings and meanings and one must be careful about using them. On the one hand, 'elicit' means to draw something out of someone, by coaxing or pleading or urging. For example, the sentence -
His father was unable to elicit a response from him on the matter means that the father could not extract the information that he desired from his son. On the other hand, 'illicit' means illegal, or forbidden. Examples:
Theirs was an illicit relationship because their parents were opposed to inter-caste marriages, or
He was thrown into prison for smuggling illicit weapons into the country.
Usage of 'Myself' You may have come across many people introducing themselves by saying, "Hi, myself Harish." This is wrong. Instead, say, "I am Harish." 'Me', 'I' and 'myself' are all used to refer to the same person (that person is you) but cannot be used interchangeably. Understanding their usage is an important part of learning English. The first thing to understand is that 'myself' is neither a replacement for me, nor for I. The word 'myself' is a pronoun and is used to lay emphasis. Take a look at the following sentences.
- I will do it. I will do it myself.
- I cleaned the house. I cleaned the house myself.
- I fixed the car. I fixed the car myself.
All the three examples make sense and mean the same with or without the use of 'myself'. As stated earlier, it is used only for stress and never alone. Also, myself can never be used with 'me', which is an object pronoun. __________________________________Best of Luck_______________________:(handshake):
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