Word Pairs

Ironically (coincidentally?), I was more or less an English and Journalism minor when I was a student at NC State University, which feels like 100 years ago (figuratively speaking, of course). I literally wrote an opinion column for the Technician, the student-published newspaper. So, idiomatically speaking, along those lines, I have an interest in the nuances of closely related words.

Many of the words, although not all, have some correlation to mathematics. The word pairs below require precise understanding of their denotations; so too does mathematics require precise understanding of its various topics.

Write out the definitions and an example of each one (i.e., use it in a sentence). You may use this Cheat Sheet (cliché, I know) on an "Announced Pop Quiz" (oxymoron!) that I will announce ahead of time (redundant!!). At the risk of being repetitive, let me just say that You may use your Cheat Sheet on the Announced Pop Quiz.

Lest you be disinterested, know that this will count as an Extra Credit Quiz; perhaps that will serve to interest you. If you're still uninterested, I can't help you.

You may infer that it is optional because that is in fact what I am implying.

Don't get bent out of shape with this. It's a great opportunity - don't miss the boat! Get the picture? (Idiom, idiom, idiom!)

• Continually vs Continuously

• Redundant vs Repetitive

• Connotation vs Denotation

• Discrete vs Discreet

• Fewer vs Less

• Much vs Many

• Imply vs Infer

• Further vs Farther

• Subjective vs Objective

• Respectfully vs Respectively vs Respectably

• Idiom vs Cliché

• Colloquialism vs Euphemism

• Ironic vs Coincidental

• Oxymoron vs Paradox

• Figuratively vs Literally

• Disinterested vs Uninterested

• Eminent vs Imminent

• Emigrant vs Immigrant

• Quarantine vs Self-Isolation

• Epidemic vs Endemic vs Pandemic