Common mistakes in using one word for another when they are similar in spelling but different in meaning
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When editing, or simply reading, business documents drafted
in English I have noted that certain pairs of words that are
pronounced or spelt similarly are frequently confused –even
at times by native English writers! Some of the most common
mistakes are discussed below.
Enquire / Inquire
Traditionally, enquire (enquiry) and inquire (inquiry) are
acceptable alternative spellings of the same word. Interestingly,
usage has evolved differently in America and the UK. In America,
inquiry now tends to be used for all purposes, and enquiry
(enquire) is very rarely seen. In the UK, however, a distinction
has developed between the two spellings: to enquire (enquiry)
is used to mean «to ask a question», while an inquiry
is an investigation. You might, therefore, enquire what time
the inquiry begins.
Despite extensive inquiries there is still no really conclusive
proof.
A public inquiry was held into a controversial redevelopment
scheme.
The media called for a public inquiry.
A police spokesman said «we are carrying out extensive
inquiries to establish the identity of the victim.»
If you wish to know more about our products, please fill
in our enquiry form.
General enquiries – please call xxxxx. Technical enquiries
– please call yyyyy.
I would like to enquire about membership of your organisation.
Affect / Effect
To affect means to change in some way. Depending on the context,
it may mean to delay or stop, to hinder, to prevent, to reduce
the effectiveness of or to reduce or increase funds. For example:
Work on the building has been affected by bad weather.
…any fact or event that may affect the Borrower’s financial
situation.
Share prices may be affected by political events.
The use of effect instead of affect is a common mistake,
very probably caused by the similarity in pronunciation.
To effect means to bring about or accomplish. It is more
usually used as a noun, in which case effect means the result
or consequence of something. Thus:
This contract enters into effect on 1 January.
The parties agree to the following, with effect from 1 January.
… or if any change in law has the effect of increasing the
cost of financing the loan.
Alternate(ly) / Alternative(ly)
Alternate(ly) means to succeed each other by turns (to «take
it in turns»).
They worked and rested alternately means at times they worked,
then they rested, then they worked again, etc.
The monthly meetings will be chaired alternately by John
and Jane.
… alternately high and low noise levels.
Alternately, you can opt for our special luxury package is
NOT CORRECT, as presumably the customer is not expected to
switch from one product to the other and then back again –
here, alternatively should have been used.
Alternative(ly) refers to a choice between two possibilities,
or something that can be used instead of something else. For
example:
… an alternative solution means that one solution has already
been proposed, this is another solution.
We are faced with two alternatives…
The conference centre is located just off the A23. A road
map is enclosed. Alternatively, you can travel by train…
Alternative is also something of a «vogue word»,
and is used to describe a different way of living or methods
that are different from the accepted norm. For example «alternative
energy» refers to energy derived from the sun or the
wind; «alternative medicine» refers to the use of
homeopathic or traditional remedies or methods. Other examples
include «alternative society», «alternative
technology» and «alternative cinema».
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Synonymy in English
Synonymy is a lexical relation that means sameness of meaning. Synonyms are similar, but not identical. Examples of some English synonyms are:
car and automobile smart and intelligent
baby and infant student and pupil
pretty and attractive sick and ill
funny and humorous died and expired
Synonyms can be nouns, adverbs or adjectives, as long as both members of the pair are of the same part of speech. Traditionally, synonymy can only hold between words, and, more precisely, between words belonging to the same part of speech; for example: ‘enormous’ = ‘huge’; ‘gaze’ = ‘stare’. This is the classic form of synonymy, covered by, for instance, synonym dictionaries.
Given the complexity of meaning, a person searching for an alternative word must be sure that the synonym chosen is accurate and precise. In its strict sense, a synonym is a word with a meaning identical or very similar to that of another word. In fact, it is often said that there is no such thing as an absolute synonym for any word, that is, a form that is identical in every aspect of meaning so that the two can be applied interchangeably. According to this extreme view, the only true synonyms are terms having precisely the same denotation, connotation, and range of applicability. As it turns out, these so-called true synonyms are frequently technical terms and almost always concrete words coming from linguistically disparate sources. Good examples of such pairs are celiac (from Greek) and abdominal (from Latin); and car (from Latin) and automobile (from French). These meet the criteria for true synonymy: they have precisely the same denotations, connotations, and range of applicability, and they are used in identical contexts.
This view of synonymy is far too restrictive, however. I think that synonymous terms are those having nearly identical denotations. English is rich in such words. Speakers very often have a choice from among a set of words of differing origin but the same denotation. One may go to the shore (from Old English), the coast (from Latin), or the littoral (from Latin). One can refer to the sense of hearing (from Old English) or to the acoustic (from Greek), auditory (from Latin), aural (from Latin), or auricular (from Latin) sense. One can make clothing from cloth (from Old English), fabric (from Latin), material (from Latin), or textiles (from Latin). The reason for choosing one of these words over another is frequently stylistic: one may prefer a simpler or a more complex word; one may prefer a more formal or a less formal term. However, the fact that these words share a denotation makes them synonymous and available as substitutes for words one has in mind so that one can be more precise, express oneself more colorfully, or avoid repetition.
Lyons distinguishes between two kinds of synonymy, i.e. what he calls complete and absolute synonymy. He says that complete synonymy is rare, and absolute synonymy hardly exists. If absolute synonymy exists at all, it is merely in very special contexts such as scientific terms (e.g. almonds and tonsils). But what happens when we have two absolute synonyms is that specialists or speakers in general tend to use one of the two synonymous words and agree that the chosen word should be always used to refer to the concept they are describing.
What about absolute synonymy, that is, according to Cruse where all contextual relations between the two terms are identical. Roughly speaking this means that in all linguistic contexts, the two terms are interchangeable without any difference in meaning. Cruse suggests the normality test as a way of determining the absence of absolute synonymy. This test shows that one of the two terms is normal in a given context, and the other less normal.
(1) He told me the match starts at 8.00 (+ normal)
(2) He told me the match commences at 8.00 (- normal)
If we add (3), however, and compare it with (1) it is difficult to attribute greater normality to one or the other:
(3) He told me the match begins at 8.00
Cruse rules out the use of contexts where one term is odd in syntactic functions, suggesting the context should provide a level playing field in order to ascertain normality. If this is the case, one would have to go a long way to find two contexts where begin and start could be seen to be non-absolute synonyms. Furthermore Cruse also rules out the use of ‘irrelevant senses’ of a word form.
(4) Arthur’s most recent car is an old one (+)
(5) Arthur’s most recent car is a former one (-)
(6) He had more responsibility in his old job
(7) He had more responsibility in his former job.
Cruse’s normality test works well if we wish to show with the least amount of contextual investigation that two words are not absolute synonyms. It is more difficult to show that two words are in fact absolute synonyms.
Palmer differentiates between synonyms in five ways. First, some synonyms belong to different dialects of the language. For instance, the word fall is used in the United States and autumn is used in Britain. Second, some synonyms are used in different styles according to the degree of formality; colloquial, formal. For instance, gentleman (formal), man, chap. Thirdly, some words differ only in their emotive or evaluative values but their cognitive meaning is the same. For instance, hide, conceal. Fourthly, some word are subject to collocational restraints, i.e. they occur only with specific words. For instance, rancid occurs with butter, addled with eggs. Fifthly, the meanings of some words overlap. For instance, mature, adult, ripe. If we take each of these words we will have a larger set of synonyms. Palmer suggests a test for synonymy by substituting one word for another. Because absolute synonyms are mutually interchangeable in all contexts, that is why absolute synonyms are very rare in language. Another way to test synonymy is using antonyms. For instance, superficial is the opposite of deep and profound, while shallow is the opposite of deep only.
When we use language for the purpose of communication, we come to perceive any expression as a tool more or less suitable for our purposes, we come to see it as possessing a certain value.
Перевод
Синонимия в английском языке
Синонимия – это лексические отношения между словами, схожими по смыслу. Синонимы схожи, но не идентичны. Вот примеры некоторых английских синонимов:
car и automobile smart и intelligent
baby и infant student и pupil
pretty и attractive sick и ill
funny и humorous died и expired
Синонимами могут быть существительные, прилагательные или наречия, оба члена пары относятся к одной и той же части речи. Традиционно синонимия имеет место только между словами, а, точнее, между словами, принадлежащих к той же части речи, например: ‘ enormous’ = ‘ huge’; ‘ gaze’ = ‘ stare’. Это классическая форма синонимии, предлагаемая, например, в словарях синонимов.
Учитывая сложность смысла, человек, ищущий альтернативные слова, должен быть уверен, что выбранный синоним является точным. В строгом смысле, синонимы — слова со значением, идентичным или очень похожим на значение другого слова. На самом деле, часто говорят, что не существует такой вещи, как абсолютные синонимы, то есть форм, которые идентичны в каждом аспекте своего значения, которые могут быть взаимозаменяемыми. В соответствии с этим существует крайняя точка зрения о том, что настоящие синонимы — члены, имеющие точно такую же денотацию, коннотацию и область применения. Как выяснилось, эти так называемые истинные синонимы — часто технические термины и почти всегда конкретные слова, пришедшие из лингвистически разнородных источников. Хорошими примерами таких пар являются celiac (от греческого) и abdominal (от латинского); car (от латинского) и automobile (от французского). Эти слова отвечают критериям истинных синонимов: у них точно такие же денотация, коннотация и область применения, и они используются в одинаковых контекстах.
Однако эта точка зрения на синонимию является слишком ограниченной. Я думаю, что синонимами являются те слова, которые имеют почти идентичную денотацию. Английский богат такими словами. Выступающие очень часто имеют выбор из набора слов различного происхождения, но с той же самой денотацией. Можно идти to the shore (from Old English), the coast (from Latin), or the littoral (from Latin). Можно ссылаться to the sense of hearing (from Old English) or to the acoustic (from Greek), auditory (from Latin), aural (from Latin), or auricular (from Latin) sense. Можно сделать одежду from cloth (from Old English), fabric (from Latin), material (from Latin), or textiles (from Latin). Основанием для выбора одного из этих слов часто служит их стилистика: один может предпочесть более простое или более сложное слово; другой может предпочесть более формальные или менее формальные слова. Однако тот факт, что эти слова различаются денотацией делает их синонимами, и они доступны как заменители слов (имеется в виду то, что можно быть более точным, выразиться более красочно или избежать повторения).
Лайонс различает два вида синонимии: полная и абсолютная синонимия. Он говорит, что полные синонимы редки, а абсолютные синонимы вряд ли существуют. Если абсолютные синонимы вообще существуют, то только в особых ситуациях, таких, как научные термины (например, almonds и tonsils). Но что происходит, когда у нас есть две абсолютные синонимы, что специалисты или выступающие в целом, как правило, используют одно из двух синонимичных слов и согласитесь, что выбранное слово должно всегда использоваться для обозначения понятия, которое оно описывает.
Что касается абсолютных синонимов, то, в соответствии с Крузом, это слова, где все контекстуальные отношения идентичны. Грубо говоря, это означает, что во всех языковых контекстах эти два термина являются взаимозаменяемыми без разницы в значении. Круз предполагает тест как способ определения отсутствия абсолютных синонимов. Этот тест показывает, что одно из двух слов нормально в данном контексте, и другое менее нормально.
(1) He told me the match starts at 8.00 (+ normal)
(2) He told me the match commences at 8.00 (- normal)
Однако если мы добавим (3), и сравним его с (1), то трудно придать большую нормальность употребления одному или другому:
(3) He told me the match begins at 8.00
Круз исключает использование контекстов, где одно слово необычно по своим синтаксическим функциям; контекст должен обеспечивать равные условия для того, чтобы выяснить нормальность. Если бы это было так, то нужно было бы пройти долгий путь, чтобы найти два контекста, где begin и star tможно было бы рассматривать как неабсолютные синонимы. Кроме того Круз также исключает необходимость использования форм слова со «значением чувств».
(4) Arthur’s most recent car is an old one (+)
(5) Arthur’s most recent car is a former one (-)
(6) He had more responsibility in his old job
(7) He had more responsibility in his former job.
Тест нормальности Круза работает хорошо, если мы хотим показать на наименьшем количестве контекстов, что два слова не являются абсолютными синонимами. Труднее было бы показать, что два слова на самом деле абсолютные синонимы.
Палмер проводит различие между синонимами пятью способами. Во-первых, некоторые синонимы принадлежат к разным диалектам языка. Например, слово fall используется в Соединенных Штатах, а autumn в Великобритании. Во-вторых, некоторые синонимы используются в разных стилях в зависимости от степени формальности; разговорный, формальный. Например, gentleman (формальный), man, chap. В-третьих, некоторые слова отличаются только по своему эмоциональному или оценочному значению, но их когнитивный смысл тот же. Например, hide, conceal. В-четвертых, некоторые слова могут быть коллокационно ограниченны, то есть они сочетаются только с определенными словами. Например, rancid сочетается с butter, addled с eggs. В-пятых, значения некоторых слов перекрываются. Например, mature, adult, ripe. Если взять каждое из этих слов, мы будем иметь больший набор синонимов. Палмер предлагает тест на синонимию при замене одного слова другим. Поскольку абсолютные синонимы взаимозаменяемы во всех контекстах, то они очень редки в языке. Еще один способ тестирования синонимии — использование антонимы. Например, superficial является противоположностью deep и profound, в то время как shallow является противоположностью только deep.
Когда мы используем язык в целях коммуникации, мы приходим к восприятию его как инструмента, более или менее подходящего для наших целей.
Аннотация к статье «Synonymy in English»
Synonymy is a lexical relation that means sameness of meaning. Synonyms are similar, but not identical.
Lyons distinguishes between two kinds of synonymy, i.e. what he calls complete and absolute synonymy. He says that complete synonymy is rare, and absolute synonymy hardly exists. If absolute synonymy exists at all, it is merely in very special contexts such as scientific terms (e.g. almonds and tonsils).
What about absolute synonymy, that is, according to Cruse where all contextual relations between the two terms are identical. Roughly speaking this means that in all linguistic contexts, the two terms are interchangeable without any difference in meaning.
Palmer differentiates between synonyms in five ways. First, some synonyms belong to different dialects of the language. For instance, the word fall is used in the United States and autumn is used in Britain. Second, some synonyms are used in different styles according to the degree of formality; colloquial, formal. For instance, gentleman (formal), man, chap. Thirdly, some words differ only in their emotive or evaluative values but their cognitive meaning is the same. For instance, hide, conceal. Fourthly, some word are subject to collocational restraints, i.e. they occur only with specific words. For instance, rancid occurs with butter, addled with eggs. Fifthly, the meanings of some words overlap. For instance, mature, adult, ripe. If we take each of these words we will have a larger set of synonyms. Palmer suggests a test for synonymy by substituting one word for another. Because absolute synonyms are mutually interchangeable in all contexts, that is why absolute synonyms are very rare in language. Another way to test synonymy is using antonyms. For instance, superficial is the opposite of deep and profound, while shallow is the opposite of deep only.
Перевод
Синонимия в английском языке
Синонимия – это лексические отношения между словами, схожими по смыслу. Синонимы схожи, но не идентичны.
Лайонс различает два вида синонимии: полная и абсолютная синонимия. Он говорит, что полные синонимы редки, а абсолютные синонимы вряд ли существуют. Если абсолютные синонимы вообще существуют, то только в особых ситуациях, таких, как научные термины (например, almonds и tonsils).
Что касается абсолютных синонимов, то, в соответствии с Крузом, это слова, где все контекстуальные отношения идентичны. Грубо говоря, это означает, что во всех языковых контекстах эти два термина являются взаимозаменяемыми без разницы в значении.
Палмер проводит различие между синонимами пятью способами. Во-первых, некоторые синонимы принадлежат к разным диалектам языка. Например, слово fall используется в Соединенных Штатах, а autumn в Великобритании. Во-вторых, некоторые синонимы используются в разных стилях в зависимости от степени формальности; разговорный, формальный. Например, gentleman (формальный), man, chap. В-третьих, некоторые слова отличаются только по своему эмоциональному или оценочному значению, но их когнитивный смысл тот же. Например, hide, conceal. В-четвертых, некоторые слова могут быть коллокационно ограниченны, то есть они сочетаются только с определенными словами. Например, rancid сочетается с butter, addled с eggs. В-пятых, значения некоторых слов перекрываются. Например, mature, adult, ripe. Если взять каждое из этих слов, мы будем иметь больший набор синонимов. Палмер предлагает тест на синонимию при замене одного слова другим. Поскольку абсолютные синонимы взаимозаменяемы во всех контекстах, то они очень редки в языке. Еще один способ тестирования синонимии — использование антонимы. Например, superficial является противоположностью deep и profound, в то время как shallow является противоположностью только deep.
Bibliographical References
Cruse, D. A. (1986), Lexical Semantics, Cambridge University Press.
Carnap, R. (1956), Meaning and Necessity (Second edition) Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Lyons, J. (1981), Language and Linguistics, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Palmer, F. R. (1981), Semantics, (Second edition) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
5
What is One Word Substitution? Word Substitution simply means using a specific word to replace a wordy phrase or sentence and making it shorter, more concise and clearer to understand. This way, the word becomes identical to the sentence thus providing the same meaning as the wordy sentence. The best way to master this concept is to learn their meanings by putting them in a particular sentence or visualising them through an interesting story. One-word substitution questions frequently occur in many competitive exams such as SBI PO, UPSC, CAPF, CDS, RRB, SSC etc. Read this blog to find 100+ one-word substitutions with examples as well as practice questions and quizzes for competitive exams.
This Blog Includes:
- What is One Word Substitution in the English Language?
- How to Solve One-Word Substitution?
- Why Do We Need One-Word Substitutions?
- Categories of One Word Substitution
- 100+ One Word Substitutions with Examples
- Study-Related One-Word Substitution with Examples
- One-Word Substitution For Government/Systems
- One Word Substitution For Venue Or Spot
- One-Word Substitutes For Profession/Research
- Group/Collection-related One Word Substitution
- Person/People-related One Word Substitution
- Profession-related One Word Substitution
- Terms-related One Word Substitution
- Killing-related One Word Substitution
- Top 40 One-Word Substitutions Asked in Competitive Exams
- One-Word Substitution Sample Questions
- [BONUS] One Word Substitution Quiz
- FAQs
What is One Word Substitution in the English Language?
One-word substitution is the use of one word in place of a wordy phrase in order to make the sentence structure clearer and avoid lengthy sentences. The meaning, with the replacement of the phrase, remains identical while the sentence becomes shorter.
How to Solve One-Word Substitution?
Before checking on the examples for one word substitutions, let’s see how to solve them. These can be solved by identifying its ‘root word’ or core meaning and then identifying the prefix and suffix. Many words like Anthropology come from the root word anthrōpos which means humans (Here ‘Anthro’ is the prefix and ‘ology’ is the suffix). Hence anthropology means the study of humanity. To gain mastery in understanding root words, you should be familiar with the etymology and linguistics of the words.
Did you know? ‘ology‘ is the most common suffix in science which means “a branch of knowledge“. (Example: Psychology, Biology).
Another common suffix is “cracy” which comes from the Greek word “kratia” which means “rule or government“. (Example: Autocracy, Democracy)
Why Do We Need One-Word Substitutions?
One-word substitutions are important as they make communication in the English language much more concise, lucid, and easy. People can remember words and communicate bigger meanings through simple words. For example, saying “She is someone who puts forth an idea which she herself doesn’t believe” is much harder as compared to just saying “She is a Hypocrite”. One-word substitutions make our sentences more precise and reduce complexity. These substitutions also help us to classify words based on the suffixes which makes it easy to categorize them and put similar words together.
Categories of One Word Substitution
There are different categories of One Word Substitution:
- Study-related
- Terms-related
- Group/Collection
- Government/Political Systems-related
- People/Person
- Profession/Occupation
- Science/Research
- Killing/Death-related
- Sound/Event/Spots
100+ One Word Substitutions with Examples
Here is the complete list of 100+ One Word Substitutions for competitive exams:
| Study-related | One Word Substitution | Examples |
| Study of Stars | Astronomy | I love this book on Astronomy. |
| The study of statistics is known as | Demography | The demography of the whole town’s population has been mapped. |
| The study of ancient writing and scriptures | Palaeography | These three university professors have been immersed in the research and study of Paleography for over a decade. |
| The study of rocks and soil | Geology | My Geology homework is not going to be completed by the final submission date. |
| The ancient search for a universal panacea, and of the philosopher’s stone. The medieval version of the study of Chemistry | Alchemy | The magician wanted to learn Alchemy to master some ancient spells. |
| The study of the evolution of mankind | Anthropology | Anthropological research helps us trace our civilization. |
| The study of the Human Mind | Psychology | I am really interested in studying Psychology and how the mind works. |
| The practice of writing dictionaries | Lexicography | She works in the Lexicography department of the publishing house. |
| The study of plants | Botany | Her interest in plants motivated her to pursue this course in Botany. |
| The study of rocks and soils | Geology | Do I need to study Geology before going rock climbing? |
| The study of languages | Philology | How many languages does Philology cover? |
One-Word Substitution For Government/Systems
| One Word Substitutes | Government/System |
| A state of disorder due to the absence or non-recognition of authority or other controlling systems | Anarchy |
| A form of government in which power is held by the nobility | Aristocracy |
| A system of government by one person with absolute power | Autocracy |
| A self-governing country or region | Autonomy |
| A system of government in which most of the important decisions are taken by state officials rather than by elected representatives | Bureaucracy |
| A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives | Democracy |
| A state, society, or group governed by old people | Gerontocracy |
| A state or country run by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous citizens | Kakistocracy |
| Government by new or inexperienced hands | Neocracy |
| Government by the populace | Ochlocracy |
| A small group of people having control of a country or organization | Oligarchy |
| Government by the wealthy | Plutocracy |
| Government not connected with religious or spiritual matters | Secular |
| A form of government with a monarch at the head | Monarchy |
| A political system based on the government of men by God | Thearchy |
One Word Substitution For Venue Or Spot
| List of One-Word Substitutions | Venue/Spot |
| A collection of historical documents or records providing information about a place, institution, or group of people | Archives |
| A large cage, building, or enclosure to keep birds | Aviary |
| A building where animals are butchered | Abattoir |
| A place where bees are kept; a collection of beehives | Apiary |
| A building containing tanks of live fish of different species | Aquarium |
| A place or scene of activity, debate, or conflict | Arena |
| A collection of weapons and military equipment | Arsenal |
| An institution for the care of people who are mentally ill | Asylum |
| A hole or tunnel dug by a small animal, especially a rabbit, as a dwelling | Burrow |
| A collection of items of the same type stored in a hidden or inaccessible place | Cache |
| A public room or building where gambling games are played | Casino |
| A large burial ground, especially one not in a churchyard | Cemetery |
| A room in a public building where outdoor clothes or luggage may be left | Cloakroom |
| A place where a dead person’s body is cremated | Crematorium |
| A Christian community of nuns living together under monastic vows | Convent |
| The nursery where babies and young children are cared for during the working day | Creche |
| A stoppered glass container into which wine or spirit is decanted | Decanter |
| A large bedroom for a number of people in a school or institution | Dormitory |
| The nest of a squirrel, typically in the form of a mass of twigs in a tree | Drey |
| A room or building equipped for gymnastics, games, and another physical exercise | Gymnasium |
| A storehouse for threshed grain | Granary |
| A large building with an extensive floor area, typically for housing aircraft | Hangar |
| A box or cage, typically with a wire mesh front, for keeping rabbits or other small domesticated animals | Hutch |
| A place in a large institution for the care of those who are ill | Infirmary |
| A small shelter for a dog | Kennel |
| A place where wild animals live | Lair |
| A place where coins, medals, or tokens are made | Mint |
| A collection of wild animals kept in captivity for exhibition | Menagerie |
| A building or buildings occupied by a community of monks living under religious vows | Monastery |
| A place where bodies are kept for identification | Morgue |
| A piece of enclosed land planted with fruit trees | Orchard |
| A large natural or artificial lake used as a source of water supply | Reservoir |
| A small kitchen or room at the back of a house used for washing dishes and other dirty household work | Scullery |
| A close-fitting cover for the blade of a knife or sword | Sheath |
| A room or building for sick children in a boarding school | Sanatorium |
| A place where animal hides are tanned | Tannery |
| A large, tall cupboard in which clothes may be hung or stored | Wardrobe |
One-Word Substitutes For Profession/Research
| One Word Substitution | Profession/Research |
| The medieval forerunner of chemistry | Alchemy |
| A person who presents a radio/television programme | Anchor |
| One who studies the evolution of mankind | Anthropologist |
| A person who is trained to travel in a spacecraft | Astronaut |
| The scientific study of the physiology, structure, genetics, ecology, distribution, classification and economic importance of plants | Botany |
| A person who draws or produces maps | Cartographer |
| A person who writes beautiful writing | Calligrapher |
| A person who composes the sequence of steps and moves for a performance of dance | Choreographer |
| A person employed to drive a private or hired car | Chauffeur |
| A person who introduces the performers or contestants in a variety show | Compere |
| A keeper or custodian of a museum or other collection | Curator |
| The branch of biology concerned with cyclical physiological phenomena | Chronobiology |
| A secret or disguised way of writing | Cypher |
| The study of statistics | Demography |
| The use of the fingers and hands to communicate and convey ideas | Dactylology |
| A person who sells and arranges cut flowers | Florist |
| A line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor | Genealogy |
| The therapeutic use of sunlight | Heliotherapy |
| The art or practise of garden cultivation and management | Horticulture |
| One who supervises in the examination hall | Invigilator |
| The theory or philosophy of law | Jurisprudence |
| A person who compiles dictionaries | Lexicographer |
| The scientific study of the structure and diseases of teeth | Odontology |
| One who presents a radio programme | Radio Jockey |
| The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing | Rhetoric |
| The branch of science concerned with the origin, structure and composition of rocks | Petrology |
| One who studies the elections and trends in voting | Psephologist |
| An artist who makes sculptures. | Sculptor |
| The scientific study of the behaviour, structure, physiology, classification and distribution of animals | Zoology |
| Group/Collection | One Word Substitution | Examples |
| A group of sheep | Flock | I saw a shepherd down the hill with a flock of sheep. |
| A family of young animals | Brood | Mr Styles like spending hours bathing the brood of horses in the stable. |
| A number of people travelling together in a big van or jeep | Caravan | A caravan of hippies just passed by. |
| A series of stars | Constellation | This constellation looks like a burger! |
| A large group of people | Horde | A horde of college students was gathered around the voting booth. |
| A temporary police force | Posse | Jake went to arrest the criminal with his posse. |
| A group of cattle or sheep | Herd | Keep your herd of cows in the backyard. |
| A number of fish swimming together | Shoal | I saw a shoal of mackerel on that side of the river. |
| A group of worshippers | Congregation | The congregation will happen at St. Mary’s Church at 4pm tomorrow. |
Must Read: 50 Common Difficult Idioms with Examples
| Person/People | One Word Substitution | Examples |
| The one who loves mankind | Philanthropist | He became a renowned philanthropist after joining Buddhism. |
| The one who looks at the brighter side of everything | Optimist | Louis has always been the biggest optimistic person I know. |
| The one who looks at the negative/dark side of everything. | Pessimist | I am always on the edge of becoming a total pessimist. |
| The one who does not believe in God. | Atheist | I am neither an Atheist nor a religious person. |
| The one who eats human flesh | Cannibal | The police caught these cannibals from the jungle. |
| Someone who regards the world as their country | Cosmopolitan | Globalisation will give rise to more cosmopolitans. |
| The one who loves good food and knows a lot about it | Gourmet | I could have been a Gourmet if I liked spicy food! |
| Someone who lives in solitude | Recluse | I want to become a recluse after I retire. |
| Someone who speaks more than one language | Polyglot | I took up Turkish to become a Polyglot. |
| A person who boasts of one’s achievements | Egotist | She saw him as a thoughtless egotist. |
| People who can vote in an election: | Electorate | Last year’s electorate comprised of many first-time voters. |
| A person who loves himself the most | Narcissist | John is a narcissist and will never love anyone else but himself. |
| A person who draws maps | Cartographer | A cartographer can help you find the right way through a complex forest land through his mastery of maps. |
| A person who abandons his religion | Apostate | Watching his daughter die of cancer made Steve become an apostate. |
| A person was appointed to settle a dispute between two parties | Arbitrator | In their final judgement, the jury presented that it is necessary for the parties to have an arbitrator to reach mutual consent. |
| The one who knows everything | Omniscient | He is such a know-it-all but he is not an omniscient. |
| The one who is all powerful | Omnipotent | We often stereotype a superhero as an Omnipotent but it’s important to have some flaws to make them human. |
| The one who is present everything | Omnipresent | Technology has become synonymous with omnipresent nowadays. |
| Someone who is eighty years old. | Octogenarian | My grandpa is an octogenarian. |
| The one who settles in another country. | Immigrant | It isn’t easy being an immigrant in the USA. |
| Someone who cares about mankind. | Humanitarian | She is known for her humanitarian efforts. |
| Person/People | One Word Substitution | Examples |
| Someone trained to travel and operate a spacecraft. | Astronaut | Kalpana Chawla is one of the greatest women astronauts. |
| The one who makes maps or charts | Cartographer | We need a cartographer to decode these cryptic maps. |
| Someone who sells or grows flowers or studies or writes about flowers. | Florist | Harry is my favorite florist and I like how he gives unique facts about what every flower symbolises. |
| Someone with a beautiful handwriting | Calligrapher | I started as a calligrapher and then became a tattoo artist. |
| The supervising person during an examination | Invigilator | The invigilator is too lazy to even check the students in the back. |
| Someone who presents or hosts a radio show | Radio Jockey | A radio jockey needs to have brilliant communication skills. |
| Someone who choreographs dances attuning certain sequences of steps and movements along music | Choreographer | Can you find me a wedding choreographer? |
| Someone who is the custodian or the keeper of a museum | Curator | I like being a curator as I get to meet artists from different parts of the world. |
| A person who doesn’t like humankind devoids himself of human society | Misanthrope | Grinch wasn’t the mean-spirited misanthrope most of us took him to be. |
| A person who collects coins as a hobby | Numismatist | As a Numismatist, I have a huge collection of currencies from almost all the countries around the world. |
| Someone employed to drive a hired car | Chauffeur | The chauffeur will come by 4 pm to the venue. |
| Someone who walks by foot. | Pedestrian | This side of the road is for Pedestrians. |
| Someone who is reserved and shy. | Introvert | I like being an introvert and I am happy with a small social circle. |
Also Read: 50 Difficult Phrases with Meanings!
| Terms | One Word Substitutions | Example |
| Indefinite period of time | Aeon | Those days became boring, aeon and too long to pass. |
| Appreciation of beauty, by a set of principles. | Aesthetics | I found this website quite appealing especially because of its aesthetics |
| Spartan snowstorms with uncontrollable winds | Blizzard | On our way back to the hotel, we got caught in a blizzard. |
| An eccentric manner of living | Bohemian | She felt embarrassed when her friends made fun of her bohemian clothing. |
| Huge fire for celebration | Bonfire | The campers spent their night by the bonfire. |
| Dwarfed varieties of trees and shrubs in pots | Bonsai | Her room was filled with bonsai plants. |
| The remote regions of a country which are far away from the rivers | Hinterland | Her cottage was situated in a hinterland deprived of any beautiful scenery. |
| Complex situation or a mix-up | Imbroglio | The romantic imbroglio happened when he met my landlords assuming they were my parents. |
| Make someone feel young | Rejuvenate | This exfoliating scrub can completely rejuvenate your skin. |
| Not showing enough care and attention | Remiss | I realised that she was totally remiss in finishing her daily tasks. |
| A shelter for a Dog | Kennel | Our new pup spent all his day hiding inside the kennel. |
| Where wild animals live | Lair | I found a hidden lair in the forest but was too afraid to go inside it. |
| A place where coins are made | Mint | This industrial facility is actually a mint which manufactures coins. |
| Ordinary and Dull | Mundane | I am bored with the mundane life of the quarantined days. |
| Published after someone’s death | Posthumous | Mr Smith’s posthumous works brought him an immense number of accolades. |
| The profession of teaching or the approach or style of teaching | Pedagogy | It was his unique approach to pedagogy that made him every student’s favourite. |
| The symbols of royalty | Regalia | The queen was adorned in full regalia. |
| A political system solely based on the government of men by God | Thearchy | The village was ruled by the system of thearchy. |
| A person promises to tell the truth in court | Oath | I couldn’t disrespect the oath and thus revealed everything. |
| Beginning to exist and evolve | Nascent | Biotechnology bloomed from a nascent sector to a booming industry. |
| Ethically good behaviour one has | Virtue | Patience is seen as the virtue of a man. |
| Humour that describes the weaknesses | Satire | Ghasiram Kotwal is an incredibly written satire on the political scenario of Maharashtra in the early 20th century. |
| Changing the direction of one’s path suddenly | Veer | He veered the car in the other direction as the deer came in the way. |
| Enjoy something for an extended time | Savour | Don’t forget to savour this delectable wine! |
| Someone who is wrongly blamed for things that others have done | Scapegoat | They used him as a scapegoat to accuse him of the whole conspiracy |
| Space where animal hides are tanned | Tannery | The leather for this coat has been skinned in the tannery. |
| Determined to achieve something | Tenacious | She was tenacious enough to chase after her dream of becoming a film actor. |
| The sound of Parrots | Screech | I woke up to the screeching of birds by the window. |
| Using a word or name that is inappropriate | Misnomer | It’s quite a misnomer to call it a victory since he scored the lowest marks in the test. |
| A government that has a monarch as the head | Monarchy | With a king ruling the country, the Monarchy is different from a democracy. |
| The sound of Camels | Grunt | In the vastness of the desert, the only sound you can hear is the constant grunting of camels from far away. |
| Events manifested by festivities | Fiesta | Last night’s party was a total fiesta. |
| The ranting of a person | Whine | Aakriti is always whining about the weather. |
| People who are extremely poor | Destitute | Ajay grew up in a destitute existence. |
| Absolute freedom to act as one wishes | Carte blanche | Her mother gave her carte blanche to follow the career path she wants to. |
| A person who is unsure about God’s existence | Agnostic | Though he was raised in a conservative Hindu family, he remained agnostic most of his life. |
| Extreme physical or mental sufferings | Agony | He fell to the ground in agony. |
| Japanese form of self-defense with the usage of locks holds | Aikido | He has mastered Aikido and his next goal is to learn Kung fu. |
| A soldier who fights for the sake of money | Mercenary | You are a mercenary and you kill people with any guns! |
| An accolade or honour bestowed in recognition for an achievement: | Laurel | She enjoyed the laurels of her acting achievements. |
| A person who behaves without moral principles | Immoral | Lying is completely immoral even if it is done for a good purpose. |
| Charging a politician with a serious crime | Impeach | Trump was impeached recently but it didn’t really affect his position as the president. |
| Government instructions that limit trade in some way | Embargo | With the danger of virus hovering over the whole world, an embargo on international trade was mutually decided upon. |
| Believer of fate | Fatalist | I am fatalist for I believe that our destiny has already been written. |
| Loves being social and enjoys the company of others | Gregarious | Gurleen is a gregarious girl and we often call her the social butterfly of our class! |
| Trees grow without underbrush. | Grove | This garden is filled with beautiful groves that amazingly complemented the tall trees |
| An office with high salary but no work | Sinecure | After listening to the perks that Seema has at her office, Vishal assumes as if she works at a Sinecure. |
| A person who betrays and descents and organisation or country | Renegade | It is currently flashing in the news that a renegade policeman shot three innocent people. |
| One who is much concerned about details and accuracy | Fastidious | Virat is fastidious about his hair. He makes sure that he visits the salon at regular intervals. |
| A place for storage of arms and ammunition | Arsenal | The officer informed the soldier about his new posting in Arsenal. |
| One who is expelled from a religious community | Excommunicate | His misconduct at the previous religious gathering led to his ex-communication. |
| A person who eats too much | Glutton | As soon as the guests left, Riya didn’t miss a chance to call our cousin glutton. |
| Something which can be copied | Immitable | As the captain’s approach for the finale was imitable, he is still called a legend. |
| Killing-related | One Word Substitution | Examples |
| When someone kills their own father | Patricide | Jean was arrested for patricide. |
| The act of killing a king | Regicide | The monarchy fell with the regicide. |
| The killing of a person by another | Homicide | He went to jail on the charge of homicide. |
| The killing of one’s child | Filicide | The police filed a report about filicide that happened in the C block. |
Top 40 One-Word Substitutions Asked in Competitive Exams
One-Word Substitution Sample Questions
Now that you have understood the concept of one-word substitution, let us sample some sample questions so that you develop a strong command over it!
Q1. An individual who is unable to express or interact easily
A) Extrovert
B) Introvert
C) Ambivert
D) None of the Above
Q2. A stream of water moving very fast
A) Current
B) Tide
C) Torrent
D) Storms
Q3. Shikha spends a lot of money on clothes. Her cousins call her a:
A) Frugal
B) Economical
C) Miser
D) Spendthrift
Q4. Asmita works really hard for the upliftment of poor children. She even donates half of her salary to NGOs. She is:
A) Philanthropist
B) Selfish
C) Tightfisted
D) None of the Above
Q5. It is impossible to see through it.
A) Translucent
B) Fragile
C) Opaque
D) Transparent
Q6. Aman is really scared of thunderstorms. He suffers:
A) Acrophobia
B) Ophidiophobia
C) Nephophobia
D) Astraphobia
Q7. She caught the robbers
A) Courageously
B) Frightened
C) Cowardly
D) None of the above
Q8. Lalit has a good knowledge of Music. His father calls him:
A) Incompetent
B) Amateur
C) Maestro
D) Beginner
Q9. After attending a career counseling session, he understood that his ____ was cooking:
A) Niche
B) Supplant
C) Replacement
D) None of the above
Q10. You can’t park your truck here. It is:
A) Lawful
B) Allowed
C) Unauthorized
D) None of the Above
Answers:
- B
- C
- D
- A
- C
- D
- A
- C
- A
- C
[BONUS] One Word Substitution Quiz
One Word Substitution Quiz
FAQs
Q1. How to learn one-word substitutes?
Ans. Techniques for One-Word Substitution:
1. Comprehend the whole meaning of a sentence or a group of words.
2. Look for terms that have a comparable meaning to the sentence and use them instead.
3. Discover the replacement words for the statement and keep the word in your memory for later usage.
4. Improving your vocabulary (synonyms and antonyms)
Q2. What is one-word substitution also known as?
Ans. One-word substitutions are also referred to as “Verbatim.” One-word substitution is a technique that substitutes a word for a context without altering the meaning of the original context.
Q3. What is a one-word substitution in English Class 7?
Ans. Single words used to represent a person, an item, a place, etc. instead of a set of words are known as one-word substitutions. Words that sound the same but have diverse meanings are referred to as homophones.
We hope that this blog was informative and helpful, whether you are preparing for a competitive exam, school-related examination, or olympiad. If you are preparing for IELTS, GMAT, SAT, or any other such competitive exam, connect with our experts at Leverage Edu by signing up for a free online session and we will help you prepare for the exam with the best study materials as well as mentoring classes to ensure that you clear it with flying colors!
Cosmetic fits the example sentence you give as a direct drop-in word, but it doesn’t fit the description of your question or the second sentence in your question.
In other words, because of the way you’ve phrased your question, it’s asking for something a bit different.
What is a word for using one word to replace another cosmetically?
Rephrasing:
to phrase or express (something) in a different way especially to make the meaning clearer · Let me rephrase the question.
Editors often use the word recasting for this purpose, one definition of which is simply «to present (something) in a different way.»
Both of those words could actually suit your sentence if the sentence itself were changed slightly:
Despite the rephrasing of the law, nothing really changed.
In fact, using rephrasing (or recasting) in this slightly changed sentence would help with the use of despite (as mentioned in another answer).
Of course, you can change the meaning of something by rephrasing it significantly enough, but cosmetic changes are certainly not excluded.
More informally, there is another word that can imply minor (cosmetic) rephrasing of writing.
Tweaks:
a small change or adjustment · We made a few tweaks to the original recipe.
So:
Despite the tweaks to the law, nothing really changed.
На основании Вашего запроса эти примеры могут содержать грубую лексику.
На основании Вашего запроса эти примеры могут содержать разговорную лексику.
одно слово на другое
одного слова другим
To me that’s just substituting one word for another.
Substitute one word for another or one sound for another
When you use one word for another.
Replacing the notion of «irrelevant» by the notion of «arbitrary» is not just substituting one word for another.
Замена понятия «неуместный» понятием «произвольный» — это не просто замена одного слова другим.
But even with the exemplar before him, a copyist gets into the habit of pronouncing in a low tone, or to himself, the phrase he is transcribing, and thus is likely to mistake one word for another which sounds like it.
Но даже с образцом перед ним, переписчик получает в привычку произносить вполголоса или про себя фразу он Переписывание, и, таким образом, вероятно, ошибочно одно слово для другой, которая звучит, как он.
Sir Hugh, with whom these phrases neither lost nor gained by mistaking one word for another, appealed to Dr. Orkborne to remedy what he conceived to be an unaccountable failure.
Сэр Хью, с которым эти фразы не потерялись и не получили, приняв одно слово за другого, обратился к доктору Оркборну с просьбой исправить то, что он считал необъяснимым провалом.
By substituting one word for another, Mr. Bulgakov has rendered it utterly meaningless! … but it cannot be understood otherwise than as an indirect or even direct recognition [listen well!
После булгаковской замены одного слова другим этот отрывок даже совершенно лишен смысла… «но не может быть понят иначе, как косвенное или даже прямое признание» (слушайте!) «закона убывающего плодородия почвы.
Результатов: 7. Точных совпадений: 7. Затраченное время: 87 мс
Documents
Корпоративные решения
Спряжение
Синонимы
Корректор
Справка и о нас
Индекс слова: 1-300, 301-600, 601-900
Индекс выражения: 1-400, 401-800, 801-1200
Индекс фразы: 1-400, 401-800, 801-1200
Let’s face it. Sometimes when you’re writing, you find yourself wondering if there’s another word for, well, the word you keep using! Repetitive words tend to creep into our writing when we’re feeling stuck, and they can make an otherwise excellent email or perfect paper seem a little less polished than we’d hoped. At worst, repeating words in your writing can make it down right boring!
When to find another word in your writing
There are plenty of reasons this happens. While the average 20-year-old native English speaker knows an average of 42,000 words, we only use about 20,000 of them. And sometimes repetitive words can actually help make keep your reader engaged — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. practiced anaphora when he repeated the phrase “I have a dream” in eight consecutive sentences. His speech is stirring and well-remembered because of his careful crafting and repetition.
So how do you know when you should find another word for the words you’re repeating, and where do you find another word to make your writing more clear and engaging? Take a look at these sentences:
I really liked this article I found. I thought you would like this article too.
If the words “like” and “article” jumped out at you because they’re repeated and you wish the writer had found another word for each of them, you’re getting the picture. Do you worry the writer is going to drone on and on, using the same words over and over?
The good news? You can drop the duplicates with a little help! Keep reading for the seven best resources to help you write more clearly.
Grammar Coach™
Hey, we had to start with the best, didn’t we? Even the best writers need a helping hand. That’s where Grammar Coach by Thesaurus.com comes in. Use Grammar Coach™ to check your spelling, find the best words to use, and make sure your writing is as clear as possible.
The new repetitive words feature can even let you know if you’re using the same word too many times, and suggest alternatives to make editing a cinch. It’s like having your own virtual writing mentor.
Don’t hesitate, try Grammar Coach today and discover how easy it is to get the writing boost you’re looking for!
Online style guides
Different types of writing require different style guides — documents that outline rules for writing for different organizations. Many newspapers use them, and they can help you curb some of those repetitive word habits. Luckily, you can find most style guides online. For most types of writing, you’ll want to check out the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook, the Chicago Manual of Style, or any of our easy grammar help articles that explain the differences between these styles.
NaNoWriMo
Breaking the repetitive word habit can be as simple as flexing your writing muscles a little more! Creative writers can find prompts, help, and support through NaNoWriMo. The name is a shortened version of National Novel Writing Month, which takes place in November, but the site provides prompts and message boards for writers all year long.
You can also connect with a writing community through the event and get helpful feedback and team motivation for finishing the writing challenge month out strong.
The Word of the Day
A dictionary is a handy tool for writing of any kind, and Dictionary.com makes it easy to double check your spelling and make sure that word you keep using really means what you think it means. But dropping your habit of repeating the same words could be as simple as building up your vocabulary by learning new words! Good thing you can pick up a fresh one each day with Word of the Day, huh?
Writer’s Digest
Becoming a great writer means learning as much as possible about your craft. Whether you’re interested in fiction writing, nonfiction writing, or poetry, Writer’s Digest has articles from real writers and experts with helpful suggestions for creating a dedicated writing practice and honing your skills.
Daily Writing Tips
Dig into a new writing-related topic each day with articles from Daily Writing Tips. A new piece of writing help is published each day covering topics related to syntax, vocabulary, and hot topics related to the writing industry at large.
The thesaurus
What’s another word for place to find the best word alternatives? We’re a little biased, but we’re going to say it’s Thesaurus.com!
You can look up synonyms and antonyms for thousands of words, get help with your spelling and punctuation, read helpful explainers about the trickiest grammar topics, and even learn brand new synonyms every single day with our free Synonym Of The Day feature.
We have given one word for both: prana means the vitality, the aliveness.
Last but not least, only one word for Indacoin: Excellent!!!
И последнее, но не менее важное: только одно слово для Indacoin: Отлично!!!
We are reminded in King’s Gnostics and
their Remains that the Greek language had but one word for vowel and voice.
В своем труде« Gnostics and their Remains» Ч. В. Кинг напоминает нам,
что греческий язык имел одно и то же слово для обозначения гласной и голоса.
Georgia is a beautiful country
for
tourism
for
those interested in ancient architecture, beautiful nature,
Грузия прекрасная страна
для
туризма
для
тех, кто интересуется древней архитектуры, прекрасной природой,
To configure shared folders, you need to have the directory to share on on the file system,
which will be presented to the virtual machine and sets name(one word) for this resources
for
guest OS.
Для настройки, вам необходимо иметь на файловой системе непосредственно сам каталог,
который будет презентован виртуальной машине и придумать имя( одно слово) шары, по которому будете подключать его в гостевой ОС.
I have
one
word for you… infection risk.
У меня для тебя два слова: риск инфекции.
There should be more than one word
for
love.
Uh, um… amazing is— is one word
for
it, yes.
You just breezed right in and you had one word
for
us,
А ты просто влетел и сказал нам всего лишь одно слово.
I have only one word
for
this global war on terrorism decoration, and that is shame.”.
Я могу охарактеризовать эту войну с терроризмом одним словом— позор».
(2 Corinthians 5:17) All of this is possible and there is one word
for
it- salvation!
Это возможно и все заключается в одном слове— спасение! Наверное, ты думаешь: Спасение? Это я уже пробовал!
Replacing the notion of»irrelevant» by the notion
of»arbitrary» is not just substituting one word
for
another.
Замена понятия» неуместный» понятием» произвольный»- это не просто замена одного слова другим.
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