Lie vs. Lay · distinguish their meanings and uses

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Language & WordsOne small aha

Your new ahaLie means to recline and takes no object while lay means to place something and needs one

Lie takes no object and lay takes one, and confusingly, lie's own past tense is spelled lay. Source: Wiktionary: lie ↗

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16Farther vs. Further · distinguish their meanings and usesIDENTIFY
Farther is often preferred for physical distance; further also means additional or greater in degree, and can describe distance too
Farther commonly describes physical distance, while further also describes addition or degree. Both can refer to physical distance in…
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17Discreet vs. Discrete · distinguish their meanings and usesIDENTIFY
Discreet means careful or subtle while discrete means separate or distinct
Discreet and discrete share a Latin origin but now mean subtle and separate, respectively.
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18Elicit vs. Illicit · distinguish their meanings and usesIDENTIFY
Elicit means to draw out a response while illicit means illegal or forbidden
Elicit draws out a response and illicit means forbidden, unrelated words that merely sound alike.
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