| earnest or Ernest? | EARNEST = serious and sincere ERNEST = masculine first name |
| economic or economical? |
ECONOMIC = related to the economy of the country, or industry or business ECONOMICAL = thrifty, avoiding extravagance |
| -ed or -t? | These can be either: burned burnt dreamed dreamt dwelled dwelt kneeled knelt leaned leant leaped leapt learned learnt smelled smelt spelled spelt spilled spilt spoiled spoilt |
| eerie or eyrie? | EERIE = strange, weird, disturbing EYRIE = an eagle’s nest |
| effective, effectual or efficient? |
EFFECTIVE =abletoproducearesult an EFFECTIVE cure an EFFECTIVE speech EFFECTUAL = likely to be completely successful: EFFECTUAL prayer EFFECTUAL legislation EFFICIENT = working well without wasting time, money or effort: an EFFICIENT secretary an EFFICIENT engine |
| ei/ie spelling rule | Remember the jingle: i before e except after c or when sounded like a as in ‘neighbour’ and ‘weigh’. Here are some examples which follow the rule. There are plenty of others. ie ei after c achieve ceiling believe conceited chief conceive field perceive friend receive hygiene ei sounding like a priest eight relief reign retrieve reindeer shield skein shriek sleigh thief vein 18 exceptions |
| emigrant or immigrant? |
An EMIGRANT leaves his or her country to live in another. An IMMIGRANT moves into a country to live permanently. |
| eminent or imminent? | EMINENT =famous IMMINENT = about to happen |
| enquiry or inquiry? | Both spellings are correct and there is no difference in meaning. British English favours the first and American English the second. Some writers reserve the first for a general request for information and the second for a formal investigation, but this is by no means necessary. |
| ensure or insure? | to ENSURE =tomakesure to INSURE = to arrange for financial compensation in the case of loss, injury, damage or death |
| especially or specially? | The two words are very close in meaning and sometimes overlap. However, use these exemplar sentences as a guide to exclusive uses: I bought the car ESPECIALLY for you (= for you alone). We are awaiting a SPECIALLY commissioned report (= for a special purpose). |
| exceptionable or exceptional? |
EXCEPTIONABLE = open to objection EXCEPTIONAL =unusual |
| exhausting or exhaustive? |
EXHAUSTING = tiring EXHAUSTIVE = thorough, fully comprehensive |
| explicit or implicit? | EXPLICIT = stated clearly and openly IMPLICIT = implied but not actually stated |
