What the difference in meaning?
aggravate vs. aggravating
MEANING
aggravate (worsen) vs. aggravating (irritating)
What is the difference in meaning?
known as vs. known to be
MEANING
known as (named) vs. known to be (acknowledged as)
What is the difference in meaning?
loss of vs. loss in
MEANING
loss of(no longer in possession of) vs. loss in (decline in value)
What is the difference in meaning?
mandate vs. have a mandate
MEANING
mandate (command) vs. have a mandate (have authority from voters)
What is the difference in meaning?
native of vs. native to
MEANING
native of(person from) vs. native to (species that originated in)
What is the meaning?
range of vs. ranging
MEANING
range of(variety of) vs. ranging (varying)
What is the meaning?
rate of vs. rates for
MEANING
rate of(speed or frequency of) vs. rates for (prices for)
What is the meaning?
rise vs. raise
MEANING
rise (general increase) vs. raise (a bet or a salary increase)
What is the meaning?
such as vs. like
MEANING
such as (for instance) vs. like (similar to)
Like can not introduce examples, use such as instead.
What is the meaning?
try to do vs. try doing
MEANING
try to do (seek to accomplish) vs. try doing (experiment with)
What is wrong?
The court ruled that the plaintiff should pay full damages.
MEANING
The court ruled that the plaintiff MUST pay full damages.
should means “moral
obligation’’ -something that a court cannot impose.
Note also that on
the GMAT, should means “moral obligation,” not “likelihood.”
What is wrong?
- The value of the stock rose by a 10% increase.*
- The three prices sum to a total of $11.56.*
- Being excited about her upcoming graduation, Kelsey could barely focus on her final exams.*
CONCISION
The value of the stock ROSE (or INCREASE) by a 10%.
The three prices SUM to (or TOTAL) $11.56.
EXCITED about her upcoming graduation, Kelsey could barely focus on her final exams.
Being almost never adds to the meaning and should be eliminated.
Look for redundances in expressions of time and quantities.
What is the meaning?
farther vs. further
MEANING
farther (only for distance) vs. further (the degree of something other than distance)
What is the meaning?
Due to
MEANING
- Due to = Caused by*
- The game´s postponent was due to rain*
NEVER use due to to mean on account of.
What is wrong?
The game was postponed due to rain.
MEANING
The game was postponed on account of rain.
Never use due to to mean on account of.
The best meaning to due to is caused by.
The game´s postponent was due to rain.
What is the meaning?
Allow to X Allow for
The holiday ALLOWS Maria TO WATCH the movie today.
(allow to = permit)
The demolition of the old building ALLOWS FOR new construction.
(allow for = permit the existence of)
What the difference in meaning?
economic X economical
Meaning
- economic = monetary*
- economical = eficient*
What is the meaning?
Rise VS Raise II (elaborate)
Raise (regular, transitive)
If you raise something, it means that you elevate it - you move it up or lift it to a higher level.
- The government plans to raise the age of retirement from 65 to 67.
- If you have a question, please raise your hand.
- Mary raises her voice when she’s angry.
- He raised his eyebrows, as if surprised.
- They have raised their prices every year since they were founded.
- The king’s men were raising the drawbridge when it collapsed.
Rise (irregular, intransitive)
If something rises, it means that it elevates itself - it goes up itself. No external force is needed to lift it. But note that there is not always a physical movement; sometimes the meaning is just “to increase”.
- I like to rise at 6am, but my husband stays in bed until 8am.
- If it doesn’t stop raining, the river will rise and overflow.
- Hot air rises.
- John rose from his chair when Mary walked in.
- Jane has risen in her company very quickly and is now CEO.
- Prices are rising all the time.
To help you compare the meanings, here are some examples with raise and rise in the same sentence:
- We raise the flag when the sun rises, and we lower it when the sun goes down.
- Whenever our commanding officer comes in, we rise from our chairs and raise our hands in salute.
- The helicopter rose into the air, raising the survivors out of the water.
