With only 26 letters in the English alphabet and finicky rules between vowel and consonant placements, there are only a finite combination of simple and unique spellings and pronunciations before things start overlapping. Of course, things wouldn’t have to be so difficult if we could replace homonyms with new spellings (ie. replace there with tharr so that you couldn’t possibly mistake it for their), but until our dictionary overlords decide there is a need to do so, we have to rely on sentence usage contexts (or tiny nuances in pronunciation) to determine which spellings or definitions to use – making mix-ups and embarrassment more prone to happen.

Fortunately, Wordsmith is here to help shed some light on the confusing world of English diction!

Equity vs equality
Let’s say the government has had a budget surplus and decided to divide the surplus amongst all the citizens. If each household received a flat sum of $1,000 each, would you say that the government did so with equity or equality in mind?

· Equity: [noun 1] the quality of being fair and impartial

· Equality: [noun 2] the state of being equal, especially in status, rights or opportunities

Since everyone received the same amount, the government’s allocation promoted equality. For the allocation to be equitable, the surplus would have to be divided in a way that benefited the poorer citizens more – think of it like this: for a well-off family with $1,000,000 in assets, giving them $1,000 would mean very little in the grand scheme of things; on the other hand, for a poor family with only $10,000, the government allocation would be 10 percent of their net worth. An equitable allocation would aim to shorten the gap between the poor and the rich (ie. $2,000 for the poor, $1,000 for middle classes and none for the rich).

Remember, equality is to treat everyone the same, whereas equity is to level the playing field.

Fair vs fare
After months of closure for safety precautions and social distancing, Ocean Park has finally opened again. You make a beeline for the exotic sea animals and roller coasters and have a generally fantastic time – that is until the constant adrenaline rushes, greasy hot dogs, cotton candy and soda have you feeling nauseous. Did you have a problem with the park’s fair or fare?

· Fair [adjective 1] treating someone or something equally without favouritism or discrimination

[adjective 2] neither good nor bad

[adjective 3] not dark

[adjective 4] pleasing to the eye
[noun 1] a gathering of buyers and sellers (ie. exhibitions) at a particular time and place

· Fare [verb 1] get along; succeed

[noun 1] the price charged to transport a person

[noun 2] range of food of a particular type

Hot dogs, candy and sugary drinks are considered standard fare of theme parks and carnivals – lacking in nutrition and generally overpriced. Alas, indulging in junk food is part of the charm of going to such attractions – not to mention, they are counting on food and beverages (and merchandising) sales to pad out their revenue stream!

Oppress vs suppress
The Internet is a great place to share your opinion and receive feedback. However, some countries place restrictions on what people can say online – sometimes even involving harsh punishments for those caught breaching these rules. For these who have to tiptoe their way around such restrictions, would you say that their freedom of speech is being oppressed or suppressed?

· Oppress [verb 1] to keep (someone) in subjection and hardship, especially by the unjust exercise of authority

· Suppress [verb 1] to forcibly put an end to something; prevent the dissemination of information

Both these words mean very similar things, but Grammarist has listed out a few useful rules to help us determine when to use each. “Oppress usually applies to the mistreatment of a person or group by a more powerful one…” whereas “suppress usually applies to information.” Since this example deals with both information and government mandates – suppress would be most suitable (although oppress is equally valid due to the power the government holds over an individual and the included threat of punishment).

Corrugate vs coruscate
Riding a bike over mountainous roads is great exercise, although it may become unbearable during summer daytimes due to the extreme heat – hence many avid cyclists prefer night rides instead. However, not all mountain roads have sufficient lighting – the darkness combined with the winding roads may make it difficult for motorists to spot cyclists. To increase their physical visibility, cyclists wear reflective clothing at night. Is their apparel corrugating or coruscating light?

· Corrugate [verb 1] to form or shape into wrinkles or folds or into alternating ridges and grooves

· Coruscate [verb 1] to give off or reflect light in bright beams or flashes

[verb 2] to be brilliant or showy in technique or style

As we are talking about the reflection of light, coruscate is the correct term. While we’re on the subject of mountain roads and traffic, most guard rails feature corrugated panelling to help dampen the kinetic force of a collision should a motorist accidentally hit the rails.

Revile vs revel
With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, Hong Kongers are preparing to feast on jung (glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in leaves) and participate in dragon boat races to honour the Chinese national hero and poet Qu Yuan. In this time of celebration, are we reviling or revelling?

· Revile [verb 1] to subject to verbal abuse; use abusive language

· Revel [verb 1] to enjoy oneself in a lively and noisy way (especially with drinking and dancing)

With the synchronised beating of drums and paddles during the races and the clattering of cutlery over dinner, the Dragon Boat Festival is a public holiday that generates quite the commotion. To revel would be the correct term here (although there may be some reviling by dragon boat teams that didn’t perform to expectations).

It’s always good to have more words in our vocabulary, but despite how much we wish to use all of them equally, we always end up using some more than others due to convenience or fear of embarrassment – what we need is equity. It’s only fairafter all, just as no one is exempt from paying their taxes or fares. Imagine if you were the words that were being misused on a daily basis – being constantly kept in fear and oppression; your sense of identity suppressed and warped like corrugated steel. Only when we know how to use English’s many words can we truly revel – lest we be left reviling at the others who can flaunt, flash and coruscate with pride. Stay tuned for the next set of words that people commonly misuse!

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