What does ‘a few’ mean?
A few means ‘some’ or ‘a small number of’. When a few is used along with the adverb ‘only’, it means ‘not many’ (e.g., ‘only a few original copies of the book survive’).
‘Touch bases’ is sometimes mistakenly used instead of the expression touch base, meaning ‘reconnect briefly’. In the expression, the word ‘base’ can’t be pluralised – the idea is more that you’re both touching the same ‘base’.
‘Touch basis’ is a misspelling of ‘touch bases’ and is also incorrect.
Some antonyms (opposites) for ‘callous’ include:
Some synonyms for copacetic include:
Copacetic has four syllables. It’s pronounced with emphasis on the third syllable: [koh-pah-set-ik].
The standard spelling is copacetic. The variant spellings copasetic and copesetic are also listed as acceptable by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, but they’re less common.
The origin of the word is unclear (it’s thought to have originated as slang in the 20th century), which is why various spellings are deemed acceptable.
Please bear with me is a more polite version of the expression bear with me, meaning ‘have patience with me’.
It’s typically used along with a conjunction (e.g., ‘while’), to explain why you’re asking for patience (e.g., ‘please bear with me while I try to find the correct file’).
Some synonyms for bear with me include:
‘Bare with me’ is a common misspelling of the phrase bear with me. While ‘bare’ can be used as a verb meaning ‘uncover’, it doesn’t make sense in this phrase. The verb you need is ‘bear’, meaning ‘carry’ or ‘endure’.
Some well-known examples of terms that are or have been viewed as misnomers, but are still widely used, include:
Some synonyms for touch base include:
Some synonyms for ‘callous’ include:
Let’s touch base is an expression used to suggest to someone that you touch base or briefly reconnect. It’s rarely used in formal or academic writing.
There are different synonyms for the various meanings of besides.
| Except | In addition to | As well | Furthermore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apart from | As well as | Also | Additionally |
| But | Along with | Too | Further |
| Other than | Together with | Moreover |
Beside and besides are related words, but they don’t have the same meaning.
Yes, besides is a preposition meaning ‘apart from’ (e.g., ‘Laura doesn’t like hot drinks besides cocoa’). It can also be used to mean ‘as well as’ (e.g., ‘Besides traveling, Angie enjoys cooking’).
There are many ways to categorise determiners into various types. Some of the main types of determiners are:
Use to and used to are commonly confused words. In the case of “used to have”, the latter (with “d”) is correct, since you’re describing an action or state in the past.
Some synonyms and near synonyms for few include:
Although a few doesn’t refer to any specific number, it’s typically used to refer to a relatively small number that’s more than two (e.g., ‘I’m going home in a few hours’).
‘Indubitably‘ has five syllables. It is pronounced with an emphasis on the second syllable: [in-doo-bit-uh-blee].
Some antonyms (opposites) for facetious include:
Facetious has three syllables. It’s pronounced with an emphasis on the second syllable: [fuh-see-shuss].
Some words that are synonyms or near synonyms of ‘eponymous‘ include:
“Eponymous” has four syllables. It’s pronounced with an emphasis on the second syllable: [i-pon-uh-muss].
There are numerous synonyms for the various meanings of protagonist.
| Main character in a story | Main participant in an event | Leader or supporter of a cause |
| Central figure | Actor | Advocate |
| Hero(ine) | Key figure | Champion |
| Lead(ing) character | Main figure | Exponent |
| Main character | Principal player | Promoter |
| Proponent | ||
| Supporter | ||
| Upholder |
In fiction, the opposite (antonym) of a protagonist is an antagonist, meaning someone who opposes the protagonist.
More generally, some antonyms for ‘protagonist’ include:
Ad nauseam is usually used to refer to something going on for too long. Some rough synonyms of ad nauseam are:
The correct spelling of the term meaning ‘to a sickening degree’ is ad nauseam, with an ‘a’. The common misspelling ‘ad nauseum’, with a ‘u’, is never correct.
Some synonyms for facetious include:
Some synonyms for ‘indubitably‘ include:
Some synonyms of vice versa include:
There are two ways to pronounce vice versa:
Both pronunciations are considered acceptable, but ‘vice versa’ is the only correct spelling.
Vice versa is the only correct spelling (not ‘vice a versa’ or ‘vice-versa’), but the phrase can be pronounced both ways: [vice–vur-suh] or [vice-uh-vur-suh].
Albeit has three syllables. It’s pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable: [awl-bee-it].
Because some people pronounce ‘I’ll’ in a similar way to the first syllable, they sometimes mistakenly write ‘I’ll be it’ in place of ‘albeit’. This is incorrect and should be avoided.
Mea maxima culpa is a term of Latin origin meaning ‘through my most grievous fault’. It is used to acknowledge a mistake or wrongdoing. Mea maxima culpa is a stronger version of mea culpa, which means ‘through my fault’.
Mea maxima culpa is traditionally used in a prayer of confession in the Catholic Church as the third and most emphatic expression of guilt (‘mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa’). Unlike mea culpa, mea maxima culpa is rarely used outside of a religious context.
Mea culpa has four syllables. It’s pronounced with emphasis on the first and third syllables: [May-uh-kuul-puh].
Some synonyms for “loquacious” include:
Some antonyms (opposites) of ‘loquacious‘ include:
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