CHARACTER
"The measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he never would be found out."
–– Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800-1859) -- British writer and politician
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WORDS THAT ARE OFTEN USED INCORRECTLY
principal, principle
Principal means chief or main, also the amount borrowed in a loan; principle means regulations or ideals.
“The principal reason for the company’s failure was lack of money.” (or)
“The new principal is making a real difference to our school.”
“We are paying both principal and interest each month on our mortgage.”
“She is completely without principles and would steal from her own mother.”
“The principal reason for the company’s failure was lack of money.” (or)
“The new principal is making a real difference to our school.”
“We are paying both principal and interest each month on our mortgage.”
“She is completely without principles and would steal from her own mother.”
profit, prophet
Profit means gain, earnings, advantage, and is usually associated with business. A prophet is a seer, a diviner. I saw this mix-up in a writer’s group, of all places!
“What doth it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loseth his soul?”
“A prophet is without honour in his own country.”
“What doth it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loseth his soul?”
“A prophet is without honour in his own country.”
quiet, quite
Quiet means without noise; quite when used in fiction usually means moderately, but can also mean totally or entirely. Use of the wrong word here could, of course, simply be a typing error that went unnoticed in the proofreading stages!
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