Published on
September 23, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
Elicit means to โobtain or receiveโ (e.g., a response, a reaction, or information), while illicit describes something as โprohibited,โ โillegal,โ or โsocially unacceptable.โ The two words are commonly confused because they are pronounced in the same way (i.e., they are homophones).
Elicit is a verb (e.g., โTeachers often elicit what students know about a topic before teaching itโ).
Illicit is an adjective (e.g., โThe police found boxes of illicit goods in the truckโ).
Elicit vs illicit examples
Elicit in a sentence
Illicit in a sentence
His attempts to elicit a confession were unsuccessful.
He has a history of illicit activities such as drug dealing.
The joke elicited a few smiles from some of the guests.
The platform has been criticized for allowing users to post illicit content.
They were just crocodile tears, an attempt to elicit sympathy.
The Hollywood studios would go to great efforts to cover up the illicit romances of their stars.
Published on
September 23, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 11, 2025
The phrase be supposed to is commonly used in everyday language to express obligation, expectation, or intention. A frequent misspelling of this phrase is โbe suppose to.โ
If you think something โis supposed to happen,โ you expect it to happen because it is a prediction or plan (e.g., โItโs supposed to rain todayโ).
If you say someone โis supposed to doโ something, you think that they should do it because it is the right thing to do, or because it is a rule or instruction (e.g., โYouโre supposed to put glasses in this cupboard, not that oneโ).
Supposed to in a sentence examplesWeโre supposed to be going to a party this weekend.
The delivery was supposed to come before 11 a.m.
How am I supposed to finish all that work today?
Werenโt we supposed to have sent that on Friday?
Youโre not supposed to use the washing machine after 10 p.m.
I didnโt know that we were supposed to register in advance.
Published on
September 23, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
Titled and entitled can be used interchangeably to state the name of a book, movie etc. But the words have different meanings in other contexts.
You can use titled or entitled to refer to the names of works of art, documents etc. However, many style guides recommend using โtitledโ in this context.
If you are โentitled to do something,โ you have the right to do it.
An entitled person feels that they deserve special advantages or opportunities that they have not earned.
A titled person has an official title such as โLady,โ โSir,โ โDuchess,โ or โDuke.โ
Titled vs entitled examples
Titled in a sentence
Entitled in a sentence
The book was amusingly titledThe Fish Who Knew Too Much.
The book was amusingly entitledThe Fish Who Knew Too Much.
Gold members are titled to one free coffee every month.
Gold members are entitled to one free coffee every month.
He is titled because he believes the world owes him everything.
He is entitled because he believes the world owes him everything.
The guest list included an array of titled dignitaries, from knights of the realm to princes and princesses.
The guest list included an array of entitled dignitaries, from knights of the realm to princes and princesses.
Published on
September 23, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
March 17, 2026
Cannot (one word) is the negative form of the modal verb โcan.โ Spelling it as โcan notโ (two words) is incorrect.
Occasionally, however, you need to use the verb โcanโ followed by โnotโ as part of a subsequent phrase (e.g., when using the construction โnot only… but alsoโ). So, itโs sometimes correct to write โcanโ directly followed by โnot.โ
Can vs cannot examples
Cannot in a sentence
Can not in a sentence
I cannot play the piano.
I can not play the piano.
The talented 10-year-old can not only sing but also play the piano.
The talented 10-year-old cannot only sing but also play the piano
You cannot force me to go to the party.
You can not force me to go to the party.
Nobodyโs forcing you; you can not go if you want to.
Nobodyโs forcing you; you cannot go if you want to.
NoteSome lexicographers classify โcan notโ as an uncommon alternative spelling of โcannotโ in American English. However, as โcan notโ is widely regarded as a mistake, โcannotโ is the recommended spelling, especially in formal writing.
Published on
September 18, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
Recurring and reoccurring both mean โhappening againโ and are often used interchangeably. However, recurring generally implies the additional meaning of repetition, especially frequent or periodic repetition.
As an adjective, โrecurringโ is used much more frequently than โreoccurring.โ We rarely need to use either of these words as present participles (i.e., verbs).
Use recurring to emphasize the regularly or periodically repeating nature of an event/occurrence (e.g., โa constantly recurring problemโ).
Use recurring in mathematical contexts to describe a decimal with a digit or group of digits that repeats indefinitely (i.e., โa recurring decimalโ).
Recurring vs reoccurring examples
Recurring in a sentence
Reoccuring in a sentence
Forgiveness is a constantly recurring theme in the book.
It has only happened once, but weโre concerned about the issue reoccurring at some point.
Unfortunately, this has become a recurring complaint.
The medicine should prevent the infection from reoccurring.
If you divide the number 1 by 3, the result is the recurring decimal 0.333โฆ
He said that the malfunction had been reoccurring in the past few days.
NoteโRecurringโ and โreoccuringโ arenโt used as verbs very often, but if you need to use them as verbs to complete the phrase โprevent/stop something from [recurring/reoccuring],โ use โreoccurringโ if you mean โprevent from happening again even one timeโ (e.g., โIt just canโt happen again; we have to stop it from reoccurringโ).
Similarly, in progressive perfect tenses, use โreoccurringโ to express that a repeating occurrence is/was โhappening againโ (e.g., โThe issue was fixed but has been reoccurring recentlyโ).
Published on
September 16, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
“Eldest” and “oldest” both indicate the highest degree of age, but “eldest” is typically used for people, particularly in the context of family relationships (e.g., a sibling), while “oldest” can be used for both people and things.
Eldest vs oldest examples
Eldest in a sentence
Oldest in a sentence
The eldest son did not want to take over the business.
The oldest son did not want to take over the business.
She has two brothers; sheโs the eldest of the three.
She has two brothers; sheโs the oldest of the three.
Published on
September 10, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
Maybe (one word) and may be (two words) are not interchangeable, but they are easily confused because they both express possibility or uncertainty.
Maybe is an adverb meaning โperhaps.โ If you substitute โmaybeโ with โperhaps,โ your sentence will still make sense.
May be is the modal verb โmayโ followed by the main or auxiliary verb โbe.โ If you substitute โmay beโ with โmight be,โ your sentence will still make sense.
Published on
September 9, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
The prepositions in, on, and at are easily confused because all three can refer to aspects of โplaceโ (e.g., location and position) and โtimeโ (e.g., time of day and date). The correct choice often depends on the specific context.
