Personal vs. personnel
Personal = (adjective) belonging to or affecting a particular person. I don’t want to interfere in her personal matters. He takes personal interest in her progress. Pilgrims are warned to keep their personal belongings with them. . Personnel = (noun , ( sing or plural verb) staff, persons employed in any work, especially public undertakings and Armed Forces. There were 10 airline personnel on the plane when it crashed down. Personnel Manager is one who is in charge of relationship between individual employees, their problems, grievances…
Judicial vs. Judicious
Judicial = relating to the legal system and to judgement made in a court of law. When a lawyer argues in a court of law, it should be within the parameters of judicial system. The protesters demanded a judicial inquiry into the allegations. A decision can be taken only after the judicial proceedings are over. . Judicious = wise, sensible, prudent, logical etc. She was mature enough to make judicious use of the scarce resources. A responsible minister should use public funds judiciously. He made…
Reminder vs. Remainder
Reminder = something( eg . a letter) that helps someone to remember something; prompting. She hasn’t paid me that money yet – I must send her a reminder. Granny sometimes needed the old reminder. He’ll forget to call the doctor, if I don’t remind him. His stomach growled a reminder that he hadn’t eaten breakfast. His reminder of her failure left a bitter taste to her mouth. . Remainder = (1) the rest ,balance, what is left when a part is taken away. Fifty members…
Obsolete vs. Obsolescent
Obsolete = no longer used ; completely out of date. If a company wants to remain competitive , it should replace all its old and obsolete equipment. Old technology is becoming obsolete because of the dramatic pace of development in the field. Technological advancements can render some jobs and even the whole industry obsolete. . Obsolescent = becoming obsolete; going out of use/fashion. The planned obsolescence or built-in obsolescence ( a management terminology used for making a preplanning in such a way that the existing product becomes less attractive…
Ventilation vs. Aeration
Ventilation = the movement of fresh air around a closed space or the system that does this. Our kitchen has poor ventilation and in summer it becomes unbearably stuffy. Use car ventilation system for fresh air circulation. Good ventilation helps to reduce indoor pollution but this is not always possible. Aeration = the process by which air is circulated through , mixed with or dissolved in a liquid or substance. Aerate the soil by digging. Blood is aerated in the lungs. Aerated water. Earthworms help…
Needy vs. Needful
Needy = very poor, being in need, lacking the necessities of life. There are many needy people in our village. The government should earmark funds to extend humanitarian assistance to the needy. During the worst flood Kerala has ever witnessed the youngsters went around and collected food and clothes for the needy. The banks should come forward to assist the needy families with interest-free loans for the education of their children. . Needful = what is necessary, requisite. You may forward the application before it…
Petrol vs. Patrol
Petrol = it is a liquid which is used as a fuel for motor vehicles. There is a choice of petrol and diesel engines. The car was fully supplied with petrol and water. We had to stop at the next petrol station. petrol fumes/tank. . Patrol = ( especially of soldiers or the police) to go around an area or a building to see if there is any trouble or danger. The soldiers on patrol duty. The whole area is patrolled by the CRPF because…
Effluent vs. Affluent
Effluent :- liquid waste or sewage discharged from factories, usually flown into rivers, lakes or the sea. The ruthless and profit oriented factory owners usually let the effluents flow into rivers. Industrial effluents and sewage remain a big problem for the local administrative bodies. Exemplary punishments should be meted out if toxic effluents are allowed to be flown into water bodies. . Affluent :- wealthy, rich, well-off. Affluent nations of the world offered financial assistance to Kerala to tide over the worst-ever flood crisis. He…
Emotional vs. Emotive
Emotional = (of persons) having feelings that are easily excited and openly displayed. I have just been so emotional. He talked in a voice with emotional vibrations. Neethu easily gets emotional when it comes to her daughter’s health. He gave his son emotional support when his plans backfired on him. . Emotive = Likely to cause high emotions or arousing or able to arouse intense feelings. He used highly emotive language to stir the public feelings. Human trafficking is a highly emotive issue capturing public attention.
Qualified vs. Unqualified
Qualified = (1) certified, officially recognized; having the necessary qualifications. There is a training programme for the newly qualified doctors. He’s a highly qualified engineer. We’ve to verify his academic qualifications before giving him such a responsible job. I am not qualified to give you advice on technical aspects of your project. Previous experience is an essential qualification for this job. She has all the right qualifications to be a good teacher. (2) limited, not complete or absolute ; modified in some way. The auditor…