punishment…

My word comparisons have inevitably reflected my own interests– more than I had initially intended. I am a psychology major in my senior year, and so it seems natural for my education to… Continue reading →

…vs. apathy

What makes a person take action? How do they know what action to take? If you know what it feels like to be torn about making a decision or taking a side, you… Continue reading →

ambivalence…

Ambivalence is the state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone. It can be frustrating to experience conflicting feelings, and sometimes even more frustrating to deal with someone who seems… Continue reading →

…vs. assertiveness

It’s a subtle difference, but assertive behavior is very different from aggressive behavior. Although they both might be considered a kind of reaction to a stressful or challenging situation, the outcomes are often… Continue reading →

aggression…

Aggressiveness is often used interchangeably with assertiveness, but the definitions are distinct. Let’s begin digging this week to see how they’re related… and how they’re not. Here are a few famous quotes to… Continue reading →

imminent…

This week I wanted to take a look at two words that I personally get confused. The words sound so similar that when I read either one in a book or hear it… Continue reading →

…vs. eminent

This week’s word pair turned out to be a bit of a challenge. Usually, I tend to focus on the difference between the roots of two words. I start where the words started… Continue reading →

…vs. mass media

What do you think of when you hear the phrase “mass media?” “The media‘s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the… Continue reading →

propaganda…

The modern term propaganda immediately brings up negative feelings for most people. It is commonly associated with war and dictatorships, and maybe even more specifically the use of this by the Nazis in World War… Continue reading →

…vs. confidence

  This word generally has a very positive connotation in modern English. I might even go as far as to say it gives me warm fuzzies. There’s nothing quite like confidence, a very… Continue reading →

ignorance…

To be described as “ignorant”, like arrogance, is seldom a trait to be proud of. Though this is not considered such an admirable characteristic, it may now (by its more modern definition) be… Continue reading →

…vs. stupidity

I swear I’ve suffered through this argument for the last time: is that stupid or it is ignorant? Does that make us stupid or ignorant if we use (especially) these words incorrectly? “Stupidity… Continue reading →

arrogance…

This characterization is used to describe those who assume themselves to be superior to others. It seems those who might mistake this description as a compliment are the truest to form. “I see myself capable… Continue reading →