Key Differences
Do I Have Words For You
Right Word, Right Place, Right Time
Attorney and lawyer
An attorney (n.) is a person who has graduated from an accredited law school, passed the state bar exam, and is licensed to practice law in their resident state.
A lawyer (n.) is a person who has graduated from an accredited law school but has not passed the state bar exam and is not licensed. Not all states have the same requirement.
Urgent and critical
Critical (adj.) means to criticize severely and unfavorably; exercising or involving careful judgment or judicious evaluation; being in or approaching a state of crisis.
- The patient required urgent medical attention after the accident.
- He had an urgent desire to resolve the argument before it got worse.
- There was an urgent sense of fear as the storm approached.
Urgent (adj.) means calling for immediate attention.
- They were critical of the new policies.
- The citizen gave a critical comment on the mayor’s proposal.
- There was a critical shortage of supplies.
That and Which
Use that (pro.) when the words following it are necessary to identify the word that (pro.) refers to.
- The river that flows into the Gulf of Mexico is rising.
Use which when the words following it are not necessary to identify the word which refers to.
- The Suwannee River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico, is rising.
Use of which is not necessary because the river is identified in the sentence. The sentence would simply read: “The Suwannee River is rising.”
Burned and Burnt
Burned and burnt are both adjectives, and the paste tense of burn (adj.). Burned is more common in American English.
- No matter how hard Mary tried, she always ended up with burned toast.
Can and May
Use can (v.) to express ability or capability.
- Can I borrow $10? Do I have the ability?
- Can I go with you? Am I capable?
Use may (aux. v.) to express permission.
- May I borrow 10$? Do I have your permission?
- May I go with you? Do I have your permission?
Console, counsel
Console, a transitive verb, means to alleviate the grief or sense of loss.
- Eric tried to console his sister over the loss of their dog
Counsel, as a noun, means advice or a legal or professional adviser. As a verb, counsel means to advise.
- The attorney offered counsel to his clients.
council and consul
Council, a noun, refers to a group that governs, administers, or advises.
- The building council offers counsel to dissatisfied tenants.
Consul (n.) is an official appointed by a government to reside in a foreign country, representing and protecting the commercial and legal interests of their home country’s citizens and business.
- He was excited to have been appointed consul to the neighboring country.