Minuscule is the preferred spelling. The thorough study shows the disadvantages are minuscule.
Category: Confusing Words
Difference between Minion and Minyan
Minion is a subordinate, servant, follower, or dependent. Minyan is a quorum, the number of adult Jewish men required for a communal religious service.
Difference between Millenary and Millinery
Millenary refers to a 1,000. Millinery refers to women’s hats.
Difference between Milk toast and Milquetoast
Milk toast refers to buttered toast usually served in warm milk with sugar and seasonings. Milquetoast refers to a shy, timid, or unassertive person. The origin of the word is a cartoon character, Caspar Milquetoast, who starred in Harold Webster’s comic strip The Timid Soul (1924 to 1953).
Difference between Militate and Mitigate
Militate means to influence or oppose something. The leader’s anger militated against any hope of a truce. Mitigate means to diminish in severity or to lessen. The physical therapy for my neck mitigated the severe pain.
Difference between Might have and Might of
Might have is the correct phrase. Do you think they might have gone without him?
Difference between Midget and Dwarf
A midget is a very short person with proportioned body parts, and a dwarf is a very short person with disproportionate body parts. Because these two words have fallen out of favor, prefer the terms short person or little person.
Difference between Meticulous and Scrupulous
Meticulous means exact, finicky, or precise. The Saratoga artist shows a meticulous attention to detail. Scrupulous means conscientious or principled. A scrupulous character tries to stay within the letter of the law.
Difference between Method and Methodology
Method is a way to do something. What method did the golf pro use to fix Bill’s slice? Methodology is a set of methods, procedures, or rules. He introduced a different methodology of linguistics.
Difference between Meteorology and Metrology
Meteorology is the science of weather. Metrology is the science of measurement.
Difference between Metaphor and Simile
Metaphor and simile are comparisons that are quite different, but are commonly confused simply because they are so similar. A metaphor is a definitive comparison that does not use the words like or as. A wire is a road for electrons. A simile is an approximation that uses the words like or as. A good […]
Difference between Meretricious and Meritorious
Meretricious means fake, flashy, or attractive in a bad way. Though sharp, his arguments were deemed meretricious. Meritorious means deserving of praise, reward, and honor. The mayor recognized Jan for meritorious service to the town.