Monday Muddle: set up, setup

set up: (phrasal verb) arrange; construct, organize; make ready for use; start (a business) setup: (noun, adjective) organization, organizational; preparation, preparatory As a noun, setup is the result of setting something up. e.g. a great camera setup As an adjective, setup describes something that will be used in setting something …

Monday Muddle: every day, everyday

every day: (quantifier + noun) each day; all daysIf putting “single” between “every” and “day” makes sense, you need a space. everyday: (adjective) ordinary; routine; commonplace; average Might describe something that happens every day, but not necessarily.

Monday Muddle: cite, sight, site

cite: (verb) to quote; to refer to something; to summon to court; to issue a notice of violation sight: (noun) ability to see; field of vision; something seen or worth seeing Used in the word sightseeing. site: (noun) a specific location NOT used in the word sightseeing, even if some …

Monday Muddle: gnu, new, knew

gnu: (noun) large animal; African antelope; wildebeest new: (adjective) recently made or discovered; not previously owned or known knew: (verb, past tense of know) perceived; recognized; understood Have you ever wondered if it should be Happy New Year, Happy New Years, or Happy New Year’s? If you want to wish …

Monday Muddle: born, borne

born: (past participle of the verb ‘to bear’) was brought from the womb; resulted from; having qualities from birth (e.g. I am Canadian born.) borne: (past participle of the verb ‘to bear’) given birth to; carried; endured;produced; brought aboutUsed in all cases when followed by ‘by’. Both “born” and “borne” …

Monday Muddle: marry, merry

marry: (verb) join together; combine; form a partnership merry: (adjective) happy; joyous; cheerful To all those who celebrate: Merry Christmas! If you have trouble remembering how to spell “merry”, you could say “Happy Christmas!” as my British friends do.

Monday Muddle: mouse, moose, mousse

If you are making desserts for holiday gatherings, please make mousse rather than either of the other two. mouse: (noun) rodent; small animal moose: (noun) ungulate; large animal mousse: (noun) foamy substance; hair product; light and delicious dessert

Monday Muddle: cymbal, symbol

My husband is a drummer, and yesterday his band played their Christmas concert, so I thought this would be a good time to share this muddle. I first saw these words mixed up in a post about John Cougar. He lost his temper one day and threw his drum kit …

Monday Muddle: faze, phase

faze: (verb) to disturb; to worry; to fluster Part of the expression “That doesn’t faze me.” phase: (noun) a stage or period of development; (verb) to order by stages NOT part of the expression “That doesn’t faze me.”