BC / AD
BC (Before Christ) is used after a date to show that it was before the birth of Christ.
The archaeological discoveries were dated between 400 and 250 BC.
AD (Anno Domini) is used to show that a date is a particular number of years after the birth of Christ.
Emperor Augustus died in AD 14.
Because / since
‘Because’ means ‘for the reason.’
I had to return my new car because of a faulty gear box.
‘Since’ implies a time lapse.
I have been cycling to office since my car broke down.
On account of / owing to / due to
They are synonymous for all practical reasons.
The doctor asked her to wear flat shoes on account of her back problem.
Owing to a lack of funds, the project will not continue next year.
The court of inquiry ruled that the crash was due to pilot error.
Begin / commence / inaugurate / initiate / start
Although these words have the same meaning, they are used differently.
‘Begin’ means ‘to start doing something.’
University students begin to study classical literature in the third year.
Work will commence on the new building next year.
The International Trade Agreement inaugurated a period of high economic growth.
They have decided to initiate legal proceedings against the newspaper.
He got up and started running again.
Believe / feel / think
You believe with faith. You feel with your sense and think with your mind.
You shouldn’t believe everything you read.
I still feel hungry.
Do you think I should call him?
Beneath / below / under
‘Beneath’ means ‘in or to a lower position than something, or directly under something’
The dolphins disappeared beneath the waves.
‘Below’ means ‘in a lower position or on a lower level’
Some animals live below ground.
‘Under’ means ‘below or at a lower level than something’
Sandy had hidden the box containing jewellery under the bed.
Bereft / bereaved
‘Bereft’ means ‘completely without any hope.’
The cricket team now seems bereft of inspiration.
‘Bereft’ also means ‘feeling very sad and lonely’
The husband’s death left her completely bereft.
‘Bereaved’ means ‘having lost a close friend or relative because they have died recently.’
A bereaved mother began to cry at the funeral.
Beside / besides
‘Beside’ means ‘next to’
I asked Nirmala to sit beside me.
‘Besides’ means ‘in addition to’
People choose jobs for other reasons besides money.
Biannual / biennial / bimonthly / biweekly
‘Biannual’ means ‘happening twice each year.’
The company issues a biannual progress report.
‘Biennial’ means ‘happening once every two years.’
Biennial plants stay alive for two years.
‘Bimonthly’ means ‘appearing or happening every two months or twice each month.’
Rex edits a bimonthly magazine.
‘Biweekly’ means ‘appearing or happening every two weeks. It can also mean appearing or happening twice a week.’
The Bible / bible
The Bible is the holy book of the Christian religion, consisting of the Old Testament and the New Testament. The word ‘bible’ means the most useful and important book on a particular subject.
It’s the anatomy students’ bible.
Million, billion, trillion
Million is the number 1,000,000.
The book sold more than a million copies.
Billion is the number 1,000,000,000.
Overseas debt is a staggering $15 billion.
Trillion is the number 1, 000,000,000,000.
Japan’s exports were worth $43 trillion.
Bloc / block
Bloc means a large group of people or countries with the same political aims, working together.
As a noun ‘block’ means a piece of hard material such as wood or stone with straight sides.
As a verb ‘block’ means ‘to prevent anything moving through a space by being or placing something across it or in it’
A fallen tree is blocking the road.
Blond / blonde
A man who is blond has pale or yellow hair. A woman who is blonde has pale or yellow hair.
Boar / bore
A boar is a wild pig.
As a verb bore means ‘to make someone feel bored.’
The book will bore you with technical details.