List D



dependant or dependent?	The adjective (meaning reliant) is always -ent. She is a widow with five DEPENDENT children. Iamabsolutely DEPENDENT on a pension. The noun (meaning someone who is dependent) has traditionally been spelt -ant. However, the American practice of writing either -ant or -ent for the noun has now spread here. Either spelling is now considered correct for the noun but be aware that some conservative readers would consider this slipshod. She has five DEPENDANTS/ DEPENDENTS.
device/devise	DEVICE is the noun. A padlock is an intriguing DEVICE. DEVISE is the verb. Try to DEVISE a simple burglar alarm.
different from/to/than	‘Different from’ and ‘different to’ are now both considered acceptable forms. My tastes are DIFFERENT FROM yours. My tastes are DIFFERENT TO yours. Conservative users would, however, much prefer the preposition ‘from’ and this is widely used in formal contexts. ‘Different than’ is acceptable in American English but is not yet fully acceptable in British English.
dining or dinning?	dine + ing = dining (as in dining room) din + ing = dinning (noise dinning in ears)
discover or invent?	You DISCOVER something that has been there all the time unknown to you (e.g. a star). You INVENT something if you create it for the first time (e.g. a time machine).
displace or misplace?	To displace is to move someone or something from its usual place: A DISPLACED hip; a DISPLACED person. To misplace something is to put it in the wrong place (and possibly forget where it is): A MISPLACED apostrophe; MISPLACED kindness.
draft or draught?	A DRAFT is a first or subsequent attempt at a piece of written work before it is finished. A DRAUGHT is a current of cool air in a room. One also refers to a DRAUGHT of ale, a game of DRAUGHTS and a boat having a shallow DRAUGHT.
drawers or draws?	DRAWS is a verb. She DRAWS very well for a young child. DRAWERS is a noun. The DRAWERS of the sideboard are very stiff.
dual or duel?	DUAL means two (e.g. DUAL controls, DUAL carriageway). DUEL means fight or contest.
due to/owing to	Strictly speaking, ‘due to’ should refer to anoun: His absence was DUE TO sickness. (noun) The delay was DUE TO leaves on the line. (noun) ‘Owing to’, strictly speaking, should refer to a verb: The march was cancelled OWING TO the storm. (verb) OWING TO an earlier injury, he limped badly. (verb) However, in recent years, the use of ‘due to’ where traditionally ‘owing to’ would be required has become widespread. Nevertheless, some careful writers continue to preserve the distinction and you may wish to do so too in a formal context.
dyeing or dying?	DYEING comes from the verb to dye. She was DYEING all her vests green. DYING comes from the verb to die. She cursed him with her DYING breath.