List H

hiccough or hiccup?	Both words are pronounced ‘hiccup’ and either spelling can be used. The second spelling (hiccup) is more usual.
high-tech or hi-tec?	Both spellings are correct for the adjective derived from high technology: A HI-TEC factory A HIGH-TECH computer system Without the hyphen, each word can be used as a noun replacing ‘high technology’: A generation familiar with HIGH TECH The latest development in HI TEC
historic or historical?	HISTORIC means famous in history, memorable, or likely to go down in recorded history: a HISTORIC meeting HISTORICAL means existing in the past or representing something that could have happened in the past: a HISTORICAL novel a HISTORICAL fact Note It would not be wrong to say or write an historic meeting, an historical novel, an historical fact. However, this usage of an before words like hotel, historic and historical is becoming much less common, now that the h beginning these words is usually voiced.
human or humane?	HUMAN beings are naturally competitive. There must be a more HUMANE way of slaughtering animals.
hyper- or hypo-?	The prefix ‘hyper’ comes from a Greek word meaning ‘over’, ‘beyond’. Hence we have words like these: hyperactive (= abnormally active) hypermarket (= a very large self-service store) hypersensitive (= unusually sensitive) The prefix ‘hypo’ comes from a Greek word meaning ‘under’. Hence we have words like these: hypochondria (the melancholy associated with obsession with one’s health was originally believed to originate in the organs beneath the ribs) hypodermic (= under the skin)