Empathy/Sympathy
If you think you feel just like another person, you are feeling
empathy.
If you just feel sorry for another person, you're feeling sympathy.
Flammable/Inflammable
The prefix "in-"does not indicate negation here; it comes from the word
"inflame". "Flammable" and "inflammable" both mean "easy to catch on fire"
;but so many people misunderstand the latter term that it's better to stick
with "flammable" in safety warning.
Good/Well
"Good " is the adjective ; "well" is the adverb. You do something well,
but you give someone something good. The exception is verbs of sensation
in phrases such as "the pie smell good" ,or " I feel good". Despite the argument
of nigglers ,this is standard usage. Saying "the pie smell well" would
imply that
the pasty in question had a nose. Similarly, "I feel well" is also acceptable
,especially
when discussing health ; but it is not the only correct usage.
Device/Devise
"Devise" is a noun. A can -opener is a device. "Devise" is a verb. You
can devise
a plan for opening a can with a sharp rock instead. Only in law is
"devise" properly
used as a noun, meaning something deeded in a will.
Dyeing/Dying
If you are using dye to change your favorite t-shirt from white to blue you are
dying
it :but if you don't breathe for long that your face turns blue, you may be
dying .
