Grammar Police Monday - Positively Green

Don't let word usage dominate you. Get the upper hand!

Envious vs Jealous 
Someone who's envious feels discontent due to coveting another person's wealth, success, etc.

Someone who's jealous resents the other person for having these things.

Ambivalent vs Indifferent

If you're ambivalent, you have mixed feelings and, possibly, an inability to choose.

If you're indifferent, you're impartial, disinterested, or you simply don't care. 

Dominate vs Dominant vs Domineer 
Dominate (v.) - to rule over, govern, control; to overshadow or predominate. 

Dominant is the adjective form of dominate, but can also be used as a noun.

In humans, the genetic trait for brown eyes is dominant. 
Um. You've got it wrong. He's the submissive and she's the dominant. 

(Sorry. Couldn't resist. :P) 

The verb domineer also means to rule over or control, but to do so with arrogance or outright tyranny.

Bear vs. Bare
Last, let's examine one I messed up last week. In my IWSG post, I wrote soul-bearing instead of soul-baring. Unfortunately, I didn't catch the error until half the world had seen it. o_0

The verb bear means to hold, support or bring forth, while bare means without covering; unadorned; bald. 

Go ahead. Have a laugh at my expense. :)

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