Evoke vs. Invoke

Evoke vs. Invoke Evoke vs. Invoke Evoke vs. Invoke By Mark Nichol Evoke and invoke, two members of a small but powerful family of words relating to stimulus and response, have senses both similar and distinct. To evoke something is to call it forth, perhaps by bringing it to mind, or, synonymously with invoke, by summoning it (as in conjuration) or presenting it in support of an appeal (as when a rule or principle is invoked). Usually, invoke is used for the latter two meanings. The distinction is in the context; usually, something evoked is qualitative and intangible, whereas something invoked is material or practical. Meanwhile, the related words provoke and revoke are also potent in their own right. To provoke is to prompt anger or an action (and is thus, in a limited sense, a direct synonym of evoke and invoke), while revoke means â€Å"to take back or recall.† The root element common to this foursome, -voke, is an English form of the Latin stem voc-, from vox (â€Å"voice†), from which many words with the element voc-, such as vocal and vocabulary, are derived. (Voice itself is different in form because of its detour through French.) Another word with the voc- element is advocate, which means â€Å"to support vocally†; the noun form is identical. The noun forms for evoke, invoke, and their cousins provoke and revoke are identical, produced by omitting the letters k and e and adding the ending -ation resulting in evocation, invocation, provocation, and revocation which correctly suggests that vocation and avocation also share an etymological origin (respectively, they mean, â€Å"calling,† as in what work one is called to do in life, and â€Å"call away,† as in an activity one engages in outside of work). However, although avocados call to me, the word is unrelated; it’s from a Spanish alteration of ahuacatl, a word from the Nahuatl language, spoken by the Aztecs and by more than a million Mexicans. (I invite you to look up that word’s meaning yourself.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:The Yiddish Handbook: 40 Words You Should KnowAcronym vs. InitialismProverb vs. Adage

Review of Insta-Snow Fake Snow

Review of Insta-Snow Fake Snow The Bottom Line Insta-Snow is fake snow. You add water to a non-toxic powder made from a polymer, which instantly swells up to make what looks very much like snow. If you chill the Insta-Snow its the next best thing to real snow, though it doesnt melt and I wouldnt recommend throwing it in the air to catch snowflakes on your tongue. However, Insta-Snow is a lot of fun and easy to make. Pros doesnt require winternon-toxicvery easy to makesurprisingly easy to clean uplooks very much like real snow Cons not cold unless you chill itcant really make a good snowball out of it Description Insta-Snow expands to 100 times its original volume. You make it by mixing 1 teaspoon of snow powder with 2 ounces of water.Once hydrated, the snow is good for a couple of days. You can rehydrate it or store it to make again later.Insta-Snow does not stain surfaces, but it shouldnt be placed on untreated wood.You can use the snow outside. Its the same chemical used in gardens to help ​the  soil  retain moisture. Guide Review - Insta-Snow Review I got Insta-Snow for my kids, ages 9-14. They figured out the instructions easily without any assistance from me and soon there was instant snow everywhere. The snow feels very interesting. It is damp, but soft and fluffy and not cold. If you add a few drops of food coloring you can make colored snow. Insta-Snow looks much like real snow, though it does not melt. In fact, it lasts practically forever. If fake snow dries out, all you have to do to recharge it is spritz it with some water.