Mar 6, 2012

Does Proper Use of Allude Elude You?


I often do a double-take when I find words being misused while on my internet travels, but it does provide fodder for a quick blog post.  Today's post touches on allude and elude, which sound alike, but have very different meanings.  If you often confuse these two words, hopefully this post will help make it 'stick'.

To allude means to point to something in an indirect manner, to hint or imply; an inference.  Example:  

She didn't come right out and say it, but some of Laura's comments alluded to an impending divorce.

Elude means to evade or resist capture, or to have a thought escape you, like it's on the tip of your tongue.  Examples: 

He eluded the police by throwing the dogs off the scent.  
The name of the town eludes me at the moment, but I'm sure I'll think of it later.

Does proper use of allude still elude you?  Leave a comment and I'll try to help.




1 comment:

  1. "Does proper use of allude still elude you?"

    Why, that's almost an etude!

    ReplyDelete