Different meanings, Similar words

What are the different meanings of similar words?

Languid or limpid

Languid means something listless; weak or sluggish, whereas limpid means something clear or transparent.

Pretence (US pretense) or premise

Pretense is an attempt to make something that is not the case appear true. A premise is an assertion or proposition which forms the basis for a work or theory.

Examples

We reviewed an e-commerce website that claimed, “Our site has been built on the pretense that customer service is our priority.”

The marketing team obviously meant premise, i.e. the basis for the company’s devotion to customers.

Pretence is synonymous with faking; make-believe; insincere. This is certainly the last thing the marketing team wanted to imply.

Proofreading Advice

Spelling checks don’t pick up on these errors as they’re contextual; so remember to always have your new copy proofread.

Source: Oxford English Dictionary