Monday Muddle: pair, pare, pear
pair: (noun) a set of two identical, similar, or coordinating items
pare: (verb) to cut away the outer layer or edge (with a paring knife); to reduce (used in the expression "pare down")
pear: (noun) a fruit
#MonMud
pair: (noun) a set of two identical, similar, or coordinating items
pare: (verb) to cut away the outer layer or edge (with a paring knife); to reduce (used in the expression "pare down")
pear: (noun) a fruit
#MonMud
October 5, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Monday Muddle: pair, pare, pear
pair: (noun) a set of two identical, similar, or coordinating items
pare: (verb) to cut away the outer layer or edge (with a paring knife); to reduce (used in the expression "pare down")
pear: (noun) a fruit
#MonMud
pair: (noun) a set of two identical, similar, or coordinating items
pare: (verb) to cut away the outer layer or edge (with a paring knife); to reduce (used in the expression "pare down")
pear: (noun) a fruit
#MonMud
Monday Muddle: discreet, discrete
discreet: (adjective) secretive; careful; modest; self-restrained in speech and behaviour
discrete: (adjective) separate; distinct; individual; detached;
not continuous
#MonMud
discreet: (adjective) secretive; careful; modest; self-restrained in speech and behaviour
discrete: (adjective) separate; distinct; individual; detached;
not continuous
#MonMud
August 11, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Monday Muddle: discreet, discrete
discreet: (adjective) secretive; careful; modest; self-restrained in speech and behaviour
discrete: (adjective) separate; distinct; individual; detached;
not continuous
#MonMud
discreet: (adjective) secretive; careful; modest; self-restrained in speech and behaviour
discrete: (adjective) separate; distinct; individual; detached;
not continuous
#MonMud
stock: (noun) goods or inventory kept available for sale or use; (finance) shares of a company; (culinary) the base of a soup, sauce, or stew; (verb) to keep a supply of items to have on hand or make available for sale (eg. to stock shelves in a store)
#MonMud
#MonMud
June 1, 2026 at 11:49 AM
stock: (noun) goods or inventory kept available for sale or use; (finance) shares of a company; (culinary) the base of a soup, sauce, or stew; (verb) to keep a supply of items to have on hand or make available for sale (eg. to stock shelves in a store)
#MonMud
#MonMud
Monday Muddle: rational, rationale
rational: (adjective) reasonable; logical; sensible; able to think clearly; (noun) a rational number
rationale: (noun) the reasons or thoughts that lead to making a decision, taking an action, or holding a belief; the logical basis for taking an action
#MonMud
rational: (adjective) reasonable; logical; sensible; able to think clearly; (noun) a rational number
rationale: (noun) the reasons or thoughts that lead to making a decision, taking an action, or holding a belief; the logical basis for taking an action
#MonMud
May 25, 2026 at 12:04 PM
Monday Muddle: rational, rationale
rational: (adjective) reasonable; logical; sensible; able to think clearly; (noun) a rational number
rationale: (noun) the reasons or thoughts that lead to making a decision, taking an action, or holding a belief; the logical basis for taking an action
#MonMud
rational: (adjective) reasonable; logical; sensible; able to think clearly; (noun) a rational number
rationale: (noun) the reasons or thoughts that lead to making a decision, taking an action, or holding a belief; the logical basis for taking an action
#MonMud
Monday Muddle: invincible, invisible
invincible: (adjective) too powerful to be conquered or overcome
invisible: (adjective) unable to be seen; not apparent to the eye
#MonMud
invincible: (adjective) too powerful to be conquered or overcome
invisible: (adjective) unable to be seen; not apparent to the eye
#MonMud
June 23, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Monday Muddle: invincible, invisible
invincible: (adjective) too powerful to be conquered or overcome
invisible: (adjective) unable to be seen; not apparent to the eye
#MonMud
invincible: (adjective) too powerful to be conquered or overcome
invisible: (adjective) unable to be seen; not apparent to the eye
#MonMud
Monday Muddle: wary, weary
wary: (adjective) cautious; aware of possible problems; having realistic suspicions; vigilant; alert; watchful
weary: (adjective) tired; exhausted; fatigued; sleepy; lacking energy
#MonMud
wary: (adjective) cautious; aware of possible problems; having realistic suspicions; vigilant; alert; watchful
weary: (adjective) tired; exhausted; fatigued; sleepy; lacking energy
#MonMud
May 4, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Monday Muddle: wary, weary
wary: (adjective) cautious; aware of possible problems; having realistic suspicions; vigilant; alert; watchful
weary: (adjective) tired; exhausted; fatigued; sleepy; lacking energy
#MonMud
wary: (adjective) cautious; aware of possible problems; having realistic suspicions; vigilant; alert; watchful
weary: (adjective) tired; exhausted; fatigued; sleepy; lacking energy
#MonMud
tutor: (noun) a private teacher usually teaching one or a small number of students; (verb) to teach one or a small number of students outside a traditional classroom setting
#MonMud
#MonMud
May 11, 2026 at 12:24 PM
tutor: (noun) a private teacher usually teaching one or a small number of students; (verb) to teach one or a small number of students outside a traditional classroom setting
#MonMud
#MonMud
Monday Muddle: set up, setup
set up: (phrasal verb) arrange; construct; organize; make ready for use; start (a business)
setup: (noun, adjective) organization, organizational; preparation, preparatory
Continued ⬇️
#MonMud
set up: (phrasal verb) arrange; construct; organize; make ready for use; start (a business)
setup: (noun, adjective) organization, organizational; preparation, preparatory
Continued ⬇️
#MonMud
February 17, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Monday Muddle: set up, setup
set up: (phrasal verb) arrange; construct; organize; make ready for use; start (a business)
setup: (noun, adjective) organization, organizational; preparation, preparatory
Continued ⬇️
#MonMud
set up: (phrasal verb) arrange; construct; organize; make ready for use; start (a business)
setup: (noun, adjective) organization, organizational; preparation, preparatory
Continued ⬇️
#MonMud
Monday Muddle: area, aria
area: (noun) a location; a region; the measurement of a surface
aria: (noun) a piece of music, typically an elaborate melody performed as a solo in an opera
#MonMud
area: (noun) a location; a region; the measurement of a surface
aria: (noun) a piece of music, typically an elaborate melody performed as a solo in an opera
#MonMud
May 5, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Monday Muddle: area, aria
area: (noun) a location; a region; the measurement of a surface
aria: (noun) a piece of music, typically an elaborate melody performed as a solo in an opera
#MonMud
area: (noun) a location; a region; the measurement of a surface
aria: (noun) a piece of music, typically an elaborate melody performed as a solo in an opera
#MonMud
wonder: (noun) a sense of awe, amazement, surprise, or admiration, usually at experiencing something inexplicable or out of the ordinary and often beautiful; (verb) to be curious; to want to know; to want to get information or an explanation
#MonMud
#MonMud
May 18, 2026 at 11:35 AM
wonder: (noun) a sense of awe, amazement, surprise, or admiration, usually at experiencing something inexplicable or out of the ordinary and often beautiful; (verb) to be curious; to want to know; to want to get information or an explanation
#MonMud
#MonMud
Monday Muddle: gnu, new, knew
gnu: (noun) large animal; African antelope; wildebeest
new: (adjective) recently made or discovered; not previously owned or known
knew: (verb, past tense of to know) perceived; recognized; understood
Happy New Year!
#MonMud
gnu: (noun) large animal; African antelope; wildebeest
new: (adjective) recently made or discovered; not previously owned or known
knew: (verb, past tense of to know) perceived; recognized; understood
Happy New Year!
#MonMud
December 30, 2024 at 1:48 PM
Monday Muddle: gnu, new, knew
gnu: (noun) large animal; African antelope; wildebeest
new: (adjective) recently made or discovered; not previously owned or known
knew: (verb, past tense of to know) perceived; recognized; understood
Happy New Year!
#MonMud
gnu: (noun) large animal; African antelope; wildebeest
new: (adjective) recently made or discovered; not previously owned or known
knew: (verb, past tense of to know) perceived; recognized; understood
Happy New Year!
#MonMud
Monday Muddle: exacerbate, exasperate
exacerbate: (verb) to make a negative situation worse; to increase the severity of a problem; to aggravate (a situation); to complicate
exasperate: (verb) to cause someone to lose patience; to frustrate; to aggravate (a person); to irritate; to annoy
#MonMud
exacerbate: (verb) to make a negative situation worse; to increase the severity of a problem; to aggravate (a situation); to complicate
exasperate: (verb) to cause someone to lose patience; to frustrate; to aggravate (a person); to irritate; to annoy
#MonMud
April 27, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Monday Muddle: exacerbate, exasperate
exacerbate: (verb) to make a negative situation worse; to increase the severity of a problem; to aggravate (a situation); to complicate
exasperate: (verb) to cause someone to lose patience; to frustrate; to aggravate (a person); to irritate; to annoy
#MonMud
exacerbate: (verb) to make a negative situation worse; to increase the severity of a problem; to aggravate (a situation); to complicate
exasperate: (verb) to cause someone to lose patience; to frustrate; to aggravate (a person); to irritate; to annoy
#MonMud
Monday Muddle: strait, straight
strait: (noun) a narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water
Used in the expression "dire straits."
straight: (adj.) (adverb) moving in one direction; level; upright; not crooked, curved, or bent
NOT used in the expression "dire straits."
#MonMud
strait: (noun) a narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water
Used in the expression "dire straits."
straight: (adj.) (adverb) moving in one direction; level; upright; not crooked, curved, or bent
NOT used in the expression "dire straits."
#MonMud
September 28, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Monday Muddle: strait, straight
strait: (noun) a narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water
Used in the expression "dire straits."
straight: (adj.) (adverb) moving in one direction; level; upright; not crooked, curved, or bent
NOT used in the expression "dire straits."
#MonMud
strait: (noun) a narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water
Used in the expression "dire straits."
straight: (adj.) (adverb) moving in one direction; level; upright; not crooked, curved, or bent
NOT used in the expression "dire straits."
#MonMud
Monday Muddle
copywrite: (verb, nonstandard) to write copy (for business or advertising) (rare back-formation)
copyright: (noun) the authority to copy creative content (verb) to register the copyright of creative content
If you have a website, remember to update your copyright notice.
#MonMud
copywrite: (verb, nonstandard) to write copy (for business or advertising) (rare back-formation)
copyright: (noun) the authority to copy creative content (verb) to register the copyright of creative content
If you have a website, remember to update your copyright notice.
#MonMud
January 6, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Monday Muddle
copywrite: (verb, nonstandard) to write copy (for business or advertising) (rare back-formation)
copyright: (noun) the authority to copy creative content (verb) to register the copyright of creative content
If you have a website, remember to update your copyright notice.
#MonMud
copywrite: (verb, nonstandard) to write copy (for business or advertising) (rare back-formation)
copyright: (noun) the authority to copy creative content (verb) to register the copyright of creative content
If you have a website, remember to update your copyright notice.
#MonMud
Monday Muddle: woman, women
With Valentine's Day approaching, I thought it was important to tell you this. Do not write "To the women I love" if you are only addressing one woman. She might not understand.
woman: (noun) ONE singular female human
women: (noun) MORE THAN ONE female human
#MonMud
With Valentine's Day approaching, I thought it was important to tell you this. Do not write "To the women I love" if you are only addressing one woman. She might not understand.
woman: (noun) ONE singular female human
women: (noun) MORE THAN ONE female human
#MonMud
February 10, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Monday Muddle: woman, women
With Valentine's Day approaching, I thought it was important to tell you this. Do not write "To the women I love" if you are only addressing one woman. She might not understand.
woman: (noun) ONE singular female human
women: (noun) MORE THAN ONE female human
#MonMud
With Valentine's Day approaching, I thought it was important to tell you this. Do not write "To the women I love" if you are only addressing one woman. She might not understand.
woman: (noun) ONE singular female human
women: (noun) MORE THAN ONE female human
#MonMud
their: (possessive adjective) to show possession of something by someone who would be referred to as they
they're: (contraction) they are
#MonMud
they're: (contraction) they are
#MonMud
September 14, 2026 at 12:33 PM
their: (possessive adjective) to show possession of something by someone who would be referred to as they
they're: (contraction) they are
#MonMud
they're: (contraction) they are
#MonMud
roux: (noun) a mixture of butter (or butter substitute) and flour used as a base for making sauces
NOT used in the expression "rue the day."
#MonMud
NOT used in the expression "rue the day."
#MonMud
September 7, 2026 at 12:41 PM
roux: (noun) a mixture of butter (or butter substitute) and flour used as a base for making sauces
NOT used in the expression "rue the day."
#MonMud
NOT used in the expression "rue the day."
#MonMud
Monday Muddle: overdo, overdue
overdo: (verb) to do something in an excessive way; to exaggerate; to do more than reasonably expected
overdue: (adjective) not done on time; not arrived when expected; not available when needed; late
#MonMud
overdo: (verb) to do something in an excessive way; to exaggerate; to do more than reasonably expected
overdue: (adjective) not done on time; not arrived when expected; not available when needed; late
#MonMud
August 31, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Monday Muddle: overdo, overdue
overdo: (verb) to do something in an excessive way; to exaggerate; to do more than reasonably expected
overdue: (adjective) not done on time; not arrived when expected; not available when needed; late
#MonMud
overdo: (verb) to do something in an excessive way; to exaggerate; to do more than reasonably expected
overdue: (adjective) not done on time; not arrived when expected; not available when needed; late
#MonMud
Monday Muddle : stationary, stationery
stationary: (adjective) not moving; intended to stay in one place; unchanging; in a permanent position
stationery: (noun) writing paper; envelopes; writing materials (pens, pencils); office supplies
#MonMud
stationary: (adjective) not moving; intended to stay in one place; unchanging; in a permanent position
stationery: (noun) writing paper; envelopes; writing materials (pens, pencils); office supplies
#MonMud
August 24, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Monday Muddle : stationary, stationery
stationary: (adjective) not moving; intended to stay in one place; unchanging; in a permanent position
stationery: (noun) writing paper; envelopes; writing materials (pens, pencils); office supplies
#MonMud
stationary: (adjective) not moving; intended to stay in one place; unchanging; in a permanent position
stationery: (noun) writing paper; envelopes; writing materials (pens, pencils); office supplies
#MonMud
effect: (noun) end result; consequence; change resulting from an action or other cause; used in the term "special effects"; (verb) to cause something to happen; usually used in the expression
"to effect change"
#MonMud
"to effect change"
#MonMud
August 17, 2026 at 2:23 PM
effect: (noun) end result; consequence; change resulting from an action or other cause; used in the term "special effects"; (verb) to cause something to happen; usually used in the expression
"to effect change"
#MonMud
"to effect change"
#MonMud
nothing: (pronoun) not a thing; not anything; something of no value (can also be used as an adjective and adverb)
NOT part of the expression “also worth noting” and in fact would mean the opposite.
#MonMud
#MonMud
August 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM
nothing: (pronoun) not a thing; not anything; something of no value (can also be used as an adjective and adverb)
NOT part of the expression “also worth noting” and in fact would mean the opposite.
#MonMud
#MonMud
Monday Muddle : hummus, humus
hummus: (noun) food originating from the Middle East used as a dip or spread; made primarily from mashed chickpeas
humus: (noun) organic matter that is left after plants, leaves, animals and insects have decayed; used to add nutrients to soil
#MonMud
hummus: (noun) food originating from the Middle East used as a dip or spread; made primarily from mashed chickpeas
humus: (noun) organic matter that is left after plants, leaves, animals and insects have decayed; used to add nutrients to soil
#MonMud
August 3, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Monday Muddle : hummus, humus
hummus: (noun) food originating from the Middle East used as a dip or spread; made primarily from mashed chickpeas
humus: (noun) organic matter that is left after plants, leaves, animals and insects have decayed; used to add nutrients to soil
#MonMud
hummus: (noun) food originating from the Middle East used as a dip or spread; made primarily from mashed chickpeas
humus: (noun) organic matter that is left after plants, leaves, animals and insects have decayed; used to add nutrients to soil
#MonMud
unchartered: (adjective)(uncommon, at least in its correct sense) describes an organization that does not have a charter or written constitution
Not used in the expression uncharted territory.
#MonMud
Not used in the expression uncharted territory.
#MonMud
July 27, 2026 at 12:30 PM
unchartered: (adjective)(uncommon, at least in its correct sense) describes an organization that does not have a charter or written constitution
Not used in the expression uncharted territory.
#MonMud
Not used in the expression uncharted territory.
#MonMud