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    PROSPECTIVE/PERSPECTIVE

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    (A proofreader's note regarding “prospective” and “perspective”)

    A “prospect” perchance a vision will picture,
    Its “view” of a likely future;
    Relating then to “looking forward,”
    “Prospective” takes a posture.

    As adjective it functions solely,
    There “likely for the future.”
    “Expected for being or likewise becoming,”
    “Prospective” a promise will usher.

    “Perspective” no pledge is intended to honor,
    Its “point of view” essential:
    One's “attitude regarding something,”
    An art of rendition special.

    Thus noun as well its function favors,
    Not only the adjectival.
    “Perspective” imputes a capacity for viewing
    Relations true with no rival.

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    ELICIT/ILLICIT

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    (A proofreader's note regarding “elicit” and “illicit”)

    The “e” of elicit, the “e” of extract
    Are similar in meaning “away”;
    “Elicit” achieves the “drawing out”
    Through gentle persuasive sway.

    “Elicit” more at distance stands
    From sound-alike “illicit”;
    A verb it is, not adjective,
    Nor hidden by nature or spirit.

    “Illicit” serves as adjective,
    “Illegal,” “forbidden,” “wrongful.”
    The “ill” of illicit may hint at deceit,
    An aid to memory thankful.

    The “licit” in life is “permissible,”
    “Conforming to law” and “legit.”
    Converting with “not” by adding the “il,”
     We figure “illicit” unfit.

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    Brut/Brute

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    (A proofreader's note about “brut” and “brute”)

    In wines a “brut” holds dryness supreme,
    Its name reflecting “raw”;
    The human “brute” is rough and cruel,
    Not bound by social law.

    “The Bradley brute was vastly uncouth,
    And nothing he said would soothe;
    He offered a brut to even the score
    While bragging of stolen loot.

    They balked at the talk of its provenance,
    This brut intended to quell;
    Then scoffing and chuckles and certainty of jest--
    The brute no longer so swell.”

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    DISBURSE/DISPERSE

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    ​(A proofreader's note regarding “disburse” and “disperse”)

    To pay out money, “disburse,”
    A person may carry a burse.
    From cash he will “part”
    As planned from the start,
    Thus “dis” as in distance rehearse.

    “Disperse” will not money involve,
    Though “parting” of groups it will solve.
    On persons or things
    All spread to the wings,
    Examples of “scatter” evolve.

    With movement both words are concerned.
    One only to finance is turned.
    “Disburse” always money
    Will have in its journey,
    Perhaps in exchange for what's pawned.



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    PORTENTOUS/PRETENTIOUS

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    ​(A proofreader's note regarding “portentous” and “pretentious”)

    “Portentous,” related to “portent,”
    Is never pronounced as portentious.
    “Pretentious” may be the intention,
    For “pretense” is thusly egregious.

    Since portents are signs or omens,
    “Portentous” relates to “momentous”
    Though just as like to “ominous,”
    While stretching in wonder to “pompous.”

    Importance implied by “momentous”
    Relates to a nature most serious;
    “Portentous” may speak of a person
    Who seeks to impress as prodigious.

    This self-importance a basis
    May find in real life for that person.
    Instead, for the merely “pretentious,”
    It's dream or pretense beyond reason.

    Affectedly arrogant, haughty
    Are synonyms two of many.
    The key to “pretentious” is falsity, 
    Of truth it’s natch the enemy.

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    VOCATION/AVOCATION

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    ​(A proofreader's note regarding “vocation” and “avocation”)

    One's “vocation” is the thing at which he works
    For his main source of income and his perqs.
    From it, he may vacation
    To ply his “avocation,”
    A diversion as enjoyed as any clerk's.

    In our yard was a dog called Nick,
    With a voice that was loud and thick;
    To bark was his “vocation,”
    To sniff, his “avocation,”
    For the former was his calling and his shtick.