Word Choice Devise vs. Device

Word Choice Devise vs. Device Word Choice: Device vs. Devise The words â€Å"device† and â€Å"devise† are both derived from the Old French word deviser, which meant â€Å"to arrange a division.† But despite their shared origin, â€Å"device† and â€Å"devise† are very different in modern English: One is a noun, the other is a verb, and neither is used to describe arranging divisions. Confused? You’re not the only one. We get plenty of requests for advice about these words, particularly from international students. And it’s important to know the difference between these terms if you want to use them in your academic writing. So we’ve prepared this quick guide to clear things up. Device (A Gadget) The primary meaning of the noun â€Å"device† is a gadget designed to perform a particular task: Fred made his millions after inventing a device for eating a taco without making a mess. In a literary context, a â€Å"device† can also be a technique used to achieve a particular effect: In Jabberwocky, Lewis Carroll uses portmanteau as an effective literary device. The word â€Å"device† is also sometimes used in the figure of speech â€Å"left to one’s own devices,† meaning to allow someone to do as they please. This is because of an old-fashioned use of the word â€Å"device† to mean â€Å"scheme.† Devise (To Plan or Plot) The verb â€Å"devise† is closer to the Old French from which it’s derived, meaning â€Å"to come up with a plan†: Realizing she wasn’t going to finish her paper on time, Terri devised a new system for tackling her schoolwork. The only context in which this differs is law, where â€Å"devise† is sometimes used as a noun describing either: a) property or land distributed in a will; or b) the act of distributing said property/land. Unless you are writing about law, however, you shouldn’t need to remember this definition. Device or Devise? Since these words are generally very different in their modern usage, it’s usually easy to remember which applies in any given situation: Device (noun) = A gadget Devise (verb) = Come up with a plan The tricky one to look out for is when â€Å"devise† is used in its legal sense, but this should be easy to spot from the context. To make absolutely sure you avoid this and similar mix-ups in your work, however, it never hurts to have a professional double-check everything. Why not try sending a 500-word sample to be proofread for free today?

Amelia Earhart Family Tree

Amelia Earhart Family Tree Back to Generations 1-3 Fourth Generation (Great-Grandparents of Amelia Earhart): 8. David EARHART was born in Dec 1789 in York, Pennsylvania. He died on 3 Jun 1848 in Leechburg, Armstrong County, PA and is buried in Oakdale Cemetery, Davenport, Iowa. David EARHART and Catherine ALTMANN were married on 3 Sep 1814 in Blacklick Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. 9. Catherine ALTMANN was born on 12 Jun 1789 in Pennsylvania. She died on 15 Mar 1870 in Davenport, Iowa. David EARHART and Catherine ALTMANN had the following children: i. Phillip EARHART was born on 28 Mar 1815 in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. He died on 24 Dec 1904.ii. John EARHART was born on 12 Sep 1816 in Indiana County.4 iii. Rev. David EARHARTiv. Henry EARHART was born on 3 May 1819 in Pennsylvania. He died on 9 Sep 1906.v. Lucy EARHART was born on 7 Feb 1821 in Indiana County. She died on 1 Jun 1907 in Atchison, Atchison County, Kansas.vi. Daniel EARHART was born on 14 Oct 1822 in Indiana County. He died on 13 Jul 1916 in Clinton, Ohio.vii. William EARHART was born on 3 Apr 1824 in Indiana County. He died on 10 Apr 1866.viii. Samuel EARHART was born on 7 Oct 1825 in Indiana County. He died on 27 Apr 1851 in Davenport, Iowa.ix. Joseph EARHART was born on 10 Mar 1827 in Indiana County, Pennsylvania.x. Mary EARHART was born on 6 Mar 1830 in Indiana County. She died on 16 Mar 1899.xi. Robert Nixon EARHART was born on 9 Apr 1833 in Indiana County. He died on 29 Jul 1907 in Davenport, Iowa. 10. John PATTON was born btw 22 July 1793 and 21 July 1794 in Indiana County, Pennsylvania.  He died on 21 Jul 1836 in Somerset, Somerset County, Pennsylvania  and is buried in Ankeny Square Burial Ground, Somerset.   11. Harriet WELLS was born between  9 Apr 1800 and 8 Apr 1801 in Somerset, Somerset County, Pennsylvania.  She died on 9 Apr 1890 in Somerset  and is buried in Ankeny Square Burial Ground, Somerset. John PATTON and Harriet WELLS were married and had the following children: 5 i. Mary Wells PATTON 12. Isaac OTIS was born on 26 Sep 1798 in Saratoga Springs, NY. He died of an accidental injury on 12 Mar 1853 near Prairieville, Barry County, Michigan. 13. Caroline Abigail CURTISS was born on 20 Aug 1808.  She died on 12 Mar 1883 in Kalamazoo, MI. Isaac OTIS and Caroline Abigail CURTISS were married in 1826 in Homer, Cortland County, New York and  had the following children: 6 i. Judge Alfred Gideon OTISii. Charles E. OTISiii. George L. OTISiv. Ephraim A. OTISv. Isaac Newton OTISvi. Stephen OTISvii. Mary OTISviii. Louise OTISix. Lilly OTISx. Curtiss OTISxi. Arthur OTIS 14. Gephard HARRES was born on 11 Jun 1801 in Brunswick, Lower Saxony, Germany. He died on 31 May 1863 in Atchison, Atchison County, Kansas  and is buried in 1863 in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.   15. Maria GRACE  was born on 2 Aug 1797 in Germantown, Pennsylvania.  She died on 17 Sep 1896 in Atchison, Kansas. Gephard HARRES and Maria GRACE were married on 17 Oct 1824 in Philadelphia and  had the following children: 7 i. Amelia Josephine HARRESii. Elizabeth HARRESiii. George HARRESiv. Eliza HARRESv. John Henry HARRESvi. Charles Gebhard HARRESvii. Mary Ann HARRES was born on 29 May 1830 in Philadelphia, PA.  She died on 30 Apr 1909 in Atchison, Kansas.