Master confusing words with ease
Interfere vs. Intervene
Interfere
/ˌɪntəˈfɪə/Examples:
He started, but Aileen interfered.At least it was interfering with Neely's evenings, she thought grimly.This interferes to some extent with the flow of logical thought.
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Intervene
/ˌɪntəˈviːn/Examples:
History intervened to crowd the President's calendar.I have got over my intervening doubts.It seems that J. J. Thomson intervened.
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Ways to tell them apart:
- Interfere often has a negative connotation, implying an unwanted or intrusive action.
- Intervene generally has a more neutral or positive implication, suggesting a helpful or corrective action.
- You interfere in something when you insert yourself uninvited, often making things more complicated.
- You intervene when you step in to change or improve a situation, typically when you have a reason or permission to do so.
- Remember: interfere can suggest meddling, while intervene often suggests assistance or conciliation.
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