Which Word When? Part I

bear and bare "Bear" and "bare" are often mixed up when people write that they can’t bear/bare another minute of something. To bear something is to carry it. To be bare means to be unclothed and unshod or, like "bare" wood, unfinished.  Arabella simply couldn’t bear another second of seeing Ambrose bare. classic and classical As a noun, a "classic" is an important – and perhaps even influential – example, while as an adjective "classic" implies adhering to a standard of excellence. Technically speaking, "classical" has a narrow definition, describing things from ancient Greece or Rome, things from analogous ancient periods like the Tang dynasty, and formal concert music of any period. Except by the picayune, today classical is used to describe things of authority and excellence. Among fashionistas, the Kelly Bag, from Hermès and named after Grace Kelly, is a classic example of chic, despite its not having any classical design references.   a while and awhile "A while" means “a period of time”; "awhile" means “for a time” (when "for" is included, you’d never write "for awhile" because in essence you’d be writing "for for a while"). Algernon stayed awhile, though he did nothing but sleep for a while. etc. and et al. An abbreviation of et alii (“and others”), "et al." refers to people; "etc.," an abbreviation of et cetera (“and other things”), refers to things only. Gwendolyn was joined by Jack, Gribsby, et al., all of whom brought along books, magazines, etc., for the cruise.