some interesting things

Manner vs. manor

A manner is (1) a way of doing something, (2) a bearing or demeanor, and (3) a type. The plural form, manners, refers to a manner of behavior considered to be social correct.

Constructions involving manner can often be shortened to single adverbs. For example, in a calm manner and in a public manner can give way to calmly and publicly. Some such phrases lack one-word equivalents, however—e.g., in a timely manner.

A manor is (1) the estate of a European lord, or (2) the main house of a large country estate.

Aid vs. aide

An aide is an assistant or helper. The word always refers to a person. Aid is a noun referring to (1) assistance, or (2) something that assists (e.g., a hearing aid or a visual aid), and it’s also a verb meaning to assist. Some dictionaries list aid as a variant of aide, but the words are generally kept separate in edited writing.

Both words derive from closely related French sources, but they entered English at different times. Aid came to English in the 15th century (and had several spellings in early use) and has borne a variety of meanings over the centuries.¹ Aide entered English several centuries later, possibly as a shortened form of aide-de-camp, which refers to a military officer who assists a superior.

Use of sometimes, sometime and some time

Sometimes, sometime, and some time are very different words so you need to be careful when you use them. These are words that even native speakers get confused with!

1. Sometimes is an adverb of frequency. Think of it as halfway between never and always.
Example sentences:
Sometimes I am so tired I can’t get out of bed!
He sometimes plays tennis instead of going to the gym.
We like to go to the beach on vacation sometimes.

2. Sometime (no ‘s’) is also an adverb, but it is used to talk about an unspecified point in the future or an unspecified point in the past.
Example sentences:
We should get together for coffee sometime!
Sometime soon I would like you to clean your room!
The accident occurred sometime before 6pm.
3. When you use some time, it’s like saying ‘some food’ or ‘some people’ – some is used to talk about how much of the noun time you have or want.
Example sentences:

Do you have some time to check my essay?
She has some time to spend in her garden now that she has quit her job.
Take some time to think about the offer before you accept or decline it.

He was able to buy some time by saying his wife was out of town & he can’t make a decision without her.
(idiom: to buy time = to get more time; he wanted more time to make a decision so he said he couldn’t make a decision without his wife.)