Student Union
New in the Glossary of Confusing Words: Safety/Security, Further/Farther, Despite/In Spite Of
Safety/Security
Being protected from threat
In a sense, safety is a narrower word than security. Safety tends to refer to protection from physical injury, and tends to mean the protection is for individuals. Security tends to refer to freedom from all types of threats or dangers, and can refer to groups or societies.
“You should leave for your own safety.”
“The organization is considered a security threat.”
Security also refers to the procedures followed to ensure freedom from threats, or the people who are supposed to ensure that freedom.
“There is tight security around the White House.”
Farther/Further
At a greater distance, more
When used as an adverb or an adjective, further and farther are basically interchangeable in everyday speech. There is a slight distinction in that farther is usually used for physical distances and further for metaphorical distances (if it helps you remember, farther has the word "far" in it). But there are many many cases where you will hear the two words used interchangeably.
“I ran farther than I ever have before.”
“There will be no further discussion on the matter.”
“I’m further/farther along in my book than you.”
The person who submitted these words actually gave a good example of their use:
I was helped to understand this long ago by someone who told me, "If you annoy that dog any further, you may have to run much farther away from him!"
When further is used as a verb (as in, to help the progress of), you cannot substitute it with farther.
“He used the money to further his ambitions.”
Also, there are some phrases that specifically use the word “further” in them. “Until further notice” and “furthermore” are two examples.
Despite/In spite of
Notwithstanding, without being affected by
Despite and in spite of mean exactly the same thing and are completely interchangeable. In fact, many dictionaries actually define “despite” as “in spite of.” Despite is more common in everyday conversation because it is shorter and sounds a little less formal.
Just be careful of one thing: There is no such phrase as “despite of.” It’s either “despite” or “in spite of.”
“I went to the picnic despite the rain.”
“I went to the picnic in spite of the rain.”
Have you come across a confusing word you'd like us to define? Submit your word suggestions in the comments or by using the form below. Thanks to everyone who has submitted words so far!
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According to U.S. News & World Report, the move was made to encourage Greek students to stay in the country for advanced studies, instead of going abroad for an education. (March 2024)
Virginia Bans Legacy Admissions
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New Texas Law Prohibits Public Colleges, Universities From Having DEI Offices
A new Texas law prohibits public universities from having special programs supporting minority and LGBTQ students. Critics say these diversity, equity and inclusion programs are discriminatory and divisive. But many students say they are needed. Deana Mitchell has the story from the Texas capital.
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FAFSA Delays Prompt California to Extend Deadline for Financial Aid Applications
The California Legislature on Thursday voted to give prospective college students more time to apply for two of the state's largest financial aid programs after a glitch in the federal government's application system threatened to block up to 100,000 people from getting help.
California had already extended the deadline for its financial aid programs from March 2 to April 2. On Thursday, the state Senate gave final approval to a bill that would extend it again until May 2. The bill now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom.
"Clearly, our students need our help," Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, a Democrat from Riverside who authored the bill, told lawmakers during a public hearing earlier this week.
California has multiple programs to help people pay for college. The biggest is the Cal Grant program, which gives money to people who meet certain income requirements. The state also has a Middle Class Scholarship for people with slightly higher incomes.
Students can apply for these state aid programs only if they first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as FAFSA.
This year, a computer glitch prevented parents from filling out the form if they did not have a Social Security number. That meant many students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents but whose parents are not were blocked from completing the form and thus could not apply for California's aid programs.
California has a large population of adults who are living in the country without legal permission. The California Student Aid Commission, the state agency in charge of California's financial aid programs, estimates as many as 100,000 students could be affected by this glitch.
The U.S. Department of Education says it fixed the problem last week, but those families are now a step behind. Democrats in Congress raised alarms last month, noting that the delay could particularly hurt students in states where financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, including Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Oregon and Texas.
Advocates fear that the chaos of this year's process could deter students from going to college at all, especially those for whom finances are a key part of the decision.
The computer glitch is just one part of larger problems affecting FAFSA.
The notoriously time-consuming form was overhauled in 2020 through a bipartisan bill in Congress. It promised to simplify the form, going from 100 questions to fewer than 40, and it also changed the underlying formula for student aid, promising to expand it to more low-income students.
But the update has been marred by delays, leaving families across the country in limbo as they figure out how much college will cost.
The form is typically available to fill out in October, but the Education Department didn't have it ready until late December. Even then, the agency wasn't ready to begin processing the forms and sending them to states and colleges, which only started to happen this month.
The problems appear to have already reduced California's application numbers. Through March 8, the number of California students who had completed FAFSA was 43% lower than it was at the same time last year.
"The data most concerning me seems to suggest that these drops are more acute at the schools that serve low-income students or large populations of students of color," Jake Brymner, deputy chief of policy and public affairs for the California Student Aid Commission, told lawmakers in a public hearing earlier this week.
The issue has caused problems for colleges and universities, too. The University of California and California State University systems both delayed their admissions deadlines because so many prospective students were having trouble with FAFSA.