Air and Heir are two very commonly confused words. This is because both sound the same. Let’s take a look at an example of their correct and incorrect use
- Incorrect: I am going out to get some fresh heir
Correct: I am going out to get some fresh air - Incorrect: When I die, my property will be given to my sole air
Correct: When I die, my property will be given to my sole heir
Although their pronunciation is the same, their meanings are very different. Now, let’s take a look at their meaning and applications:
How and Where to use ‘Heir’?
The word ‘heir’ means a person who becomes the owner of a property (because the property gets passed on) after a person dies. In a way, a successor can be an heir. It is pronounced the same as the word ‘air’ but with a silent ‘h’. Here are some examples of the word ‘heir’:
- Michael is the heir of all the property of Mr. Johnson
- In earlier times, the duty of some queens was just to produce an heir
- There was an internal dispute between all the heirs
- The king had only 1 heir to his throne
How and Where to use ‘Air’?
Even a child knows the meaning of air. It is the invisible gas surrounding the earth. We feel and breathe the air. Also, the pronunciation of air is ‘e-uh’. Let’s look at some examples of the word to clear the confusion
- We can live without food and water, but not air
- After a hectic study session, she went out to catch some fresh air
- Due to air pollution, today there are cafes in the world where you have to pay to get a bottle of fresh air
- It felt nice to give a speech among young students because I sensed an air of confidence
When to Use Beneficiary in Sentence
Many people use “heir” and “beneficiary” interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. There are some important differences that you should be aware of while talking to your attorney or a financial advisors.
A beneficiary is a person who is specifically listed by name in the deceased’s will or trust as a recipient of assets when he or she dies. Beneficiaries can be people as well as organizations, such as churches or non-profits. A beneficiary can be an heir (i.e a blood relative), but can just as easily be a friend or favorite charity.
- He returns the favor by naming him sole beneficiary in his life insurance policy.
- Mark made you a beneficiary to his will.
- She denied that she was connected with the trust or that she was a beneficiary of it.
Keep exploring EnglishBix for more quality resources on commonly confused words.
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