Elicit vs. illicit: What’s the difference?

Common examples of homophones

Don’t feel discouraged if you’ve been tripped up by homophones before: English grammar rules are puzzling and homophones are just one of the many reasons why. Some examples of other common words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings include:

• Principal and principle
• To, too, and two
• Accept and except
• Affect and effect

Taking the time to learn the meaning of each word will help you determine which one to use in each situation and keep you from writing grammatically incorrect sentences.

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Using elicit

Elicit is a verb that means “to get something to come out.” It comes from the Latin ”elicere” which means “to draw forth.” It can also be used to mean to get something done, to bring light to, or to prompt a response.

Common synonyms of elicit include:

• Induce
• Trigger
• Extract
• Evoke
• Prompt

Using elicit in a sentence

• The detective questioned a subject for three hours, hoping to elicit information about the case.
• The magician elicited oohs and aahs from the crowd after he produced a dove from his pocket and turning it into flowers.
• She found it hard to elicit sympathy for the old man who ran into a dog with his wheelchair.
• The pounding bass at the concert elicited a sharp pain on the side of my head.
• When looking for a new job, I discovered that the same position at different companies would elicit different paycheck amounts.

Using illicit

Illicit is an adjective that describes a noun. When something is described as being illicit, that means that it is considered improper, immoral, or forbidden by law or custom. It comes from the Latin root “lictus,” or “lawful.” It’s important to understand that illicit doesn’t always mean “illegal,” as something that’s illegal isn’t always a bad thing. It’s more so used to imply that something is against a rule or isn’t socially approved. Using illicit in a sentence has more of a negative, shameful connotation, as opposed to a rebellious one.

Some synonyms for illicit include:

• Clandestine
• Furtive
• Improper
• Prohibited
• Unauthorized

Using illicit in a sentence

• Nabokov’s book Lolita was considered shocking and inappropriate because of the main character’s illicit affair with an underaged girl.
• When the fisherman was discovered to be smuggling illicit substances, he was immediately arrested.
• Language changes over time: words that were considered illicit in the early 1900’s are in regular rotation today.
• The frat party was unsanctioned and illicit, they were in clear violation of the university’s laws.
• Even though they had been married for a decade, John and Jeff’s relationship was still considered illicit in the eyes of their small town.

Taking the time to understand the meanings of these two commonly confused words will help you know which one to use in your writing. But if you get stuck, try out Microsoft Editor to help you write more clearly, with real time spelling and grammar edits.