Published on
September 23, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
May 6, 2025
The phrase be supposed to is commonly used in everyday language to express obligation, expectation, or intention. A frequent misspelling of this phrase is “be suppose to.”
If you think something “is supposed to happen,” you expect it to happen because it is a prediction or plan (e.g., “It’s supposed to rain today”).
If you say someone “is supposed to do” something, you think that they should do it because it is the right thing to do, or because it is a rule or instruction (e.g., “You’re supposed to put glasses in this cupboard, not that one”).
Supposed to in a sentence examplesWe’re supposed to be going to a party this weekend.
Demure is an adjective that means “modest,” “shy,” or “reserved.” It is most commonly applied to women and girls or their clothing, though it can be used to describe people of any gender.
Demure in a sentence examplesThe CEO’s demure demeanor belied her shrewd negotiation skills.
She wore a demure dress to the gala, choosing understated elegance over flashy trends.
In response to the interviewer’s question, the actor gave a demure smile and changed the subject.
As of yet and as yet are adverbial phrases meaning “yet.” You use them to say something has not happened up to now, but you expect it to happen at some point.
In formal or academic writing, it is generally best to reduce as of yet or as yet to “yet,” or use an alternative formulation such as “has/have yet to.”
Examples: As of yet in a sentence
We cannot provide you with any further information as of yet.
We cannot provide you with any further information yet.
According to the CEO, a decision has not been taken as of yet.
According to the CEO, a decision has yet to be taken.
When you imply something (i.e., suggesting something without stating it directly), then you are making an implication. Implication is a noun, which also means implicating someone in a crime (i.e., strongly suggesting they were involved in the act).
The plural form, implications, is used in academic writing and refers to the consequences or influence of a study’s findings .
Implication in a sentence examplesThere was an implication in the prime minister’s farewell speech that she would fight to return to power.
If this is true, then the implications are far-reaching and potentially disastrous.
Is the implication that there might be the chance of promotion later in the year?
The suspect’s full and frank confession led to the inevitable implication of his brother in the offense.
NoteImplication and inference (from imply and infer) are often incorrectly used interchangeably. An implication is made by a speaker or writer, and the listener or reader makes the inference from what is said or written.
A protagonist is the main character in a work of fiction. It is a noun that can be used in a more general sense outside of fiction to refer to the principal people involved in a real-life situation. This use is less common, however.
The idea of a protagonist comes from ancient Greek drama and refers to the actor who plays the main role in a play and is often opposed by an antagonist.
Protagonist in a sentence examplesIt was clear within the first few pages who the protagonist was in this novel.
Macbeth is the protagonist of the eponymous Shakespeare play.
The Luddites were protagonists in the 19th-century fight for workers’ rights in the UK.
The teacher stepped in and separated the two protagonists in the brawl.
Alike is both an adverb and an adjective that means “in a similar way.” The degree of similarity expressed by alike varies with context, from almost identical to a general resemblance.
Alike in a sentence examplesIt was difficult to believe they were brothers, as they were nothing alike.
My father and I sound very alike on the phone, and people have difficulty knowing which one of us it is.
Lab-grown diamonds and the real thing are so alike that for most people it’s not worth paying extra for the real ones.
Loquacious is an adjective that means “fond of talking” or “very talkative.” The context of its use will determine if it carries negative or positive connotations.
In many instances, loquacious and talkative can be used interchangeably, but sometimes loquacious implies a speaker who is eloquent or articulate, whereas “talkative” would not carry this meaning.
Loquacious in a sentence examplesFor a five-year-old, Veronika is surprisingly loquacious.
This was his last house call, and the doctor lapsed into a surprisingly loquacious frame of mind.
Normally shy and diffident, Marty was especially loquacious at the meeting, perhaps because he felt so passionately about the subject.
Other interesting articles
If you want to know more about citation, reasoning, or rhetoric, check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
Vice versa is a Latin phrase that we use in English as an adverb meaning “conversely” or “the other way around.”
The literal translation is “the position having been reversed,” and that is still what it means. For example, “Girls perform better in some subjects than boys, and vice versa” means that boys also perform better than girls in some subjects.
Vice versa in a sentence examplesYou can complete Part One and then Part Two, or vice versa.
I miss spending time with my family, and vice versa.
All squares are rectangles, but not vice versa.
The big question with a cream tea is jam first, then clotted cream, or vice versa?
Although vice versa comes from Latin, it has been used in English for so long that it does not need italics, much like “ad nauseam” and “mea culpa.” It does not take a hyphen, and there is a common misspelling “vice a versa,” which is always incorrect.
