Tip & Quote of the Week: "Allude & Elude"

“Never affirm, always allude: 

allusions are made to test the spirit and probe the heart.” 

― Umberto Eco, 

author of "The Island of the Day Before"

Again, similarities in look and sound are to blame for this usual mix-up. But these words meanings couldn't be more different.

allude

verb [intrans.] ( allude to)

• suggest or call attention to indirectly; hint at: 

she had a way of alluding to Jean but never saying her name.

• mention without discussing at length: 

we will allude briefly to the main points.

• (of an artist or a work of art) recall (an earlier work or style) 

in such a way as to suggest a relationship with it: 

the photographs allude to Italian Baroque painting.

elude

verb [trans.]

• evade or escape from (a danger, enemy, or pursuer), 

typically in a skillful or cunning way: 

he managed to elude his pursuers by escaping into an alley.

• (of an idea or fact) fail to be grasped or remembered by (someone): 

the logic of this eluded most people.

• (of an achievement, or something desired or pursued) 

fail to be attained by (someone): 

sleep still eluded her.

• avoid compliance with or subjection to (a law, demand, or penalty).

Picture found here.

Picture found here.

The verbs allude and elude sound very similar, and this is why they are sometimes confused.

Allude: 'To allude' means 'to refer to indirectly'. The verbs 'to allude' and 'to mention' are close in meaning, but 'to allude' is less direct. It can be translated as 'to hint at' or 'to offer an indication about'.

Examples:

• This Chinese saying alludes to nature's power: "A spark can start a fire that burns the entire prairie." (The saying does not mention nature's power, but it offers a clue about nature's power. The saying alludes to nature's power.)

• "Forewarned is forearmed" alludes to the importance of being in control. (offers an indication about the importance of being in control)

• The judge did not mention his previous crimes specifically, but he alluded to them in his summary. (hinted at previous crimes)

Picture found here.

Elude: 'To elude' means 'to avoid', 'to evade' or 'to escape from'. *Remember that the word elude starts with the same letter as escape.

Examples:

• Correct:

• Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid try to elude capture. (try to avoid capture)

• Wrong:

• Peter Beardsley used to allude defenders with his trademark foot shuffle. (avoid defenders / should be 'elude')

Also, there is a test located here.

Picture found here.

Also, here are two other words that can be confused with allude and elude:

• To delude is to lead into error or misjudgment. We delude ourselves if we think allusions are all we need to communicate clearly. “Darmok and Jalad" is meaningless, for example, if the story isn’t in your shared lexicon. The wise are not deluded into simplistic understandings.

• To illude is to trick or deceive, often in a mocking way, as with an illusion. An elaborate plan to illude them regarding the true identity of the blackmailer resulted in a madcap romp through the mansion and the eventual death of the villain.

Sources:

- #1 - http://www.grammar-monster.com/easily_confused/allude_elude.htm

- #2 - http://www.copyediting.com/lude-word-tricks-allude-delude-elude-illude

- #3 - http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/allusion?auto_login_attempted=true