Many words beginning with "m" are easily confused with one another. Can you select the correct "m" words in each sentence?

1. The noise of the (madding, maddening) crowd was (madding, maddening) to the people who lived near the stadium.

2. Though not born or reared on a (manner, manor), she was to the (manner, manor) born.

3. Sally had worn the (mantel, mantle) of leadership for decades, and her fireplace (mantel, mantle) held several (mementos, momentos) of high office.

4. Because a virus had penetrated his (mucus, mucous) membrane, his head was filled with (mucus, mucous).

5. The wealthy iron (magnate, magnet) had made her fortune selling (magnates, magnets).

6. The long-standing animosity between the two nations might (militate, mitigate) against any proposal that would (militate, mitigate) their desire for war.

7. The federal (marshal, martial) declared (marshal, martial) law.

8. Though the substitute teacher seemed to have an angry (mean, mien), he was not (mean, mien).

9. The (morale, moral) of the story is that you should keep up your (morale, moral) in times of stress.

10. The Tin Man, who was made of (medal, metal, mettle, meddle), deserved a (medal, metal, mettle, meddle) for proving his (medal, metal, mettle, meddle) when he tried to (medal, metal, mettle, meddle) with the Wicked Witch's scheme to kidnap Dorothy.

Answers:

1. madding — frenzied; describes the crowd itself, as in the title of Thomas Hardy's novel "Far From the Madding Crowd"; maddening — tending to anger or craze, describes the observer, e.g., "The long wait for the ticket line was maddening." 2. manor — large estate; manner — custom, practice. "To the manner born" means "accustomed to the practice from birth, as when Hamlet says, "I am native here/And to the manner born."

3. mantle — cloak, position; mantel — shelf above a fireplace; mementos (often misspelled or mispronounced as "momentos) 4. mucous — adjective, describes membrane that lines certain body passages; mucus — noun, body secretion

5. magnate — powerful person; magnets — iron attracters 6. militate — to exert a strong influence; mitigate — to make less severe, reduce

7. marshal — noun, law officer; martial — adjective, related to the military or fighting, as in "martial arts" 8. mien — appearance; mean — cruel

9. moral — lesson; morale — spirit, zeal 10. metal — iron, copper, nickel, silver, tin, et al.; medal — award; mettle — fortitude, strength, determination; meddle — interfere.

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