✅  Necessary is the best word to describe something vital for the fulfillment of a need (A working engine is necessary for the car to run).

✅  Essential describes something that is particularly necessary, without which there would be dire consequences (It’s essential to bring water on a camping trip).

✅  Necessary and essential can be used interchangeably, though essential has a stronger meaning.

✅  Both words can also be exaggerated or humorous ways to describe things that aren’t technically life or death, but are important in some way (My morning coffee is essential to my health and the health of those around me).

Try describing something that is necessary to you with the help of Grammar Coach.

✅  General is the best word to describe something belonging to, or held by a group of people collectively (A general sense of unease).

✅  Universal describes something found everywhere or belonging to everyone without an exception (The film received universal acclaim).

✅  The key difference between these words is that general allows some exceptions, whereas universal doesn’t.

✅  Universal can sometimes be used hyperbolically, as a more intense version of general (Americans have a universal love of peanut butter and jelly).

Try using universal in a sentence describing humans, with the help of Grammar Coach.

✅  Through refers to achieving a goal by specific means or as consequence (He lost friends through arrogance). It’s similar to the phrase because of (He lost friends through arrogance). Through can sound more formal than with.

✅  Although both with and through indicate how something gets done, with suggests some sort of instrument or tool (She cut the pizza with scissors).

✅  Through can demonstrate particular agency, or a specific reason or cause (The farm was saved through her efforts).

Increase your vocabulary through the use of these synonyms!