Random vocabulary nitpicking.

While I'm in full support of the separation of Church and State in My Fair Country, I do think that perhaps we should give students enough information to avoid such vocabulary mixups as the following, which I see everywhere:

stigma ≠ stigmata

"Stigma" is a symbol of disgrace or reproach, a black mark. It is usually the word you are looking for, when you are looking for one of these words in casual writing or conversation. Stigmata, technically, is the plural of stigma. However, it tends to be the plural of stigma when referring to the definition that has to do with marking, scarring, or branding, and is commonly used to refer to the wounds Christ received on the cross.

Calvary ≠ cavalry

Cavalry are mounted troops on horseback. This tends to be the word you are looking for, when you are looking for one of these words in casual writing or conversation. Calvary is the name of the mount on which Jesus and those other guys were crucified.

Thank you, and that is all the nitpicking for today. Someone make me shut up! I have so much work to do!