It was useless to explain that smallness sometimes renders a thing inconvenient, and this young man, doubtless, still felicitates himself upon his intimate acquaintance with that commodious pocket dictionary.
Ability, Capacity
A fond mother was told by the principal of a boarding-school that her daughter would not be graduated, as she lacked capacity. “Get her a capacity. Her father don’t stand on the matter of expense. Get her anything she wants. He’ll foot the bill.” But for once the indulgent mother was obliged to learn that there are some things money will not purchase. The father had the financial ability, but the daughter lacked the necessary intellectual capacity.
But we may have literary as well as financial ability. Ability implies the power of doing; capacity the faculty of receiving.
About, Almost
“This work is about done.” Use “almost done.”
Acceptance, Acceptation
These words cannot be used interchangeably. “He wrote signifying his acceptance of the office.” “According to the common acceptation of this term, he is a knave.”
Access, Accession
“He gained access to the fort.” “The only accession, which the Roman empire received was the province of Britain.”