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medal ~ meddle ~ middle

[slightly different vowel sound]

“Medal” (noun) is ‘a round flat piece of metal with words or design on it given to a person as an honour for some act of importance’,

e.g.

The best sales representatives are awarded with gold medals and a paid trip to Italy.

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“Meddle” (verb) means ‘to interfere (to disturb somebody while they are working, or trying to know others’ affairs); to take or busy oneself in someone else’s matters without being asked to do so’,

e.g.

My friend meddled in my personal affairs and made them more complicated.

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“Middle” (adjective & verb) is ‘the part, position which is almost at an equal distance from two or more points; the central point or position’,

e.g.

Some people walk in the middle of the street not caring about the motor traffic.  {that kind of unmindful walking is called ‘jaywalking’, and the person who does it is called ‘jaywalker’; and ‘jaywalking’ is an offence}

The lecturer left the lecture hall in the middle of the lecture to take a phone call.

{The word ‘centre’ also gives the same meaning as ‘middle’ but it should be used for more specific and exact point of something, for example ‘the centre of a circle..’, etc.}

Common Errors:

1.

On the middle of March we are going to take our final exams.  [wrong]

In the middle of March we are going to take our final exams.    [right]

2.

We need some boys of middle height and average weight.    [wrong]

We need some boys of medium height and average weight.  [right]

[However, “In the middle Ages, people did not accept the fact that the sun is stationary and is the centre of our solar system.” & “There was a middle-aged woman before me in the queue who kept on grumbling about the failure of the present government.” are accepted.]

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