Grammatically Correct 02/15/05
A weekly grammar tip created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors.
University of Houston-Victoria
3007 N. Ben Wilson
Victoria, TX 77901
Immigrate vs. Emigrate vs. Migrate
by Candice Chovanec Melzow
Immigrate, emigrate and migrate are frequently confused with one another and, as a result, are often used incorrectly. Let’s take a look at some examples.

Immigrate is a verb. It means to enter a country in order to live there on a permanent basis.

Ex. Many Eastern Europeans immigrated to the United States during the 1800s.

Emigrate is a verb. It means to leave one’s own country in order to go live in another country.

Ex. During the Potato Famine, many Irish people emigrated from Ireland to live in the United States.

Migrate is a verb. When referring to animals, it means to travel from one part of the world to another. When referring to people, it means to go to another area to find a place to live or work.

Ex. Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate south to Central America in the winter.
Ex. After the Civil War, many African Americans migrated northward in search of better jobs and improved social conditions.
Recommended Grammar Website of the Week
by Candice Chovanec Melzow

Along with our website, we recommend the following site: The Homonym/Homophone Page at http://www.taupecat.com/personal/homophones/. This site contains a list of over 300 of the most frequently confused homophones in the English language.

 
Test Your Knowledge
by Candice Chovanec Melzow
Test your understanding by choosing the correct word in each of the following sentences:

1. Luisa and her mother (immigrated/emigrated) to the United States in 1985.
2. The Monarch butterfly is seen in Texas as it (immigrates/migrates) in the spring.
3. Many Jews (immigrated/emigrated) from Germany during the years preceding World War I.
4. In order to obtain land that resulted from the Louisiana Purchase, many settlers (immigrated/migrated) west during the 1800s.


Answers
1. Luisa and her mother immigrated to the United States in 1985.
2. The Monarch butterfly is seen in Texas as it migrates in the spring.
3. Many Jews emigrated from Germany during the years preceding World War I.
4. In order to obtain land that resulted from the Louisiana Purchase, many settlers migrated west during the 1800s.

 

Grammatically Correct is a grammar tip of the week created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors at the University of Houston-Victoria in Victoria, Texas.

Comments about this newsletter should be directed to Summer Leibensperger, leibenspergers@uhv.edu.

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