The verb discover means to become aware of something previously unknown.

The verb invent means to make (or make up) something that previously did not exist.

Examples:

• Some students discover that writing can be fun.
• "Anything that won't sell, I don't want to invent." (Thomas A. Edison)
• "In order to discover, scientists sometimes have to invent. Consider the devices Faraday had to build in order to explore electricity and magnetism." (Michael Gorman)

Practice:

(a) When archaeologists ____ evidence of human habitation, they call it "dark earth."

(b) "If there were no God, it would be necessary to _____ him." (Voltaire)

Answers to Practice Exercises

Glossary of Usage: Index of Commonly Confused Words