Elicit vs Illicit
elicit
to draw out (verb)
illicit
illegal/forbidden (adj)
How to tell them apart
Elicit = E for Extract/draw out (a verb: elicit a response). ILLicit = ILL, like ILLegal, forbidden. E = Extract; ILL = ILLegal.
Test yourself
Which word fits from context? Pick one, then reveal the answer. This is exactly how the GRE tests these pairs.
Question 1
The interviewer's probing questions were carefully designed to candid responses from subjects who were otherwise reluctant to speak.
Choose: elicit or illicit
Show answer
Answer: elicit
"designed to ___ candid responses" needs a verb meaning draw out = elicit; illicit is an adjective (illegal) and is grammatically impossible in the verb slot.
Question 2
Customs agents intercepted a shipment of substances that had been smuggled across the border in hollowed-out furniture.
Choose: elicit or illicit
Show answer
Answer: illicit
"smuggled across the border" signals illegal/forbidden = illicit; elicit is a verb and cannot modify the noun "substances."
Dig deeper
Never mix up elicit and illicit again
Learn 1,000+ GRE words through stories, practice with real GRE questions, and never forget with spaced repetition.