Certain sets of words in the English language tend to confuse people. I have found the following to be among them:
ANESTHESIA / ANESTHETIC
The noun anesthesia means loss of sensation, which may or may not involve loss of consciousness. The noun anesthetic refers to a substance that can produce anesthesia or bring relief, usually connected with relieving pain. The word anesthetic can also be an adjective meaning related to or capable of producing anesthesia or lacking sensitivity or awareness.
INCORRECT: Ether was a common anesthesia used during surgeries in the mid-twentieth century.
CORRECT: Ether was a common anesthetic used during surgeries in the mid-twentieth century.
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