Words Often Confused
Study this list in order to avoid common errors in word choice.|
A
|
|
| accent | to emphasize |
| ascent | climb |
| assent | to agree to something |
| accept | to receive |
| except | with the exception of |
| access | right or ability to enter |
| excess | amount left over |
| adapt | to adjust |
| adopt | to take as one's own |
| addition | part added |
| edition | publication |
| advice | counsel or information |
| advise | to give advice |
| affect | to act upon or influence |
| effect | result; to bring about |
| allude | to refer indirectly |
| elude | to evade |
| allusion | indirect reference |
| illusion | misleading image |
| anecdote | brief story |
| antidote | remedy for poison |
| ante- | prior to or earlier than |
| anti- | opposite or against |
| assure | to give confidence to |
| ensure | to make certain |
| aural | relating to hearing |
| oral | relating to the mouth, spoken |
B
|
|
| base | bottom |
| bass | fish; deep voice |
| born | produced by birth |
| borne | carried |
| brake | to slow or stop |
| break | to knock into pieces |
| breadth | width |
| breath | breathed air |
| breathe | to draw in air |
C
|
|
| capital | city as government center |
| capitol | state legislature building |
| Capitol | U.S. Congress building |
| cite | to quote |
| sight | spectacle, view |
| site | piece of land; set of Web pages |
| complement | to complete |
| compliment | to praise |
| conscience | moral awareness |
| conscious | mentally awake |
| consul | diplomatic official |
| council | administrative body |
| counsel | lawyer; to give advice |
| credible | believable |
| creditable | worthy of praise |
| currant | raisinlike fruit |
| current | stream; used at the moment |
D
|
|
| decent | good or satisfactory |
| descent | downward movement |
| dissent | difference of opinion |
| decree | official order |
| degree | extent or scope |
| desert | dry barren region |
| dessert | sweet food ending a meal |
| detract | to disparage or reduce |
| distract | to draw attention away |
| device | specialized tool |
| devise | to invent, to plot |
E
|
|
| edition | See addition |
| effect | See affect |
| eligible | entitled; desirable |
| illegible | not readable |
| elude | See allude |
| eminent | prominent |
| imminent | ready to happen |
| ensure | See assure |
| envelop | to surround |
| envelope | letter container |
| except | See accept |
| excess | See access |
F
|
|
| formally | in a formal manner |
| formerly | at an earlier time |
| forth | forward, onward |
| fourth | 4th |
G
|
|
| gorilla | large manlike ape |
| guerrilla | irregular warrior |
H
|
|
| hardy | bold, robust |
| hearty | jolly; vigorous |
| hoard | hidden treasure |
| horde | throng |
I
|
|
| illegible | See eligible |
| imminent | See eminent |
| imply | hint, indicate |
| infer | conclude, deduce |
| incredible | unbelievable |
| incredulous | astonished |
| inherent | intrinsic |
| inherit | to receive from an ancestor |
| install | to set up for use |
| instill | to impart gradually |
| it's | it is; it has |
| its | belonging to it |
J
|
|
| No entries for J | |
K
|
|
| No entries for K | |
L
|
|
| lay | to put or set down |
| lie | to rest horizontally |
| lead | to guide; heavy metal |
| led | guided |
| liable | obligated by law |
| libel | to defame; false publication |
| loose | unattached |
| lose | to fail to win |
M
|
|
| medal | commemorative metal piece |
| meddle | to interfere |
| miner | mine worker |
| minor | young person; unimportant |
| moral | ethical; lesson |
| morale | emotional attitude |
N
|
|
| No entries for N | |
O
|
|
| oral | See aural |
P
|
|
| passed | past tense of "pass" |
| past | previous; beyond |
| peace | tranquility |
| piece | portion |
| pear | fruit |
| peer | one's equal; to look intently |
| pier | dock |
| pedal | foot lever |
| peddle | to sell |
| perpetrate | to be guilty of |
| perpetuate | to make perpetual |
| persecute | to harass |
| prosecute | to bring legal action |
| personal | private, individual |
| personnel | group of employees |
| plain | ordinary |
| plane | airplane; flat surface |
| pole | long piece of wood or metal |
| poll | sampling of opinion |
| pray | to ask earnestly |
| prey | victim |
| precede | to go or come before |
| proceed | to advance or continue |
| preposition | part of speech |
| proposition | proposal |
| principal | main; chief person |
| principle | basic rule |
| propose | to plan or intend |
| purpose | goal, intention |
Q
|
|
| quiet | noiseless |
| quite | rather |
R
|
|
| rain | water falling in drops |
| reign | to govern |
| rein | strap for controlling a horse |
| raise | to lift, to increase |
| raze | to destroy or tear down |
| respectfully | with respect |
| respectively | in order |
| resume | to take up again |
| résumé | life summary |
| right | correct |
| rite | ceremonial act |
| role | part, function |
| roll | to turn over |
S
|
|
| sight | See cite |
| site | See cite |
| sit | to lie, rest |
| set | to put |
| stationary | not moving |
| stationery | writing material |
| statue | piece of sculpture |
| stature | height; status |
| statute | law |
T
|
|
| tack | course of action |
| tact | sensitivity |
| than | in comparison with |
| then | at that time |
| their | belonging to them |
| there | in that place |
| they're | they are |
| thorough | complete |
| through | into and out of |
| to | toward |
| too | also, very |
| two | 2 |
U
|
|
| No entries for U | |
V
|
|
| No entries for V | |
W
|
|
| waist | middle of the body |
| waste | scrap, garbage |
| waive | to give up voluntarily |
| wave | to motion with the hand |
| weather | atmospheric state |
| whether | if |
| were | past form of "be" |
| we're | we are |
| where | at what place |
| who's | who is; who has |
| whose | of whom |
X
|
|
| No entries for X | |
Y
|
|
| your | belonging to you |
| you're | you are |
Z |
|
| No entries for Z | |