Commonly confused words
1.
Many words in English sound and look alike but can have radically
different meanings. It is important to be aware of the more common of
these false pairs – the consequences of confusing them could be
disastrous. If in doubt, consult a good dictionary.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of the most
common examples.
Word 1
accept
Meaning
to agree to receive or do
Word 2
except
adverse
unfavourable, harmful
averse
advice
recommendations about what to
do
advise
affect
to change or make a difference to
effect
aisle
a passage between rows of seats
isle
all together
all in one place, all at once
altogether
along
moving or extending horizontally
on
a long
aloud
altar
out loud
a sacred table in a church
allowed
alter
amoral
not concerned with right or wrong
immoral
appraise
to assess
apprise
assent
agreement, approval
ascent
aural
relating to the ears or hearing
oral
Meaning
not including
strongly
disliking;
opposed
to recommend
something
a result; to
bring about a
result
an island
completely; on
the whole
referring to
something of
great length
permitted
to change
not following
accepted moral
standards
to inform
someone
the action of
rising or
climbing up
relating to the
balmy
pleasantly warm
barmy
bare
naked; to uncover
bear
bated
in phrase 'with bated breath', i.e.
in great suspense
baited
bazaar
a Middle Eastern market
bizarre
berth
a bunk in a ship, train, etc.
birth
born
having started life
borne
bough
a branch of a tree
bow
brake
breach
a device for stopping a vehicle; to
stop a vehicle
to break through, or break a rule; a
gap
break
breech
broach
to raise a subject for discussion
brooch
canvas
a type of strong cloth
canvass
censure
to criticize strongly
censor
cereal
a grass producing an edible grain;
a breakfast food made from grains
serial
chord
a group of musical notes
cord
climactic
forming a climax
climatic
coarse
rough
course
complacent
smug and self-satisfied
complaisant
complement
to add to so as to improve; an
addition that improves something
compliment
mouth; spoken
foolish, crazy
to carry; to put
up with
with bait
attached or
inserted
strange
the emergence
of a baby from
the womb
carried
to bend the
head; the front
of a ship
to separate into
pieces; a pause
the back part of
a gun barrel
a piece of
jewellery
to seek people’s
votes
to ban parts of
a book or film;
a person who
does this
happening in a
series
a length of
string; a cordlike body part
relating to
climate
a direction; a
school subject;
part of a meal
willing to
please
to praise or
express
council
a group of people who manage or
advise
cue
a signal for action; a wooden rod
curb
to keep something in check; a
control or limit
currant
a dried grape
defuse
to make a situation less tense
desert
a waterless, empty area; to
abandon someone
discreet
careful not to attract attention
disinterested impartial
draught
a current of air
draw
an even score at the end of a game
dual
having two parts
elicit
to draw out a reply or reaction
to make certain that something
will happen
envelop
to cover or surround
approval; an
admiring
remark
advice; to
counsel
advise
a line of people
queue
or vehicles
(in British
English) the
kerb
stone edge of a
pavement
happening
now; a flow of
current
water, air, or
electricity
to spread over
diffuse
a wide area
the sweet
dessert
course of a
meal
separate and
discrete
distinct
uninterested not interested
a first version
draft
of a piece of
writing
a sliding
drawer
storage
compartment
a fight or
contest
duel
between two
people
not allowed by
illicit
law or rules
to provide
compensation if
insure
a person dies or
property is
damaged
a paper
envelope
container for a
exercise
physical activity; to do physical
activity
exorcise
fawn
a young deer; light brown
faun
flaunt
to display ostentatiously
flout
forbear
foreword
to move clumsily; to have difficulty
doing something
to refrain
an introduction to a book
freeze
to turn to ice
frieze
grisly
gruesome, revolting
grizzly
hoard
a store
horde
imply
to suggest indirectly
infer
loath
reluctant, unwilling
To
unfasten;
to set free;
not fixed in
place
or
tied
up
(e.g.,
“a
loose
tooth‟).
loathe
meter
a measuring device
metre
militate
to be a powerful factor against
mitigate
palate
the roof of the mouth
palette
pedal
a foot-operated lever
peddle
pole
a long, slender piece of wood
poll
pour
to flow or cause to flow
pore
flounder
loose
letter
to drive out an
evil spirit
a mythical
being, part
man, part goat
to disregard a
rule
founder
to fail
forebear
forward
an ancestor
onwards, ahead
a decoration
along a wall
a type of bear
a large crowd of
people
to draw a
conclusion
to hate
lose
to be deprived
of; to be unable
to find
a metric unit;
rhythm in verse
to make less
severe
a board for
mixing colours
to sell goods
voting in an
election
a tiny opening;
to study
something
practice
the use of an idea or method; the
work or business of a doctor,
dentist, etc.
practise
prescribe
to authorize use of medicine; to
order authoritatively
proscribe
principal
most important; the head of a
school
principle
sceptic
a person inclined to doubt
septic
sight
the ability to see
site
stationary
not moving
stationery
storey
a level of a building
story
titillate
to arouse interest
titivate
tortuous
full of twists; complex
torturous
wreath
a ring-shaped arrangement of
flowers etc.
wreathe
closely
to do
something
repeatedly to
gain skill; to do
something
regularly
to officially
forbid
something
a fundamental
rule or belief
infected with
bacteria
a location
writing
materials
a tale or
account
to make more
attractive
full of pain or
suffering
to surround or
encircle
A few more commonly confused words:
Anonymous is an adjective which refers to a name that is not known or not
made known (e.g., “he wrote anonymously in the newspaper‟) or which means
having no outstanding or individual features (e.g., “the building looked rather
anonymous‟).
Unanimous is an adjective meaning to be fully in agreement (e.g., “the decision
was made unanimously‟).
Ante means
meridiem‟).
Anti
means
„before‟
„against‟
(e.g.,
(e.g.,
“ante“anti-
nuclear‟).
Biannual refers to something which occurs twice a
year.
Biennial refers to something which occurs every two
years.
Credible
means
believable.
convincing
or
Creditable means deserving recognition and
praise.
Dependant is a noun which refers to a person who relies on another for
financial support (e.g., “she has three dependants‟).
Dependent is an adjective meaning (1) relying on someone or something for
support
(e.g., “we are dependent on the services offered by that firm‟); (2) determined
or influenced by (e.g., “our decision is dependent on the outcome of the
arbitration‟); or
(3) unable to do without (e.g., “my colleague is dependent on strong
coffee‟).
Omit means to leave something out (e.g., “paragraph 3 should be
omitted‟).
Emit means to discharge something (e.g., “the factory emitted
smoke‟).
Unexceptional means not out of the ordinary (e.g. „his performance in
the examination was unexceptional‟).
Unexceptionable means not able to be objected to but not particularly new or
exciting
(e.g., “the hotel was unexceptionable‟).