Confusing Words and Homonyms
The English language contains many groups of words which can have more than one meaning, even though they may be spelt and/or pronounced the same. These words can be the source of some confusion for learners. For example, you may read a word which you recognise from its spelling but which in the context may not be used in the sense that you are familiar with. Equally, you may hear a word that sounds familiar but which is used by the speaker in a way that is unfamiliar to you.
An important aspect of vocabulary learning, therefore, is to be aware of these kinds of words and to familiarise yourself with the ones that are in common use, especially in academic contexts
Confusable words.
English is full of words, which sound the same or similar yet have different meaning and are easily confused. A computer spell checker will not highlight a word that is spelled correctly but used incorrectly. If you are uncertain about the correct spelling of a particular word, the only way to be certain is to look the word up in a dictionary and check the definition so you know you are using the correct word. Below are some commonly confused words with their definitions and examples of their use.
Whether - is used in indirect questions to introduce one alternative.
Weather - is a noun meaning the state of the atmosphere at a given time and place.
I'm not sure whether he is from Bolton or from Blackpool.
I am certain that the weather is going to be fantastic tomorrow.
Affect - is a verb meaning to have an influence on
Effect - is a noun meaning a cause of change brought about by an agent.
Poor grammar may affect your essay marks.
Poor grammar had a huge effect on his academic achievements.
Uninterested means to find something boring or dull.
Disinterested means impartial.
I am uninterested in this book; it is totally boring.
The judge and jury are personally disinterested in the outcome of the case.
Loose - is an adjective meaning not fastened, contained or restrained.
Lose - is a verb and has many meanings such as not to win, to mislay etc
That roof tile is loose and might fall at any minute.
You must not lose that cheque.
Cite - is a verb meaning to quote as an authority or example.
Sight - is a noun meaning the ability to see or something that is seen.
Site - is a noun meaning a place or setting of something.
In a good essay, it is important to cite expert opinion.
In his old age he had poor sight.
This would be a good site for a new golf course.
Allowed - this is the past participle of the verb to allow and means given permission.
Aloud - this is an adjective and means using a (loud) voice.
You are not allowed to go to the cinema this evening.
He was asked to read the poem aloud.
Comprise - is a verb meaning to consist of or be composed of.
Compose - to make up the constituent parts of.
The USA comprises 50 states.
The USA is composed of 50 states.
Accept - is a verb and has many meanings among which are to receive something.
Except - is a preposition meaning 'with the exclusion of'.
I would like you to accept this gift.
All his friends came to the party except Jim who was in hospital.
Elicit - is a verb meaning to bring or draw out/gather information.
Illicit - is an adjective meaning not sanctioned by custom or law.
I tried to elicit information from my interviewees.
The football manager was involved in an illicit affair.
Imply - To express or indicate indirectly.
Infer - To conclude from evidence or premises.
Somebody will imply something and the recipient of the implication will infer from it.
She tried to imply that I could not understand the question.
From what he said, I was able to infer that he did not understand the situation.
Incredible - so implausible as to elicit disbelief/astonishing
Incredulous - sceptical of disbelieving.
The golden tower was utterly incredible.
When I first saw the tower I was utterly incredulous.
Passed - this is the past tense of the verb to pass.
Past - the time before the present, no longer current.
He passed the ball to the striker.
He hoped that the unfortunate incident was now firmly in the past.
Historic -means having importance in or influence on history.
Historical - means 'of or relating to the character of history.'
It was a wet day when Cook set off on his historic voyage.
The archaeological find was of major historical significance.
Assert - to express or maintain positively/affirm.
Ensure - to make sure or certain.
Assure - to give confidence/remove doubt.
He was very keen to assert his innocence.
I wanted to ensure that the car would be ready on time.
The mechanic was able to assure me that my car would be ready on time.
Complement - to complete, make whole or bring to perfection.
Compliment - an expression of praise, admiration or congratulation.
The wine complemented the fish perfectly.
The guests complimented her on the lovely meal.
Precede - to come before in time or rank.
Proceed - to go forward or onwards.
The abstract should precede the main body of the report.
I instructed him to proceed with the research.
Advice - is the noun
Advise - is the verb.
She gave me some good advice about the problem of noisy neighbours.
I asked him to advise me about my noisy neighbours.
Your - means belonging to you.
You're - is the contracted form of 'you are'.
Are these smelly things your shoes?
You're going to have to get rid of these shoes, they're beyond repair.
Loath - reluctant or unwilling
Loathe - to hate or detest.
I am loath to finish this report; I am uninterested in the subject.
I loathe this room; the wallpaper will have to be changed.
Climactic - relating to or resulting in a climax.
Climatic - relating to the climate.
The war was described as a climactic event.
While planning the voyage, he paid close attention to the climatic conditions.
Dependent - relying on or requiring the aid of another.
Dependant - one who relies on another especially for financial support.
I am dependent on my supervisor for some good advice.
He wanted to emigrate with his wife and all his dependants.
Council - an assembly or collection of persons.
Counsel - (to give) advice, opinions or advice.
He was elected to represent his class on the school council.
I would counsel you to pay the fine and draw a line under the matter.
Prophesy - to reveal by divine inspiration.
Prophecy - an inspired utterance of a prophet.
The mystic used to sit beneath the waterfall and prophesy.
He would sit next to the waterfall and deliver his prophecy.
Stationary - not moving.
Stationery - office supplies.
The broken down car was stationary.
Finding he had run out of pencils, Mr Bush ordered more stationery.
Economic - of or relating to the economy.
Economical - thrifty and prudent in management.
The country was experiencing a period of sustained economic growth.
The minister was accused of being somewhat economical with the truth.
More confusing words and their rules
dam damn |
a barrier obstructing the flow of liquid a swear word or curse |
dammed damned |
blocked from flowing doomed |
days daze |
24-hour periods of time to stun or overwhelm |
dear deer |
affectionate term the animal |
| denote (see connote) | |
desert (noun, verb) dessert |
a desolate area; to abandon extra “s” for sugary treat |
desperate disparate |
lost all hope, in despair entirely dissimilar |
device (noun) devise (verb) |
an invention to invent |
dew do due |
condensation in the morning to take action owed by a certain date |
die dye |
to cease to live; the singular of dice to stain or color using an agent |
discreet discrete |
careful, confidential individual, distinct |
discussed disgust |
talked over repulsion |
does does |
female deer (plural) (pronounced like "hose") a form of "to do" (pronounced like "fuzz") |
doughs doze |
unbaked loaves of bread to sleep |
dual duel |
two-fold fight |
| eager (see anxious) | |
| effect (see affect) | |
e.g.
i.e. |
for example Example: My living expenses have increased, e.g., rent, food, and utilities. that is, in other words Example: My living expenses have drained my finances, i.e., I have less money in the bank at the end of every month. |
| eight (see ate) | |
elicit illicit |
evoke, extract, draw out illegal |
| elude (see allude) | |
elusive illusive |
difficult to describe, evasive Example: The point of the novel is elusive to me. plausible or possible; deceptive Example: She had the illusive dream of finding happiness by traveling. (plausible, possible) |
emigrate immigrate |
to exit one country in order to live in another country to enter a new country to live |
empathy sympathy |
to understand another's feelings to feel compassion or sadness for another |
| ensure (see assure) | |
epic epoch |
saga a period of time, an age |
| err (see air) | |
every day everyday |
each day Example: I learn something new every day. ordinary Example: These are my everyday clothes. |
| except (see accept) | |
| eye (see aye) | |
facts fax |
objective data short for “facsimile”; technology that sends images by phone |
faint feint |
to go unconscious pretense |
fair (adjective, noun) fare |
impartial; an exhibition payment or expense for travel |
fairy ferry |
imaginary being possessing magical powers type of boat |
farther further |
Refers to physical distance Example: We had to walk farther than the map indicated. Refers to nonphysical distance Examples: We need to discuss this further. |
faux foe |
fake, imitation enemy, opponent |
faze phase |
to perturb or fluster a period or situation |
feat feet |
an extraordinary act or accomplishment twelve inch increments; appendages at end of legs |
feted fetid |
celebrated, honored noxious, gross |
fewer less |
refers to a number that can be counted (fewer days off) refers to an uncountable amount (less rain, less fear) |
find fined |
discover penalized |
fir fur |
type of tree hairy coat of an animal |
flair flare |
style erupt |
flea flee |
insect to run away |
flew flu flue |
past tense of “fly,” to have moved through the air with wings a virus part of a chimney |
floe flow |
sheet of floating ice pour, proceed, spew |
flour flower |
grain the bloom of a plant |
for fore four |
the preposition ahead the number after “three” |
forego forgo |
to go in front of, precede to do without |
foreword forward |
introduction to a book written by someone other than the author opposite of “backward” |
fort forte |
a military fortification someone’s strong point, talent |
forth fourth |
forward number after “third” |
foul fowl |
offensive, disgusting certain birds |
frees freeze frieze |
releases to make cold a decorative band on the wall |
| further (see farther) | |
gait gate |
a manner of walking or stepping, stride Example: trotting, galloping, limping barrier |
gilt guilt |
gold-covered blame |
gone
went |
used with “has” or “have” Examples: Ella has gone to the store. Barry and Ella have gone to the beach. past tense of "go" Examples: Ella went to the store. Barry and Ellen went to the beach. |
gored gourd |
stabbed with a horn or tusk hard-shelled fruit |
gorilla guerrilla |
largest of apes soldier using surprise raids, irregular tactics |
graft graphed |
attach; acquisition of money dishonestly diagrammed |
grate great |
a cover or partition of parallel or crossed bars excellent |
grill grille |
method of cooking; barbecuing an openwork barrier for a gate |
groan grown |
a low, mournful sound of pain or grief to have increased in size |
guessed guest |
conjectured, offered an opinion company, honoree |
guise guys |
appearance or assumed appearance men |
hair hare |
what grows on one’s head and body rabbit |
hall haul |
passageway or large room to pull, drag, or lower |
halve have |
divide into two to possess |
hangar hanger |
shed or shelter for housing airplanes something to hang a garment on in the closet |
haut or haute hoe |
high class, fancy as in haute couture (pronounced “oh” or “oht”) flat-bladed gardening tool |
| have v. of | “should’ve,” “could’ve,” and “would’ve” are contractions for “should have,” “could have,” and “would have.” No such wording as “should of,” “could of,” “would of” |
hay hey |
dried grass interjection used to call attention |
heal heel |
to alleviate or cure back part of the foot; scoundrel |
healthful healthy |
something that promotes health Example: Organic food is thought to be healthful. to have good health |
hear here |
to listen; to give an official hearing in this spot |
heard herd |
listened a flock of animals |
| heir (see air) | |
heroin heroine |
a narcotic derived from morphine female admired for courage or ability |
hi high |
a greeting, informal "hello" elevated |
higher hire |
more elevated to pay for services |
him hymn |
pronoun referring to male person or animal song in praise of religious deity |
hoard horde |
stockpile, amass a large group, crowd |
hoarse horse |
cracked voice animal |
hoes hose |
flat-bladed gardening tools a flexible tube for conveying liquid |
hole whole |
an opening entire, complete |
holy wholly |
religious entirely, completely |
hostel hostile |
boarding house or inexpensive lodging antagonistic |
hour our |
sixty minutes possessive pronoun |
| I (see aye) | |
idle idol idyll |
not active; unemployed someone admired interlude, breathing space; romance, fairy tale |
| i.e. (see e.g.) | |
| I'll (see aisle) | |
| illicit (see elicit) | |
| illude (see allude) | |
| illusion (see allusion) | |
| illusive (see elusive) | |
| immigrate (see emigrate) | |
imply infer |
to indicate without being explicit to conclude from evidence |
in inn |
preposition; inside small hotel |
inc. ink |
abbreviation for “incorporated” fluid in pens |
incite insight |
to prompt to action understanding, comprehension |
incredible incredulous |
astonishing Example: Her gymnastic moves were incredible. skeptical Example: Citizens are incredulous about the reason for the increase in the price of gas. |
ingenious ingenuous |
clever naive or simple |
innocence innocents |
to be without guilt people who are without guilt |
| insure (see assure) | |
irregardless regardless |
no such word exists in spite of, without regard |
| isle (see aisle) | |
it's its |
contraction for “it is” Example: It’s for a good cause. possessive pronoun Example: The cat hurt its paw. |
jewel joule |
gem in physics, a unit of work or energy |
| karat (see carat) | |
| kernel (see colonel) | |
| key (see cay) | |
knead kneed need |
work with bread dough hit with one’s knee to require |
knew new |
past tense of “know,” to have understood opposite of “old” |
knight night |
a soldier in the Middle Ages period between sunset and sunrise |
knot not |
interlacing of cord or rope used to express negation |
know no |
understand, comprehend a negative to express dissent |
knows nose |
understands part of the body one smells with |
sacks sax |
large bags saxophone |
saver savor |
one who saves to appreciate a taste |
scene seen |
a view, a setting to have viewed with eyes |
| scent (see cent) | |
sea see |
a body of salt water to view with eyes |
seam seem |
line formed by pieces of fabric sewn together appear |
sear seer sere |
scorch, burn, or char one who sees (as in the future) withered, dry |
seas sees seize |
bodies of salt water views with eyes to grab hold of |
| seed (see cede) | |
| sell (see cell) | |
| semiannual (see biannual) | |
| sensor (see censor) | |
| sent (see cent) | |
serf surf (noun, verb) |
slave breaking waves; to ride a surfboard |
| serial (see cereal) | |
set sit |
one sets a thing Example: Please set the table. one sits oneself Example: Please sit down at the table. |
sew so sow |
to stitch in the manner indicated to scatter or plant seed |
sewer suer |
a conduit for carrying off waste one who sues |
shear sheer |
to cut transparent |
shoe shoo |
foot attire interjection used to scare away an animal |
| shoot (see chute) | |
sic
sick |
a Latin term used to indicate that something written is intentionally left in the original form, which may be incorrect Example: She wrote, "They made there [sic] beds." ill |
sics six |
attacks a number |
| sight (see cite) | |
sign sine |
an indication a trigonometry term |
sink synch or sync |
to submerge; to descend to a lower level to synchronize, to coincide or match up |
| site (see cite) | |
slay sleigh |
kill snow vehicle, sled |
sleight slight |
cunning, skill slender, of little substance |
slew slough |
past tense of “slay” swamp |
soar sore |
to fly at great height in pain |
soared sword |
flew at great height a bladed weapon |
sole soul |
front of foot; alone the spiritual part of humans |
some sum |
a certain unspecified number the total from adding numbers |
son sun |
male offspring star that is the central body of the solar system |
sonny sunny |
diminutive of son lit or warmed by the sun; cheerful |
spade spayed |
digging tool to have removed the ovaries of an animal |
staid stayed |
solemn, serious remained, waited |
stair stare |
step to look without blinking |
stake steak |
a pole cut of meat |
stationary stationery |
in one place writing paper |
steal steel (noun, adjective) |
rob iron alloy; determined |
step (verb, noun) steppe |
moving by lifting the foot; degree vast grasslands |
stile style |
turnstile, passageway fashion |
straight strait |
not curved or bent narrow passage of water connecting two bodies of water |
succor sucker |
relief, assistance fool |
suede swayed |
leather finished with a soft, napped surface past tense of “sway”; persuaded |
suite sweet |
a connected series of rooms opposite of “sour” |
summary summery |
an abstract or brief account of the summer |
sundae Sunday |
ice cream with syrup day of the week |
| sympathy (see empathy) | |
tacks tax |
short nails percent of earnings paid to the government |
tail tale |
hindmost animal appendage story |
| take (see bring) | |
tare tear |
allowance for the weight of packaging rip, pull apart |
taught taut |
past tense of “teach” tightly stretched |
tea tee |
a beverage a peg from which a golf ball is hit |
team teem |
group playing on the same side in a game swarm |
tear tier |
salt water coming from eyes when sad a row or layer |
tense tents |
nervous strain portable shelters used for camping |
than then |
used for comparison indicates time, answers “when?” |
their there they're |
possessive pronoun location contraction for “they are” |
threw through |
past tense of “throw” in one end and out the other |
throes throws |
agonizing struggles tosses, hurls |
throne thrown |
royal seat or office was tossed |
thyme time |
herb of the mint family past, present, future sequences of events |
ticks tics |
parasites, sounds of a clock facial twitches |
tide tied |
ebb and flow of the ocean past tense of “tie” |
to too two |
in the direction of, toward also, to an extensive degree Example: It is too hot to jog. the number after “one” |
toad toed towed |
similar to a frog having a toe pulled, hauled |
told tolled |
said sounded a bell |
tort torte |
a breach of contract a rich cake made with little or no flour |
tracked tract |
followed an extended area of land; a political or religious pamphlet |
troop troupe |
a body of soldiers a group of traveling performers |
vain vane vein |
excessively concerned about one’s appearance a blade moved by wind as in a weather vane blood vessel |
vary very |
to change or alter extremely |
verses versus |
lines of poetry as compared to another choice; against |
vial vile |
small container for holding liquids repulsive, depraved |
vice vise |
bad habit; immoral practice device used to hold an object firmly |
wade weighed |
to walk through water to have put on a scale |
wail whale |
mournful cry marine mammal |
waist waste |
narrowest part of the human torso (usually) to squander or spend uselessly |
wait weight |
to be available or ready quantity of heaviness or mass |
waiver waver |
a relinquishment of some right to feel indecisive; vary |
wear where |
to carry on the body in what place? |
warn worn |
to notify carried on the body; deteriorated |
warrantee warranty |
person who is given a written guarantee written guarantee |
way weigh |
direction to measure mass |
we're were |
contraction for “we are” past tense of “are” |
we've weave |
contraction for “we have” to interlace thread or yarn to make a fabric |
weak week |
lacking strength seven days starting with Sunday |
| went (see gone) | |
wheeled wield |
moved on wheels to exercise power; to handle a weapon effectively |
weather whether |
state of the atmosphere in a location if |
which witch |
what one? sorceress |
while wile |
during or in the time that a trick to fool, trap, or entice |
whine wine |
complaining cry fermented grape juice that becomes an alcoholic beverage |
whined wind wined |
past tense of “whine,” complained what one does to keep a watch ticking on time (pronounced like "kind"); air current (pronounced like "sinned") to supply with wine |
whirled world |
spun rapidly planet Earth |
| whole (see hole) | |
| wholly (see holy) | |
who's whose |
contraction for “who is” Example: Who’s at the door? possessive case of “who” Example: Whose coat is this? |
| won (see one) | |
won't wont (adjective, noun) |
contraction for “will not” accustomed; habit |
wood would |
tree trunk material expressing an intention (would if I could) |
| wrap (see rap) | |
| wrapped (see rapt) | |
| wreak (see reek) | |
| wrest (see rest) | |
| wretch (see retch) | |
| wring (see ring) | |
| write (see right) | |
| wrote (see rote) | |
| wrought (see rot) | |
| wry (see rye) | |
yoke yolk |
harness for oxen yellow center of an egg |
yore you're your |
long past contraction for “you are” possessive pronoun |