Commonly Confused Words.

The following is a list of words which are alike and are often confused. The definitions are simple and not
comprehensive.

Accept Agree to receive or take what is offered

Except Not included
Access Entryway, way in.
Excess Portion that is more than required
Adapt Change or alter according to conditions
Adopt Legally take another's child as your own.
Advice Noun. Guidance offered to an inexperienced person.
Advise Verb. Action of giving advice.
Affect Make a difference to something
Effect Result of something
Aid Assistance or help.
Aide Person who assists
A Lot A large number
Allot Assign to, give out
Already Before the time expected e.g. “You are done already? That was fast”
All Ready Fully prepared
Allusion Hint at something
Illusion “seeing” something that is not there
Amoral Having no morals
Immoral Doing something that society does not consider to be moral
Ante Before
Anti Against
Assent Approval
Ascent Going up, commonly used in mountain climbing
Aural To do with the ear or hearing
Oral To do with speaking or the mouth
Biannual Twice a year
Biennial Every second year
Board Flat piece of wood used in building
Bored Made a hole in something with a drill
Brake To stop a car using mechanical means
Break Do something to stop a thing from operating or being whole. e.g. “Break a cup”
Breach Make a gap or hole in something. e.g. “the dam was breached and the town was flooded”
Breech 1. Part of a gun or rifle 2. type of birth where feet come first
Bridal To do with a bride or woman getting married
Bridle Leather harness on a horse's head
Canvas Type of material
Canvass To go to the people looking for support in an election
Capital 1. Main city in the country 2. money owned by a business
Capitol The building in Washington D.C. in which the American government meet
Carat The unit of weight of gems and precious stones
Caret A line on a page showing where a missing word should go.
Carrot A vegetable
Chord A combination of musical notes
Cord A length of string or rope
Complement Something that looks good with something else e.g. “that hat complements your coat”
Compliment An expression of praise
Confidant Someone you tell your secrets to
Confident Have faith in something. e.g. “I'm confident I'll ass the exam”
Council A group who take decisions on the running of something, usually a town or village
Counsel Advice, especially by a professional.
Coarse Rough
Course Direction as in the aeroplane is on course
Curb To stop or restrain an activity
Kerb The joint between the road and the footpath
Currant Dried grapes used in cooking
Current Up to date
Demur Raise doubts or objections
Demure Modest, shy
Descent Going downwards, descent of the hill
Decent Up to standard
Dissent Raise objections
Desert Dry land where very little grows
Dessert Part of a meal
Device Object used for a particular purpose
Devise Think of a plan
Die Expire, lose life
Dye Change colour
Draft A written report that needs more work
Draught Blast of cold wind in a building
Elicit To encourage a reply or response
Illicit Against the law
Eminent Respected
Imminent Very close to happening
Envelop To wrap around
Envelope Paper pocket for putting letters for mailing
Especially Very much, a great deal
Specially Something different from the normal
Faze Disturb the composure
Phase A period or stage in a process
Flammable Easily set on fire
Inflammable Easily set on fire (yes they mean the same thing)
Formally According to the rules of convention or etiquette
Formerly In the past
Forth Forwards or onwards
Fourth 4th , of the number 4 in a line
Forward Onward, in the direction you are facing
Foreword An introduction to a book
Hangar Shed for storing aircraft
Hanger An item for hanging clothes in a wardrobe
Hoard A collection of money or other valuables
Horde Group of people usually not behaving very well
Hole Puncture or opening.
Whole Complete
Its Used to show possession e.g. “its coat”
It's Contraction for it is or it has
Know Have knowledge or understanding
No Opposite of yes
Lead Verb Make one or more follow you.
Lead Noun. A Metal. Pronounced Led
Led Past tense of Lead
Licence Noun. A permit to do or own something
License Verb. To authorise or to grant a licence for something
Loath Unwilling
Loathe Hatred
Loose Not tight or tied
Lose Verb Past Tense of Lost. Unable to find or no longer have
Medal Badge or award worn on chest or around neck.
Meddle Verb To interfere, to intrude in someone's business.
Meter A machine that measures and records amount or rate of flow
Metre 100 centimetres
Naval To do with the navy.
Navel The hole in your belly caused by the cutting of your umbilical cord
Omit Left out
Emit Let go or discharge especially a gas or sound
Palate The roof of your mouth
Palette A thin board on which an artist mixes his paints
Pallet A wooden or plastic stand on which goods are stacked for transportation
Patients Sick or unwell people
Patience Ability to tolerate delay or trouble without getting upset
Peace Tranquillity
Piece Portion or section as in a piece of bread
Peak Top of a mountain, especially pointed top
Peek To spy. To have a quick look
Pique 1. Stimulate an interest. 2. Feel hurt and resentful
Pedal Noun. Footrest on a bicycle Verb. Action of moving a bicycle using pedals
Peddle To sell goods especially going from market to market
Peer 1. to look with difficulty. 2. Member of classed society (Lord, Duke)
Pier Wall leading out to sea where boats tie up.
Pole 1. North or South Pole 2. a long thin rounded piece of wood or metal
Poll An election or record of the number of votes in an election
Practice Noun. A profession
Practise Verb. Do a skill over and over to improve
Pray Talk to god usually with hands together
Prey Something being hunted, usually for food.
Principal 1. head of a school 2. sum of money invested 3. the main or most important
Principle A fundamental truth or belief
Quiet Adjective. Little or no noise
Quite Adverb. To a certain degree e.g. quite slow or quite fast
Rain Moisture falling from the sky in drops.
Reign Period of rule by a king or queen.
Rein Strap used to guide a horse.
Read Verb Present Tense. To look at and understand written words
Reed Dried plant stem used in thatching (roofing)
Read Verb. Past Tense. To have looked at and understood written words. Pronounced Red
Red Colour
Real Actually existing, not artificial
Reel 1. part of a fishing rod where the line is kept. 2. Celtic dance.
Right 1. Opposite of left. 2. correct, not wrong
Rite Religious ceremony.
Write Put words on paper using a pen.
Role Actor's part in a play.
Roll Noun. 1. List of names. 2. small loaf of bread. Verb to turn over as in “roll the dice”
Scene Part of a play
Seen Observed
Sensor A devise for detecting movement or noise
Censer A container in which incense is burnt
Censor A person who judges books and films for their suitability
Censure Express strong disapproval
Shear To take wool off sheep, to cut with a scissors
Sheer 1. straight drop (cliff) 2. see through cloth 3. Nothing but e.g. sheer hard work
Shone Verb Past Tense. To Give out bright light e.g. “the sun shone down”
Shown Verb Past Tense. Made something visible
Sight Power of seeing
Site Location
Cite Quote a passage in a book
Stationary In a stopped position
Stationery To do with pens, pencils, paper, envelopes
Storey Floors in a building
Story Tale
Team Group of people acting together
Teem (to do with rain) To fall heavily or pour down
Than Used in comparing things. e.g. “One is taller than the other”
Then 1. at that time 2. after that
Their Belonging to them e.g. their coats
There In that place
They're Contraction They are
To Preposition. Expressing direction e.g. to him, to the door
Too 1. Also, in addition 2. greater degree than is safe or permitted e.g. too fast
Two Number 2
Waist Part of your body below the ribs and above the hips
Waste Fail to make good or full use of something causing it to be thrown away