Many pairs of words sound alike or nearly alike, but each has a different meaning. For example, affect means to influence something, while effect means the result of something. Words like these can be easily confused with each other.
You must be careful to use the correct word from a pair of such confusing words when you are writing and speaking. If not, you may express something different than what you mean to express.
For example, suppose you are writing about the importance of a good marriage. You write that martial bliss is a wonderful thing. The word martial refers to war. You should have written that marital bliss is a wonderful thing. The word marital refers to marriage.
You wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself by addressing a letter to the administrator of your school as “Dear Principle .” The word principle means a fundamental truth. You should write “Dear Principal .” The word principal refers to the head of a school.
Here are some word pairs that are commonly confused. Learn the meanings of each of the words so that you use them correctly.
Accept – to take something that is given to you
Except – to leave out
Altar – a raised place used in religious services
Alter – to change
Ascent – to climb
Assent – to agree
Brake – a device for stopping or slowing a vehicle
Break – to come apart
Cite – to document
Site – a place
Coarse – rough
Course – moving from one point to the next
Complement – something that makes a thing whole or perfect
Compliment – to praise
Conscience – a sense of right and wrong
Conscious – state of being awake
Descent – coming from a higher place to a lower one
Dissent – to disagree
Desert – a dry, hot, sandy area
Dessert – the sweet final part of a meal
Device – something made for a certain purpose
Devise – to invent something or develop a plan
Elicit – to bring out
Illicit – illegal
Eminent – famous or well respected
Imminent – about to happen
Faint – weak
Feint – a movement meant to deceive
Forth – forward
Fourth – an ordinal number
Here – at or in a place
Hear – to receive sound through one’s ears
Hoard – to save and store away
Horde – a very large group
Hole – an opening through something
Whole – an entire thing
Loath – reluctant
Loathe – greatly dislike
Palate – the roof of the mouth
Palette – an artist’s board for mixing paints
Peace – absence of fighting
Piece – a portion of something
Plain – clearly seen, heard, or understood
Plane – a flat surface
Pore – a very small opening in the skin
Pour – to cause something to flow
Precede – to come before
Proceed – to go forward
Shear – to cut the wool off a sheep
Sheer – so thin you can see through it
Stationary – to stand still
Stationery – writing paper
Waist – the part of the human body between the ribs and the hips
Waste – to use or spend carelessly
Weak – without strength
Week – a period of seven days
Don’t be CONFUSED! Learn the meanings of these words to use them correctly.