MOST COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS - GRAMMAR

 

MOST COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS

IMP	CONFUSED WORDS & MEANINGS
ACCEPT: to agree to receive or do EXCEPT: not including
ADVERSE: unfavourable, harmful AVERSE: strongly disliking; opposed
ADVICE: recommendations about what to do ADVISE: to recommend something
AFFECT: to change or make a difference to EFFECT: a result; to bring about a result
AISLE: a passage between rows of seats ISLE: an island
ALL TOGETHER: all in one place, all at once ALTOGETHER: completely; on the whole
ALONG: moving or extending horizontally on A LONG: referring to something of great length
ALOUD: out loud ALLOWED: permitted
ALTAR: a sacred table in a church ALTER: to change
AMORAL: not concerned with right or wrong IMMORAL: not following accepted moral standards
APPRAISE: to assess APPRISE: to inform someone
ASSENT: agreement, approval ASCENT: the action of rising or climbing up
AURAL: relating to the ears or hearing ORAL: relating to the mouth; spoken
BALMY: pleasantly warm BARMY: foolish, crazy
BARE: naked; to uncover BEAR: to carry; to put up with
BATED: in phrase 'with bated breath', i.e. in great suspense BAITED: with bait attached or inserted
BAZAAR: a Middle Eastern market BIZARRE: strange
BERTH: a bunk in a ship, train, etc. BIRTH: the emergence of a baby from the womb
BORN: having started life BORNE: carried
BOUGH: a branch of a tree BOW: to bend the head; the front of a ship
BRAKE: a device for stopping a vehicle; to stop a vehicle BREAK: to separate into pieces; a pause
BREACH: to break through, or break a rule; a gap BREECH: the back part of a gun barrel
BROACH: to raise a subject for discussion BROOCH: a piece of jewellery
CANVAS: a type of strong cloth CANVASS: to seek people’s votes
CENSURE: to criticize strongly CENSOR: to ban parts of a book or film; a person who does this
CEREAL: a grass producing an edible grain; a breakfast food made from grains SERIAL: happening in a series
CHORD: a group of musical notes CORD: a length of string; a cord-like body part
CLIMACTIC: forming a climax CLIMATIC: relating to climate
COARSE: rough COURSE: a direction; a school subject; part of a meal
COMPLACENT: smug and self-satisfied COMPLAISANT: willing to please
COMPLEMENT: to add to so as to improve; an addition that improves something COMPLIMENT: to praise or express approval; an admiring remark
COUNCIL: a group of people who manage or advise COUNSEL: advice; to advise
CUE: a signal for action; a wooden rod QUEUE: a line of people or vehicles
CURB: to keep something in check; a control or limit KERB: the stone edge of a pavement
CURRANT: a dried grape CURRENT: happening now; a flow of water, air, or electricity
DEFUSE: to make a situation less tense DIFFUSE: to spread over a wide area
DESERT: a waterless, empty area; to abandon someone DESSERT: the sweet course of a meal
DISCREET: careful not to attract attention DISCRETE: separate and distinct
DISINTERESTED: impartial UNINTERESTED: not interested
DRAUGHT: a current of air DRAFT: a first version of a piece of writing
DRAW: an even score at the end of a game DRAWER: a sliding storage compartment
DUAL: having two parts DUEL: a fight or contest between two people
ELICIT: to draw out a reply or reaction ILLICIT: not allowed by law or rules
ENSURE: to make certain that something will happen INSURE: to provide compensation if a person dies or property is damaged
ENVELOP: to cover or surround ENVELOPE: a paper container for a letter
EXERCISE: physical activity; to do physical activity EXORCISE: to drive out an evil spirit
FAWN: a young deer; light brown FAUN: a mythical being, part man, part goat
FLAUNT: to display ostentatiously FLOUT: to disregard a rule
FLOUNDER: to move clumsily; to have difficulty doing something FOUNDER: to fail
FORBEAR: to refrain FOREBEAR: an ancestor
FOREWORD: an introduction to a book FORWARD: onwards, ahead
FREEZE: to turn to ice FRIEZE: a decoration along a wall
GRISLY: gruesome, revolting GRIZZLY: a type of bear
HOARD: a store HORDE: a large crowd of people
IMPLY: to suggest indirectly INFER: to draw a conclusion
LOATH: reluctant, unwilling LOATHE: to hate
LOOSE: to unfasten; to set free LOSE: to be deprived of; to be unable to find
METER: a measuring device METRE: a metric unit; rhythm in verse
MILITATE: to be a powerful factor against MITIGATE: to make less severe
PALATE: the roof of the mouth PALETTE: a board for mixing colours
PEDAL: a foot-operated lever PEDDLE: to sell goods
POLE: a long, slender piece of wood POLL: voting in an election
POUR: to flow or cause to flow PORE: a tiny opening; to study something closely
PRACTICE: the use of an idea or method; the work or business of a doctor, dentist, etc. PRACTISE: to do something repeatedly to gain skill; to do something regularly
PRESCRIBE: to authorize use of medicine; to order authoritatively PROSCRIBE: to officially forbid something
PRINCIPAL: most important; the head of a school PRINCIPLE: a fundamental rule or belief
SCEPTIC: a person inclined to doubt SEPTIC: infected with bacteria
SIGHT: the ability to see SITE: a location
STATIONARY: not moving STATIONERY: writing materials
STOREY: a level of a building STORY: a tale or account
TITILLATE: to arouse interest TITIVATE: to make more attractive
TORTUOUS: full of twists; complex TORTUROUS: full of pain or suffering
WREATH: a ring-shaped arrangement of flowers etc. WREATHE: to surround or encircle
YOKE: a wooden crosspiece for harnessing a pair of oxen YOLK: the yellow center of an egg