Differences between commonly confused words in English. Learn the difference between confusing words in English to improve and expand your vocabulary in English.
In our daily lives, we may come across some words that might seem a little bit confusing. Confusion can arise for multiple reasons, but the most common one is the similarity of the words. In the following paragraphs, we will present to you some of these confusing words, their meaning, usage, and some tips on how to differentiate them in the future.
Difference Between Confusing Words
Here is a useful list of the most commonly misused words in the English language with examples.
Commonly Confused Words | A
- You should adapt to the new class.
- I have decided to adopt a child.
AFFECTIVE vs EFFECTIVE
- They are followed by a very important affective objective.
- We find advertising on the radio very effective.
- Is everything all right?
- Everything is gonna be alright.
AMBIANCE or AMBIENCE
- I like the ambiance of this restaurant.
- The restaurant has a pleasant ambience.
- Shakespeare is a giant among writers.
- A triplet sleeps amongst its two siblings.
- She was amoral but honest.
- It’s immoral to steal.
ANYONE vs ANY ONE
- He never exerts himself to help anyone.
- If any one of your friends knows, please tell them to keep quiet.
- We are averse to such noisy surroundings.
- There were no adverse toxicological effects.
- I read awhile, then slept.
- I’ll be back in a while.
- A thesaurus is a useful aid to writing.
- Vegetables are usually cooked to aid digestion.
- I’m glad to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.
- The defense lawyer made an eloquent plea for his client’s acquittal.
- She was made her father’s attorney when he became ill.
- Sorry, I forgot. You don’t need me anymore.
- We can’t get any more people onto this train.
- The cheetah can attain speeds of up to 97 kph.
- Where can I obtain a copy of her latest book?
Commonly Misused Words | B
- He went and sat beside her.
- I don’t want to go; besides, I’m too tired.
BORROW vs LEND
- Can I borrow a hair dryer?
- Can you lend me your car this evening?
- I asked my boss for a holiday.
- I don’t want to be a leader.
- I’m just going out for a breath of fresh air.
- I don’t have time to breathe.
- The photos brought back some wonderful memories.
- I bought a brick of ice cream for Jimmy.
- He began with a brief introduction.
- Inflation has begun to level off.
- We fed the rabbit some beetroot tops.
- I think they should buy a bunny rabbit.
- His long blond hair was parted in the center.
- His wife was blonde and fashionably thin.
Difference between Confusing Words | C
- Can you tell the difference between apes and monkeys?
- Better pills may have wholesome effects.
- We chose Paul Stubbs to be chairperson.
- Why did you choose to live in London?
COME vs GO
- Could you come and see me tomorrow?
- She was reluctant to go with him.
COMRADERY or CAMARADERIE
- The comradery brings two people closer together.
- The camaraderie was a psychic lifesaver.
- Your conscience should tell you the difference between right and wrong.
- She spoke to us in her conscious moments.
- The school has been in continual use since 1883.
- We must be continuous to study.
- Chocolate is a product of the tropical cacao tree.
- He likes to have a mug of cocoa before bed.
- Zemeckis said he was not certain where he found that clip.
- Found in the car were maps, a machine gun magazine, a length of rope, and a bullwhip.
- He refused to reveal the identity of his client.
- The firm has an excellent customer service department.
- By this criterion, very few people are suitable.
- The bank is reassessing its criteria for lending money.
- The snow presents a concave shape.
- The convex surfaces face toward the left.
- You cannot clap with one hand.
- Roads can not only ruin the countryside but also divide communities.
- A smudge of catsup made the paint on her chin.
- Do you want some ketchup with your burger?
Commonly Misused Words | D
- Few kinds of plants grow in the desert.
- This delicious dessert is easy to make.
- I do it because I like it.
- She does not seem to understand the difference between truth and falsehood.
- She drank her soda through a straw.
- Jack had drunk too much at the party.
- They dreamed of traveling to foreign lands.
- I often dreamt about my hometown.
Commonly Misused Words | E
- You should allocate the same amount of time to each question.
- She sat in the corner, watching my every move.
- The book aims to teach effective essay writing.
- He has an efficient business setup.
- You don’t like apples. I don’t either.
- Neither of the speakers has arrived yet.
- I’ll emigrate to the western woods.
- Tom immigrates into the United State.
- They feel empathy for what he felt.
- I have no sympathy for beggars.
END vs FINISH
- The classes begin and end at fixed times.
- The book was so dull that I didn’t finish it.
- Divorce is very painful, especially when children are concerned.
- The ring was specially made for her.
- This handbook is a neat epitome of everyday hygiene.
- I feel drowsy after lunch every day.
- Everyone will have an opportunity to comment.
- The police questioned everybody in the room.
Commonly Misused Words | F
- A woman contacted me after seeing the flier.
- He knew now that he himself would never have made a flyer.
FORMER vs LATTER
- My former husband is a journalist.
- In the latter stages of the fight, he began to tire.
- You can only gain by further study.
- I am tired and cannot walk any farther.
- I want to buy an engagement ring for my fiancee.
- My fiance and I will tie the knot next April.
- I wish I could start all and turn back to my freshman life.
- Zack and Cody are freshmen at Brooklyn College.
- In the story, the truth was interweaved with fiction.
- Look at nonfiction books published in the last couple of years.
Commonly Confused Words | G
- He speaks English and Spanish as well.
- She can see the difference between good and bad.
- We are grateful for your inquiry of May 23, 1998.
Commonly Confused Words | H
- Do you have any money?
- She has a car that we can borrow.
- That is a great historic opportunity.
- She belongs to the historical society.
HOUSE vs HOME
- The house is on the side of a hill.
- I don’ t want to go home in the dark.
Commonly Confused Words | I
- Tom and I are going to the movies.
- She asked me to bring my homework.
- What do you infer from her refusal?
- What did she imply in her words?
- Check your work to insure its accuracy.
- The price is low to ensure a quick sale.
INTER vs INTRA
- In the meantime, the author also analyses inter–culture labor management.
- We faced keen competition in intra-scholastic basketball games.
- Her words contained an implicit threat.
- They gave explicit reasons for leaving.
- Cut the vegetables into thin strips.
- You need to log in to post a comment.
- You invoke the basic, primeval instincts inherent in all animals.
- His appearance is bound to evoke sympathy.
- Don’t play by the river in case you fall in and drown!
- His broken leg was encased in plaster.
Confusing Words | J
- He broke his brother’s new bike in a fit of jealousy.
- She felt a pang of envy at the thought of his success.
Confusing Words | L
- Several boats lay at anchor in the harbor.
- He went to lie down after a long journey.
- He is paid less than he really earns.
- There seem to be fewer tourists around this year.
- I always lose at cards, with my bad luck.
- These jeans are loose around my waist.
- Lessee uses vehicles for illegal activities.
- The lessor receives capital allowances against tax.
Commonly Confused Words | M
MACRO vs MICRO
- This includes usable samples of the various macro commands.
- How fast does the new micro process the data?
- You may make a difference between the new word and coinages.
- I know it sounds crazy but it just might work.
- There is too much noise in this class.
- How many students are there in each class?
MUST vs HAVE TO
- We must make a difference between the two types of contradiction.
- We all have to make a choice.
- Ms. Kelly is currently assisting another customer. May I help you?
- Mrs. Smith is too contrary to make friends easily.
- Pardon me – I didn’t hear what you said.
- I can express myself in good English.
Commonly Misused Words | N
NET vs GROSS
- Net cash inflow has increased by 20%.
- Investments showed a gross profit of 26%.
Confusing Words | O
- Turn off the light.
- I have a pair of shoes that I bought from London.
ONLINE or ON-LINE
- We planned to build an online database.
- You can book tickets by fax or on-line.
- I’ll get onto the director and see if he can help.
- Record your result, and go on to step 3.
Commonly Confused Words | P
- In the evening possums, owls and bats emerge to feed.
- We had rabbit and squirrel, too, anything but opossum.
- His monthly salary is paid in the bank by his employer.
Commonly Misused Words | R
REVISE vs EDIT
- I’ll have to revise my ideas about Tom.
- She used to edit a women’s magazine.
- The school welcomes children of all races.
- He said his ethnicity had not been important to him.
Commonly Confused Words | S
- Karen had seldom seen him so angry.
- My parents saw me off at the airport.
- We sell quality tools at the right price.
- The shoe shop is having a sale this week.
SO vs SUCH
- I’m so cold I can’t move my fingers.
- I can hardly imagine such a scene.
- He suggested we get together for a drink sometime.
- Give it some time until he adjusts to the new situation.
- I’ll have instant noodle for supper.
- Will you have dinner with me tonight?
- The street began smoky and dark.
- I remember standing in the district court before old Smokey Lewis.
Commonly Misused Words | T
- My dog that is a Labrador loves to play fetch.
- My bike, which has 10 speeds, is for sale.
- Look at the world through rose-colored glasses.
- I can help her get thru it because I did.
Commonly Misused Words | W
- The story was too grotesque to believe.
- They were very ambitious for their children.
- What is the difference between a Romanist and a Christian?
- Which one do you like better?
- Who are you?
- Whom do you believe?
WISDOM vs INTELLIGENCE
- He showed great wisdom in the business.
- The children were given an intelligence test.
- She was a very beautiful woman.
- Women usually live longer than men.
- You are worse than him.
- She is the worst singer I know.
- I wonder why James is always late for school.
- I’ll wander around the mall for half an hour.
List of Commonly Confused Words | Infographic
Confusing Words – Difference Between Commonly Misused Words
Confusing Words – Difference Between Commonly Misused Words
List of Commonly Confused Words
Difference Between Confusing Words
Homophones
In English, homophones are words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings.
British English vs American English
What are the differences between American English vs British English?