Commonly Confused Words

Question 1

Accept vs Except

Answer 1

Accept – Verb, Receive

Except – Excluding

Question 2

Access vs Excess

Answer 2

Access – Verb, Gain entrance to; Noun, The right to enter or approach

Excess – Noun, Adjective, Too much

Question 3

Advice vs Advise

Answer 3

Advice – Noun, Recommendation, suggestion.

Advise – Verb, To make a recommendation or suggestion

Question 4

Affect vs Effect

Answer 4

Affect – Verb, To have an impact

Effect – Noun, impact

Question 5

Aisle vs Isle

Answer 5

Aisle – Space between a row of chairs

Isle – Island

Question 6

Allusion vs Illusion

Answer 6

Allusion – Reference

Illusion – Fantasy

Question 7

Allude (to) vs Elude

Answer 7

Allude (to) – Refer (to)

Elude – Avoid, Evade

Question 8

Ascent vs Assent

Answer 8

Ascent – Noun, Upward movement

Assent – Agreement

Question 9

Brake vs Break

Answer 9

Brake – Device that has a slowing/stopping effect

Break – Rest or relief

Question 10

Breadth vs Breath vs Breathe

Answer 10

Breadth – Size, Width

Breath – Noun, What comes out your mouth when you breathe

Breathe – Verb, To inhale and exhale

Question 11

Censor vs Censure

Answer 11

Censor – Remove offensive or inappropriate parts

Censure – Punish

Question 12

Cite vs Site vs Sight

Answer 12

Cite – Verb, Reference
Site – Noun, Location
Sight – Noun, Ability to see

Question 13

Collaborate vs Corroborate

Answer 13

Collaborate – Work with

Corroborate – Confirm, make certain

Question 14

Conscience vs Conscious

Answer 14

Conscience – Noun, Inner sense of right and wrong (Noun form = conscientious)

Conscious – Adjective, Awareness (Noun form = consciousness)

Question 15

Council vs Counsel

Answer 15

Council – Noun, Governing body

Counsel – Noun, Advice/opinion; Verb, To advise

Question 16

Creak vs Creek

Answer 16

Creak – Harsh or squeaking sound

Creek – Small body of water

Question 17

Desert vs Dessert

Answer 17

Desert – Dry, sandy region

Dessert – A sweet

Question 18

Device vs Devise

Answer 18

Device – Noun, Object with a specific function

Devise – Verb, Invent, come up with

Question 19

Decent vs Descent vs Dissent

Answer 19

Decent – Adjective, Respectable, fair

Descent – Noun, Go down

Dissent – Noun, Go against popular opinion

Question 20

Elicit vs Illicit

Answer 20

Elicit – Draw out

Illicit – Illegal, not permitted

Question 21

Eminent vs Imminent

Answer 21

Eminent – Well-known

Imminent – About to occur

Question 22

Emit vs Omit

Answer 22

Emit – Give off, discharge

Omit – Remove, leave out

Question 23

Fair vs Fare

Answer 23

Fair – Just, ethical

Fare – n., (1) Particular type of food; (2) cost of a travel ticket, e.g. bus fare; (3) v. To manage (in a difficult situation), make do

Question 24

Faze vs Phase

Answer 24

Faze – To be disturbed

Phase – Period, length of time

Question 25

Find vs Found

Answer 25

Find – To locate | Found – To establish

Question 26

Formally vs Formerly

Answer 26

Formally – In a refined manner | Formerly – In the past

Question 27

Hardly vs Heartily

Answer 27

Hardly – Barely | Heartily – Without restraint, energetically

Question 28

Heard vs Herd

Answer 28

Heard – Past tense of hear | Herd – Group of animals

Question 29

Imply vs Infer

Answer 29

Imply – Suggest. | Infer – Draw a conclusion

Question 30

(In)credible vs (In)credulous

Answer 30

(In)credible – (Un)believable | (In)credulous – (Dis)believing

Question 31

Influence vs Affluence

Answer 31

Influence – Effect | Affluence – Wealth

Question 32

Later vs Latter

Answer 32

Later – Adverb, Afterward Latter – Adjective, The second thing mentioned (e.g. Between chocolate and vanilla ice cream, I prefer the latter.)

Question 33

Lay vs Lie

Answer 33

Lay – Set an object down. This verb is followed by a noun, e.g. To lay a book on the table. Lie – To recline. This verb is not followed by a noun, e.g. I am going to lie down for a few minutes before dinner.

Question 34

Led vs Lead

Answer 34

Led – Past tense of “to lead” | Lead – 1) Infinitive form of “to lead;” 2)

Question 35

Lessen vs Lesson

Answer 35

Lessen – Verb, Reduce | Lesson – Noun, Something that is taught

Question 36

Loose vs Lose

Answer 36

Loose – Adjective, roomy | Lose – Verb, The opposite of win

Question 37

Manner vs Manor

Answer 37

Manner – Behavior or way of acting | Manor – Estate

Question 38

Passed vs Past

Answer 38

Passed – Past tense of to pass | Past – Noun, Earlier time

Question 39

Peace vs Piece

Answer 39

Peace – Calm, harmony | Piece – Section, portion

Question 40

Peak vs Peek

Answer 40

Peak – Noun, Highest point | Peek – Verb, To look quickly, glimpse

Question 41

Plain vs Plane

Answer 41

Plain – Adjective, Simple, not fancy | Plane – Noun, Flat surface or airplane

Question 42

Persecute vs Prosecute

Answer 42

Persecute – Harass or torment a person because of their characteristics or beliefs Prosecute – Conduct legal proceedings against someone

Question 43

Perspective vs Prospective

Answer 43

Perspective – Point of view | Prospective – Potential

Question 44

Precede vs Proceed

Answer 44

Precede – Come before | Proceed – To go forward, carry on

Question 45

Pore vs Poor vs Pour

Answer 45

Pore – Verb, To read or study with great attention (pore over) Poor – Adjective, Lacking money Pour – Verb, To send a liquid flowing (e.g. pour a glass of milk)

Question 46

Principal vs Principle

Answer 46

Principal – Most important | Principle – Accepted rule

Question 47

Reign vs Rein

Answer 47

Reign – Noun, Period of rule Rein – Noun, Leather straps used to control a horse; Verb, To control or curb (rein in)

Question 48

Respectfully vs Respectively

Answer 48

Respectfully – In a polite manner Respectively – Pertaining to individuals in sequence, e.g. The book and magazine belong respectively to my brother and sister. This means that the book (mentioned first) belongs to the brother (mentioned first) and the magazine (mentioned second) belongs to the sister (mentioned second).

Question 49

Role vs Roll

Answer 49

Role – Noun, Part or character | Roll – Verb, Move on a wheel

Question 50

Statue vs Statute

Answer 50

Statue – Three-dimensional work of art | Statute – Law or regulation

Question 51

Tenant vs Tenet

Answer 51

Tenant – Person who lives in a particular dwelling | Tenet – Principle or doctrine

Question 52

Than vs Then

Answer 52

Than – Used for comparisons. My brother is two years older than I am. Then – Used to indicate sequence. We went to the movie, and then we went home.

Question 53

Wave vs Waive

Answer 53

Wave – Move back forth, flutter Waive – Give up one’s right to something

Question 54

Adverse vs Averse

Answer 54

Adverse - adj. difficult, challenging Averse - adj. having a strong dislike for

Question 55

Assure vs Ensure

Answer 55

Assure - v. To state positively and confidently Ensure - v. To make certain something will happen

Question 56

Exacerbate vs Exaggerate

Answer 56

Exacerbate - v. To make worse Exaggerate - v. To describe in an overly extreme way

Question 57

To vs Too

Answer 57

To - prep. Indicated direction (e.g. they go to work) Too - adv. also