Recently Added Articles Page #36

Taut vs. Taunt

People make a lot of mistakes while speaking or writing English. Sometimes they are spelling mistakes, sometimes mistakes of homophones and sometimes a wrong word is used instead of the right word if they are extremely alike. Taunt and taut are examp...

Vicious vs. Viscous

The Government targeted the vicious cycle of poverty. The viscous fluid passing through the pipe entered the room. The words vicious and viscous, though not homophones, have extremely similar spellings and thus are often mistaken for each other by ma...

A lot vs. allot

Karl needed a lot of time for the job. He allotted three breaks a day to everyone in the department. A lot, alot, and allot only differ by a few spaces or letters. However, all of the terms function differently. Let’s investigate how to use each on...

Wet vs. Whet

He put on a wet bathing suit. The aroma whet my appetite. Are you wondering whether its  “whet your whistle” and “wet your appetite,”? Neither is correct. Most people’s lips don’t need to be any sharper, and appetites aren’t arouse...

Waver vs. Waiver

I needed a waiver from the zoning board for the house because the lot was so small, but they let me build because it was next to the park. Hermione could hear Ron’s broomstick wavering in the brisk winds. This article will throw light on both the w...

Vicious vs. Viscous

The Government targeted the vicious cycle of poverty. The viscous fluid passing through the pipe entered the room. The words vicious and viscous, though not homophones, have extremely similar spellings and thus are often mistaken for each other by ma...

Venal vs. Venial

Catholics everywhere are confused: do they commit venal sins or venial sins? And what is a venal/venial sin anyway? Whether they're Catholic or not, many writers are just as confused. Consider the sentences below: A venal police officer approached m...

Throws vs. Throes

The words throes and throws are homophones: they sound alike but have different meanings. The plural noun throes means a great struggle or a condition of agonizing pain or trouble. The idiom in the throes of means in the midst of some painful or diff...

Rifle vs. Riffle

Rifle vs. Riffle: Navigating Distinctions in Terminology Understanding the differences between "rifle" and "riffle" involves recognizing variations in usage and meaning in different contexts. This article aims to clarify the distinctions between "rif...

Retch vs. Wretch

The English language doesn’t seem to be lacking in synonyms for the verb “vomit.” We have “upchuck,” “puke,” “hurl,” “heave,” and “retch,” to name a few. So do we really need to add another one, even if only as an alternate ...

Raise vs. Raze

Homophones are words that share the same pronunciation but differ in spelling and meaning, such as to, too, two; and so, sew, and sow. Homophones and confusingly similar words are the stuff that malapropisms are made of. A malapropism is the unintent...

Perspective vs. Prospective

Perspective” and “prospective” constitute a great example of paronyms. The two words have very similar spellings, that are written and pronounced with a high degree of similitude, but which have different lexical meanings and grammatical functi...

Peer vs. Pier

Pier and peer are homophones, meaning they sound alike but are spelled differently, and mean different things. They are also easily confused words. The spell-check application in word-processing software doesn’t catch words that are spelled correct...

Peddle vs. Pedal

English spelling is full of apparent idiosyncrasies – native speakers and learners alike grapple with doubling consonants, how to form plurals, ‘i’ before ‘e’ except after ‘c’’, and have to dodge umpteen other potential pitfalls. Anot...

Overdo vs. Overdue

Ram is advised by his doctor not to overdo bicep exercises because of his fractured arm. Financial experts believe another recession is inevitable, perhaps even overdue. Though very commonly used, overdo and overdue still are sometimes confusing for ...

Moat vs. Mote

There are millions of tiny dust motes in the air. He fell in the moat around the castle. Consider the two sentences above and try to figure out what moat and mote mean from their respective sentences. Can you do that? If so, good for you, but if you ...

Corporation vs. Cooperation

English is a distinctive language where many words are so similar that they cause confusion in the readers and writers minds. Cooperation and corporation are an example of such words. Cooperatives and corporations may sound like one and the same thin...

Creak vs. Creek

The words creak, creek sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Consider the sentences below: From inside came the creak and moan of a swinging door. Let’s go on down to the creek. Can you tell the meanings of both the words from t...

Credible vs. Creditable

Talk about words that can be confused easily … creditable and credible are a prime example.  While they sound alike, and their meanings come close, they are two completely separate terms with definitions that deserve clarity. The student's eff...

Current vs. Currant

Homophones can be confusing, and in their misuse, hilarity sometimes ensues. If you write that someone was swept away by the currant and you aren’t relating a cautionary tale of drunken misadventure, then you had probably better read the rest of th...

Insight vs. Incite

Homophones are words that share the same pronunciation but differ in spelling and meaning, such as to, too, two; and so, sew, and sow. Homophones and confusingly similar words are the stuff that malapropisms are made of. A malapropism is the unintent...

Lend vs. Loan

English has many words that refer to the borrowing of goods and money. Two of the most common words that apply to this context are loan and lend. Do they mean the same thing? Or, are there specific circumstances in which one or the other is more appr...

Manner vs. Manor

The words manner and manor are homophones: they sound alike but have different meanings. Consider the sentences below: Nate's grandfather has an odd manner of laughing. The manor is now a popular tourist site. Do you think these sentences are right? ...

Allude vs. Elude

He eluded to the problem but did not mention it. The thief alluded the police. Can you spot the mistake in the above two sentences? Take a minute to read both sentences carefully and see if you can find a mistake. If you found it, you are a real geni...

Allusion vs. Illusion

The nouns allusion and illusion sound quite similar, and they both have connotations of intangibility. As a result, they are sometimes confused by writers. Consider the sentences below; The Simpsons is full of allusions to well-known films. I am unde...