Word pairs, for both native speakers and students of English, can often cause great confusion. For native speakers, this is especially so when they are writing.
Many pairs of words in English sound alike or nearly alike, but each one 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.
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 Director 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.
As I'm sure most of you have experienced, confusing pairs can, and often do cause considerable problems at times, and the best way to overcome this situation is by learning the most common confusing pairs.
Firstly, here is a list of what is considered to be the TOP 10 MOST COMMON, and confusing word pairs in English.
Affect vs. Effect
Affect is a verb meaning to influence. Effect is a noun meaning result.
While the student didn’t see how studying affected his test-taking, the positive effects soon became clear.
Lie vs. Lay
Lie is a verb meaning to recline or rest on a surface. Lay is a verb meaning to put or place.
Kim lies down to take a nap every day at 3:30 p.m. Before falling asleep, Kim lays her bracelet on the table.
Lose vs. Loose
Lose is a verb meaning to misplace. Loose is an adjective meaning slack, moveable, or weak.
I always manage to lose my loose-fitting tank top.
Than vs. Then
Than is a conjunction used to compare two things. Then is usually an adverb indicating time.
Do you think that Pepsi Cola is better than Coca Cola? We went to the store, and then to a movie.
That vs. Which
That is used when the phrase or clause that follows it is necessary in the sentence. Which is used when the phrase or clause that follows it is not necessary.
Students that fail to thoroughly proofread often miss unnecessary points. Procrastinated papers, which students write often, fail to lead to the desired grades for their classes.
Their vs. There vs. They’re
Their is a pronoun that is plural possessive. There is a word that means place. They’re is a contraction that means they are.
Their dog is over there digging through the trash. They’re not the most responsible pet owners.
To vs. Too vs. Two
To is a preposition indicating direction. Too is an adverb meaning in addition or also. Two is a number.
Too many times, students go to their adviser to set up their classes, but only have two of their five classes picked out.
Who vs. Whom
Who is a pronoun used as the subject of a sentence. Whom is a pronoun used as a direct object.
Who is responsible for the research on this group project? We assigned research to whom for this group project?
Your vs. You’re
Your is a pronoun that is second person possessive. You’re is a contraction that means you are.
Your clothes will wrinkle if you’re not careful with the drying cycle you choose.
One Word vs. Two Word combos
People often confuse similar words that appear as one word, or two words. They are used in separate contexts, however, and so learning when to use each will improve your writing’s quality. Examples of one word/two-word pairs include altogether vs. all together; anyway vs. any way; and everyday vs. every day.
Here’s an example of the difference between them:
Anyway vs. Any way
Anyway is an adverb meaning regardless. Any way is a phrase meaning any manner or method.
I don’t want to go to the party, anyway. We could take any way we want to get to the party.
Here is a list of some additional word pairs that are also commonly confused.
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 standstill
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
Well, I hope that this article helped you to understand confusing pairs and the importance of studying them in order to avoid confusing in the future.
Good luck and good teaching/learning.
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