Most Commonly Confused Words in English | English Vocabulary

In this lesson, We’ll learn about the Most Commonly Confused Words in English | English Vocabulary. We’ll talk about the most misused words with their helpful examples. If you pay some extra attention and constantly practice, commonly misused words won’t be a problem for you anymore.

Commonly Confused Words List

1- Lose (verb) Example: He does not want his team to lose a match.	Loose (adjective) Example: Window handles fall off because they are loose.
2- Farther Example: He ran farther than me.	Further Example: Do you have any further questions?
3- Bear Example: She cannot bear to see her daughter in pain.	Bare Example: Carpenters with bare hands often get hurt. (adjective) Bare your hand so that we can see your tattoo. (verb)
4- Complement Example: Her red skirt complements her shoes.	Compliment Example: She complimented me for my decent dressing. (verb) She gave me a compliment for my decent dressing. (noun)
5- Affect Example: My bad sleeping habit will affect my work.	Effect Example: Consider the effect of missing school today.
6- Advice Example: My father gave me advice on how to do homework.	Advise Example: Advise her to go to school.
7- Resign Example: I will resign from my current job because our boss is rude.	Re-sign Example: Re-sign my current job because I love it.
8- Breath Example: She held her breath while swimming.	Breathe Example: She was told to breathe slowly.
9- Capital Example: New York is the capital city of the United States. Write heading in capital letters.	Capitol Example: He witnessed a bill become a law in the capitol.
10- Empathy Example: His empathy enabled him to avoid a quarrel.	Sympathy Example: Jack’s sympathy made him give money to his sick neighbor.
11- Its Example: She gave her dog food on its plate.	It’s Example: He is happy because it’s his birthday.
12- Principal Example: Their school gave a reception to their new principal.	Principle Example: These two medical instruments work on the same principle.
13- Toward Example: The soldiers were disaffected toward the government.	Towards Example: She gave him a gentle push towards the door.
14- To Example: Ali ran to school.	Too Example: Good morning to you too.
15- Stationary Example: Her vehicle remained stationary because it had too much weight.	Stationery Example: I printed my homework on my best stationery.

Defence VS Defense

Defence is spelling according to British English while the defense is spelling according to American English.

• I’ve never played in a defence position.
• He was the then secretary of Defense.

Assure VS Ensure

Assure means to make it certain to someone that something is true. Ensure means to do all possible things to make sure something happens as required.

• Assure her that her teacher will reward her performance.
• Ensure her teacher rewards her performance.

Alot VS Allot

A lot is a quantifying phrase meaning much of something. Allot means to distribute something

• The baby cries a lot in the morning.
• James was asked to allot the books to the students.

Accept VS Except

Accept means to come to terms with something.

• It was hard for james to accept his failure in exams.

Except means to exclude.

• All the students except James passed their exams.

Accurate VS Precise

Accurate means very exact. Precise means close to very exact.

• The drawing of the building was accurate.
• His precise shooting skills in archery have earned him medals.

Adverse VS Averse

Adverse means something os someone is hostile towards you or a situation. Averse means to lie on the opposite to the majority.

• The adverse weather has forced many people to stay indoors.
• The president’s averse economic solutions have made him unpopular.

All Ready VS Already

All ready is a phrase that means all is set. Already means prior to or before a specified time.

• I was all ready for the exams.
• I was already seated in the hall before James came in.

All VS Every

All is a quantifier meaning each item in a group has something common. Every means each of something.

• All the students wear a blue shirt.
• Every student should bring book to school.

All Ways vs Always

All ways means each item of a group of items. Always means every time.

• The city is receiving visitors all ways.
• The teacher is always on time for his lessons.

Appraise vs Apprise

Appraise means to commed or praise. Apprise means up to date.

• An employer should appraise the ability of his employees.
• We must apprise them of the dangers that may be involved.

Birth vs Berth

Birth means the act of bringing up new life. Berth is a space allocated to ships or cars for parking.

• The birth of Prince James was celebrated all over the world.
• The ship has been at the berth for 6 months awaiting clearance by authorities.

Borrow vs Lend

Borrow means to receive something from someone temporary. Lend means to give or borrow something at a cost.

• I always borrow my books from the school library because it’s cheaper than buying mine.
• The company lends out cars for events such as weddings.

Commonly Confused Words | Infographics