D
Often-Confused Words
Here is a list of words confused in meaning and where one letter can make all the difference between praise and damnation. All are certain to baffle your spell-checker:
accept - to receive favorably
except - to leave out
ad - an advertisement
add - to increase
adapt - to adjust
adept - skilled
adopt - to take for one’s own
addition - something added
edition - the number or manner of a published work
adverse - opposing, unfavorable
averse to - disinclined towards, reluctant
advice - a recommendation
advise - to counsel
agenda - a list of tasks or goals
addenda - additional
affect - to influence
effect (noun) - a result
effect (verb) - to bring about, to accomplish
aide - an assistant
allusion - a reference
illusion - a visual deception
delusion - a false notion or idea
aloud - audible
allowed - permitted
already - previously
all ready - in readiness
alternate - a substitute
alternative - a choice between two
altogether - entirely
all together - as one group, united
all right - standard English spelling
ante - before
anti - against
anyway - in any event
any way - in any way or manner
appraise - to estimate the value of
apprize - to inform
assent - to consent
ascent - a rise
assistance - help
assistants - helpers
beside - next to
besides - moreover, in addition
better - of higher quality
bettor - one who gambles
blue - a color
blew - past tense of the verb “blow”
boulder - a large rock
brake - to stop from moving
break - to fracture, interrupt
born - brought into life
borne - carried, endured
capital - chief, important
capitol - a building or site of official city or seat of government
casual - informal
causal - the source or cause
cite - to summon or quote
site - a location
sight - vision
coarse - unrefined
course - a passage, route, subject of study
confidant - one to whom secrets are entrusted
confident - possessed of self-assurance
contemptible - deserving contempt
contemptuous - expressing contempt
continuation - pertains to length or sequence
continual - pertains to time, interrupted occurrences
continuous - occurs without interruption
council - an assembly of individuals whose purpose is to advise, govern, or legislate
counsel - an advisor, an attorney
credible - believable
credulous - prone to belief
creditable - deserving esteem, praise-worthy
dear - valued, loved
deer - an animal
descent - a downward movement
dissent - disagreement
decree - a decision or ruling
degree - a step or point in a series, acknowledgment of academic accomplishment
definite - clear
definitive - final, official
deprecate - to express disapproval of
depreciate - to decrease in value
desecrate - to treat irreverently
device - a contrivance, object
devise - to contrive, create, invent
disburse - to pay out
disperse - to scatter
disinterested - impartial
uninterested - not interested
disprove - to prove false
disapprove - to not approve
exalt - to praise
exult - to rejoice
eligible - qualified
legible - plain, easy to read
envelop - to surround
envelope - stationery
exceed - to surpass, go beyond
accede - to yield, surrender
except - to leave out, exclude
accept - to receive with approval
expend - to spend
extant - existing
extinct - non-existing
extent - the measure, length, degree
facetious - causing laughter
fictitious - unreal
fare - a price
fair - impartial
farther - pertains to distance
further - additional
feat - an accomplishment
feet - plural form of “foot”
fewer - refers to countable things
less - refers to uncountable
flair - natural style, ability, talent
flare - a glowing light used to indicate location or warning
formerly - previously
formally - dignified, seriously
fortunate - lucky
fortuitous - happening by chance
genius - inspired ability, talent, skill
genus - classification of a species
homogenous - of common origin
homogeneous - composed of similar elements or parts
human - pertaining to mankind
humane - compassionate, merciful
hypercritical - overly critical
hypocritical - deceitful
illegal - unlawful
illicit - unlawful
elicit - to draw out
imply - to suggest indirectly
infer - to deduce or conclude
immoral - not moral
immortal - cannot die
incredible - unbelievable
incredulous - unbelieving
inept - awkward, foolish
inapt - unqualified, unsuited
inequity - not equal, unfair
iniquity - evil
insight - understanding of, knowledge of
incite - to arouse to action
insure - to guarantee against financial loss
ensure - to make sure or certain
intelligent - possessed of intelligence
intelligible - understandable, comprehensible
its - possessive form of the pronoun “it”
it’s - contraction form of “it is” or “it has”
lay - to place, set down
lie - to recline
lend - verb for temporary use
loan - noun for temporary use
lesson - instruction
lessen - to reduce
liable - responsible, likely to
libel - written, published, spoken defamation of character
moral - pertaining to right conduct
morale - state of mind, feeling, or spirit
pare - to trim, scale down
pair - two of a kind
pear - a fruit
perpetrate - to carry out, to be guilty of
perpetuate - to make lasting
personal - individual, private
personnel - employees, workers, members of an organization
precede - to go before or ahead
proceed - to advance
precedence - priority
precedents - established rules or procedures
preview - to view in advance
purview - range, scope, limits of
principal - chief, main
principle - rule
prophesy - to predict
prophecy - prediction
quiet - absent of noise
quite - to an extent
sea - body of water
see - present tense of “to see”
soar - to fly or rise above
sore - painful
sometime - at an indefinite time
some time - a period of time
sometimes - now and then, on occasion
stationary - permanent, unmovable
stationery - writing paper and associated supplies
paramount - the highest
taught - instructed
taut - tense, tightly wound
temerity - boldness
timidity - shyness, fearful
than - comparison
then - time, following
their - possessive pronoun
there - indicates location or reference
they’re - contraction form of “they are”
through - from beginning to end
thorough - completely, fully
threw - past tense of verb “to throw”
thru - nonstandard spelling of “through”
to - a preposition
too - also, much
two - a number
typical - conforming to type or expectation
atypical - nonconforming to type, irregular
unabridged - entire, complete
abridged - shortened version
expurgated - objectionable content removed
unreal - not real
unreel - to unwind
use - present tense verb
used - past tense verb
vary - to change
very - much
voracious - greedy, hungry
vice - moral fault
vise - tool
waver - to fluctuate
waiver - to suspend or relinquish
weak - not strong
week - seven days
whose - possessive pronoun
who’s - contraction form of “who is” or “who has”
your - possessive pronoun
you’re - contraction form of “you are”