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in LIST OF FREQUENTLY MISUSED / CONFUSED WORDS OF ENGLISH

List of Frequently Misused / Confused words of English

Homophones are words that are pronounced alike but that have different spellings
and meanings, such as course and coarse. The following list consists of
homophones and other pairs of words that are frequently misused.

n. = noun pro. = pronoun contr. = contraction conj. = conjunction

v. = verb adj. = adjective prep. = preposition poss. = possessive
adv. = adverb pl. = plural sing. = singular
w

accept: (v.) to receive

except: (prep.) not included
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access: (n.) a way of approach or entrance

access: (v.) to gain entrance
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assess: (v.) to estimate the value of

adapt: (v.) to adjust to a situation

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adopt: (v.) to take in or take a course of action

advice: (n.) counsel, information, or suggestions given

advise: (v.) to give advice
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affect: (v.) to influence or have an effect on (most common use)

affect: (n.) emotional status (a specialized use in psychology)
effect: (n.) the result of an action (most common use)
effect: (v.) to accomplish or execute
ug

aisle: (n.) a corridor or passageway

I'll: (contr.) I will
isle: (n.) an island
uj

all ready: (n. + adj.) everyone/everything is prepared

already: (adv.) at or before this time; previously
ar

all right: (n + adj) everything is okay

alright: NOT AN ACCEPTED WORD

all together: (n. + adj.) all in one place

at

altogether: (adv.) completely, wholly

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allude: (v.) to refer to

.in

elude: (v.) to evade or escape

allusion: (n.) a reference

illusion: (n.) a false impression

aloud: (adv.) audibly or loudly

allowed: (v.) permitted
www.marugujarat.in LIST OF FREQUENTLY MISUSED / CONFUSED WORDS OF ENGLISH

altar: (n.) an elevated place for religious services

alter: (v.) to change

always: (adv.) constantly; all the time

all ways: (adj. + n.) in every way

anecdote: (n.) a little story

antidote: (n.) something that counteracts poison
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angel: (n.) a heavenly being

angle: (n.) a figure formed by the divergence of two straight lines from one point
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arc: (n.) a part of a circle

arch: (n.) a curved part of a building
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ascend: (v.) to rise, climb, or go up

ascent: (n.) a movement upward
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assent: (n.) agreement

assent: (v.) to agree

assistance: (n.) help given

assistants: (n. pl.) helpers
ar

band: (n.) a group; a belt

band: (v.) to form into a group
banned: (v.) excluded or prohibited
ug

bare: (adj) uncovered, naked

bare: (v.) to make naked, to expose
bear: (v.) to carry, endure, support
bear: (n.) large, furry mammal
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beside: (prep.) by the side of

besides: (adv. and prep.) in addition to
ar

boar: (n.) a male hog

bore: (v.) to drill into; to mentally tire someone
bore: (n.) someone who is mentally tiring
at

boarder: (n.) one who pays for room and meals

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border: (n.) a boundary

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born: (v.) given birth to (always in the passive voice)

borne: (v.) carried, supported (always in the passive voice)

brake: (n.) a mechanism to stop a vehicle

break: (v.) to cause to fall into two or more pieces

breath: (n.) air inhaled and exhaled

breathe: (v.) to inhale and exhale
www.marugujarat.in LIST OF FREQUENTLY MISUSED / CONFUSED WORDS OF ENGLISH

cavalry: (n.) a military company on horseback.

Calvary: (n.) the biblical hill on which Jesus of Nazareth was crucified.

canvas: (n.) a kind of coarse cloth

canvass: (v.) to search or survey

capital: (n.) wealth, assets for investment

w

capital: (n.) a city that is a seat of government; stock

capital: (adj.) excellent, top or foremost; punishable by death
capitol: (n.) a building occupied by a legislature
w

censer: (n.) a container for burning incense

censor: (v.) to prohibit publication
w

censor: (n.) one who prohibits publication

censure: (v.) to reprimand or disapprove of
censure: (n.) disapproval
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choose: (v.) to select (present tense)

chose: (v.) selected (past tense)
chosen: (v.) selected (past participle)
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cite: (v.) to quote; to charge with breaking a law

sight: (n.) something seen; the sense of seeing; a device for aiming a weapon
sight: (v.) to look at or aim at
site: (n.) a location
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coarse: (adj.) rough; undefined

course: (n.) school subject; path or way

complement: (n.) items which complete

uj

complement: (v.) to complete

compliment: (n.) a statement of praise
compliment: (v.) to praise
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conscience: (n.) what tells you right from wrong

conscious: (adj.) awake or alert
at

council: (n.) a group that deliberates

counsel: (v.) to advise
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counsel: (n.) advice given

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councillor: (n.) one who is a member of a council

counselor: (n.) one who gives advice

descend: (v.) to move downward

descent: (n.) a going down
dissent: (v.) to disagree
dissent: (n.) disagreement
www.marugujarat.in LIST OF FREQUENTLY MISUSED / CONFUSED WORDS OF ENGLISH

desert: (n.) a geographical area

desert: (v.) to abandon
dessert: (n.) food, usually sweet

device: (n.) a contrivance

devise: (v.) to prepare a method or contrivance

do: (v.) to perform

w

due: (adj.) used with Ato@ to specify the cause of some thing; owing

dual: (adj.) twofold

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duel: (n.) a fight between two people

elicit: (v.) to bring out, usually a response

w

illicit: (n.) not allowed

eminent: (adj.) famous

.m

imminent: (adj.) likely to occur soon

envelop: (v.) to cover or enclose

envelope: (n.) an enclosure used for mailing
ar

extant: (adj.) still existing

extent: (n.) the degree of something

formally: (adv.) in a formal manner

ug

formerly: (adv.) at an earlier time

forth: (adv., prep.) forward; onward; out

fourth: (n.; adj.) the one after the third
uj

human: (adj.) pertaining to people

humane: (adj.) pertaining to compassion or kindness
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its: (poss. pro.) belonging to it

it's: (contr.) it is; it has

later: (adj.) after a specified time

at

latter: (n.) the last one mentioned

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lead: (v.; pronounced leed) to conduct

lead: (n.; pronounced led) the metal
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led: (v.) past tense and past participle of lead

loose: (adj.) not tight

loose: (v.) to release
lose: (v.) to misplace; to be defeated

marital: (adj.) pertaining to marriage

martial: (adj) pertaining to war
www.marugujarat.in LIST OF FREQUENTLY MISUSED / CONFUSED WORDS OF ENGLISH

maybe: (adv.) perhaps

may be: (v.) possibly may occur

meant: (v.) past tense and past participle of mean

ment: NOT A WORD

passed: (v.) past tense and past participle of pass

w

past: (n.) an earlier time

patience: (n. sing.) calm endurance

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patients: (n. pl.) those under medical care

peace: (n.) not war

w

piece: (n.) a portion

personal: (adj) pertaining to oneself

.m

personnel: (n.) the employees of a company or organization

principal: (n.) head of a school; money owned

principal: (adj.) chief; most important
principle: (n.) a rule or doctrine
ar

prophecy: (n.) a prediction

prophesy: (v.) to make a prediction
ug

quiet: (adj.) not noisy

quite: (adv.) completely

right: (adj.) correct, not left

write: (v.) to inscribe
uj

sense: (n.) ability to think well; meaning; perception

sense: (v.) to perceive
ar

since: (prep. and conj.) from that time until now; because

stationary: (adj.) in a fixed position

stationery: (n.) paper to write on
at

than: (conj.) used to compare things

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then: (adv.) indicating time

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their: (poss. pro.) belonging to them

there: (adv.) in that place; also used as an expletive to begin sentences
they're: (contr.) they are

to: (prep.) generally indicating direction

too: (adv.) excessively; also
two: (n. and adj.) the number
www.marugujarat.in LIST OF FREQUENTLY MISUSED / CONFUSED WORDS OF ENGLISH

trail: (n.) a rough path

trial: (n.) experimental action; exami1nation before a court
trial: (adj.) experimental

vice: (n.) immorality

vise: (n.) a device for holding

weather: (n.) the state of the atmosphere

w

whether: (conj.) expressing alternatives

whose: (poss. pro.) belonging to whom

w

who's: (contr.) who is; who has

your: (poss. pro) belonging to you

w

you're: (contr.) you are

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