WEEK 9 REFLECTION

 Commonly Confused Words.

 

The following is a list of words which are alike and are often confused. The definitions are simple and not comprehensive.

 

Accept	Agree to receive or take what is offered
Except	Not included
Access	Entryway, way in.
Excess	Portion that is more than required
Adapt	Change or alter according to conditions
Adopt	Legally take another's child as your own.
Advice	Noun. Guidance offered to an inexperienced person.
Advise	Verb. Action of giving advice.
Affect	Make a difference to something
Effect	Result of something
Aid	Assistance or help.
Aide	Person who assists
A Lot	A large number
Allot	Assign to, give out
Already	Before the time expected  e.g. “You are done already? That was fast”
All Ready	Fully prepared
Allusion	Hint at something
Illusion	“seeing” something that is not there
Amoral	Having no morals
Immoral	Doing something that society does not consider to be moral
Ante	Before
Anti	Against
Assent	Approval
Ascent	Going up, commonly used in mountain climbing
Aural	To do with the ear or hearing
Oral	To do with speaking or the mouth
Biannual	Twice a year
Biennial	Every second year
Board	Flat piece of wood used in building
Bored	Made a hole in something with a drill
Brake	To stop a car using mechanical means
Break	Do something to stop a thing from operating or being whole.  e.g. “Break a cup”
Breach	Make a gap or hole in something.  e.g. “the dam was breached and the town was flooded”
Breech	1. Part of a gun or rifle   2. type of birth where feet come first
Bridal	To do with a bride or woman getting married
Bridle	Leather harness on a horse's head
Canvas	Type of material
Canvass	To go to the people looking for support in an election
Capital	1. Main city in the country  2. money owned by a business
Capitol	The building in Washington D.C. in which the American government meet
Carat	The unit of weight of gems and precious stones
Caret	A line on a page showing where a missing word should go.
Carrot	A vegetable
Chord	A combination of musical notes
Cord	A length of string or rope
Complement	Something that looks good with something else  e.g. “that hat complements your coat”
Compliment	An expression of praise
Confidant	Someone you tell your secrets to
Confident	Have faith in something. e.g. “I'm confident I'll ass the exam”
Council	A group who take decisions on the running of something, usually a town or village
Counsel	Advice, especially by a professional.
Coarse	Rough
Course	Direction as in the aeroplane is on course
Curb	To stop or restrain an activity
Kerb	The joint between the road and the footpath
Currant	Dried grapes used in cooking
Current	Up to date
Demur	Raise doubts or objections
Demure	Modest, shy
Descent	Going downwards, descent of the hill
Decent	Up to standard
Dissent	Raise objections
Desert	Dry land where very little grows
Dessert	Part of a meal
Device	Object used for a particular purpose
Devise	Think of a plan
Die	Expire, lose life
Dye	Change colour
Draft	A written report that needs more work
Draught	Blast of cold wind in a building
Elicit	To encourage a reply or response
Illicit	Against the law
Eminent	Respected
Imminent	Very close to happening
Envelop	To wrap around
Envelope	Paper pocket for putting letters for mailing
Especially	Very much, a great deal
Specially	Something different from the normal
Faze	Disturb the composure
Phase	A period or stage in a process
Flammable	Easily set on fire
Inflammable	Easily set on fire (yes they mean the same thing)
Formally	According to the rules of convention or etiquette
Formerly	In the past
Forth	Forwards or onwards
Fourth	4th , of the number 4 in a line
Forward	Onward, in the direction you are facing
Foreword	An introduction to a book
Hangar	Shed for storing aircraft
Hanger	An item for hanging clothes in a wardrobe
Hoard	A collection of money or other valuables
Horde	Group of people usually not behaving very well
Hole	Puncture or opening.
Whole	Complete
Its	Used to show possession e.g. “its coat”
It's	Contraction for it is or it has
Know	Have knowledge or understanding
No	Opposite of yes
Lead	Verb Make one or more follow you.
Lead	Noun. A Metal. Pronounced Led
Led	Past tense of Lead
Licence	Noun.  A permit to do or own something
License	Verb.  To  authorise or to grant a licence for something
Loath	Unwilling
Loathe	Hatred
Loose	Not tight or tied
Lose	Verb Past Tense of Lost.  Unable to find or no longer have
Medal	Badge or award worn on chest or around neck.
Meddle	Verb  To interfere, to intrude in someone's business.
Meter	A machine that measures and records amount or rate of flow
Metre	100 centimetres
Naval	To do with the navy.
Navel	The hole in your belly caused by the cutting of your umbilical cord
Omit	Left out
Emit	Let go or discharge especially a gas or sound
Palate	The roof of your mouth
Palette	A thin board on which an artist mixes his paints
Pallet	A wooden or plastic stand on which goods are stacked for transportation
Patients	Sick or unwell people
Patience	Ability to tolerate delay or trouble without getting upset
Peace	Tranquillity
Piece	Portion or section as in a piece of bread
Peak	Top of a mountain, especially pointed top
Peek	To spy. To have a quick look
Pique	1. Stimulate an interest.  2. Feel hurt and resentful
Pedal	Noun.  Footrest on a bicycle   Verb.  Action of moving a bicycle using pedals
Peddle	To sell goods especially going from market to market
Peer	1. to look with difficulty. 2. Member of classed society (Lord, Duke)
Pier	Wall leading out to sea where boats tie up.
Pole	1. North or South Pole   2. a long thin rounded piece of wood or metal
Poll	An election or record of the number of votes in an election
Practice	Noun. A profession
Practise	Verb. Do a skill over and over to improve
Pray	Talk to god usually with hands together
Prey	Something being hunted, usually for food.
Principal	1. head of a school  2. sum of money invested  3.  the main or most important
Principle	A fundamental truth or belief
Quiet	Adjective.  Little or no noise
Quite	Adverb.  To a certain degree    e.g. quite slow or quite fast
Rain	Moisture falling from the sky in drops.
Reign	Period of rule by a king or queen.
Rein	Strap used to guide a horse.
Read	Verb Present Tense.  To  look at and understand written words
Reed	Dried plant stem used in thatching (roofing)
Read	Verb. Past Tense. To have looked at and understood written words. Pronounced Red
Red	Colour
Real	Actually existing, not artificial
Reel	1. part of a fishing rod where the line is kept.  2. Celtic dance.
Right	1. Opposite of left.  2. correct, not wrong
Rite	Religious ceremony.
Write	Put words on paper using a pen.
Role	Actor's part in a play.
Roll	Noun. 1. List of names.  2. small loaf of bread.   Verb  to turn over as in “roll the dice”
Scene	Part of a play
Seen	Observed
Sensor	A devise for detecting movement or noise
Censer	A container in which incense is burnt
Censor	A person who judges books and films for their suitability
Censure	Express strong disapproval
Shear	To take wool off sheep, to cut with a scissors
Sheer	1. straight drop (cliff)  2.  see through cloth   3. Nothing but  e.g.  sheer hard work
Shone	Verb Past Tense.  To Give out bright light  e.g.  “the sun shone down”
Shown	Verb Past Tense. Made something visible
Sight	Power of seeing
Site	Location
Cite	Quote a passage in a book
Stationary	In a stopped position
Stationery	To do with pens, pencils, paper, envelopes
Storey	Floors in a building
Story	Tale
Team	Group of people acting together
Teem	(to do with rain) To fall heavily or pour down
Than	Used in comparing things. e.g. “One is taller than the other”
Then	1. at that time   2.  after that
Their	Belonging to them  e.g. their coats
There	In that place
They're	Contraction  They are
To	Preposition.  Expressing direction  e.g. to him, to the door
Too	1.  Also, in addition   2.  greater degree than is safe or permitted  e.g. too fast
Two	Number 2
Waist	Part of your body below the ribs and above the hips
Waste	Fail to make good or full use of something causing it to be thrown away