Confusables (similar words used interchangeably in error)
by Cheryl Peyton
| Confusables | Meanings |
| accept except |
to agree to receive or do not including |
| adverse averse |
unfavourable, harmful strongly disliking; opposed |
| advice advise |
recommendations about what to do to recommend something |
| affect effect |
to change or make a difference to a result; to bring about a result |
| all together altogether |
all in one place, all at once completely; on the whole |
| amoral immoral |
not concerned with right or wrong not following accepted moral standards |
| appraise apprise |
to assess to inform someone |
| bated baited |
in phrase ‘with bated breath’, i.e. in great suspense with bait attached or inserted |
| bazaar bizarre |
a Middle Eastern market strange |
| born borne |
having started life carried |
| breach breech |
to break through, or break a rule; a gap the back part of a gun barrel |
| canvas canvass |
a type of strong cloth to seek people’s votes |
| censure censor |
to criticize strongly to ban parts of a book or film; a person who does this |
| climactic climatic |
forming a climax relating to climate |
| complacent complaisant |
smug and self-satisfied willing to please |
| complement compliment |
to add to so as to improve; an addition that improves something to praise or express approval; an admiring remark |
| council counsel |
a group of people who manage or advise advice; to advise |
| defuse diffuse |
to make a situation less tense to spread over a wide area |
| desert dessert |
a waterless, empty area; to abandon someone the sweet course of a meal |
| discreet discrete |
careful not to attract attention separate and distinct |
| disinterested uninterested |
impartial not interested |
| elicit illicit |
to draw out a reply or reaction not allowed by law or rules |
| ensure insure |
to make certain that something will happen to provide compensation if a person dies or property is damaged |
| envelop envelope |
to cover or surround a paper container for a letter |
| flaunt flout |
to display ostentatiously to disregard a rule |
| flounder founder |
to move clumsily; to have difficulty doing something to fail |
| imply infer |
to suggest indirectly to draw a conclusion |
| loath loathe |
reluctant, unwilling to hate |
| militate mitigate |
to be a powerful factor against to make less severe |
| palate palette |
the roof of the mouth a board for mixing colours |
| pour pore |
to flow or cause to flow a tiny opening; to study something closely |
| prescribe proscribe |
to authorize use of medicine; to order authoritatively to officially forbid something |
| principal principle |
most important; the head of a school a fundamental rule or belief |
| stationary stationery |
not moving writing materials |
| tortuous torturous |
full of twists; complex full of pain or suffering |
| wreath wreathe |
a ring-shaped arrangement of flowers etc. to surround or encircle |