Words people mix up
Confusing words, untangled
Affect or effect? Empathy or sympathy? Each pair gets a one-line answer, a way to remember it, audio and a quick test.
26 word pairsquick answer · audio · quiz
Sound the same
Say them aloud and you can't hear the difference. Only spelling and meaning tell them apart.
Compliment vs complementA compliment is a kind thing you say. To complement is to go well with…
Discreet vs discreteDiscreet means careful not to attract attention or share secrets. Disc…
Principal vs principlePrincipal means main, or the head of a school. A principle is a basic …
Stationery vs stationaryStationery is paper, pens and envelopes. Stationary means not moving.…
To, too or twoTo points toward something. Too means also, or more than enough. Two i…
Your vs you'reYour shows that something belongs to you. You're is short for “you are…Look and sound alike
Near-twins that do different jobs in a sentence.
Accept vs exceptAccept means to receive or agree to something. Except means not includ…
Advice vs adviseAdvice is a noun: the help you give. Advise is a verb: to give that he…
Affect vs effectAffect is usually a verb: it changes something. Effect is usually a no…
Continual vs continuousContinuous usually means without a break. Continual usually means happ…
Disinterested vs uninterestedIn careful English, disinterested means fair, with nothing to gain. Un…
Economic vs economicalEconomic is about the economy. Economical means good value, not wastef…
Elicit vs illicitElicit is a verb: to draw out a reaction or answer. Illicit is an adje…
Eminent vs imminentEminent means famous and respected. Imminent means about to happen ver…
Empathy vs sympathySympathy is feeling sorry for someone. Empathy is understanding how th…
Ensure, assure or insureIn careful usage, ensure means make certain something happens, assure …
Historic vs historicalHistoric usually means important or famous in history. Historical mean…
Imply vs inferImply is to hint at something without saying it. Infer is to work out …
Later vs latterLater means at a time after now. Latter means the second of two things…
Lay vs lieIn the present tense, lay takes an object: you lay something down. Lie…
Precede vs proceedPrecede means to come before something. Proceed means to go on or cont…
Rise vs raiseRise has no object: things go up by themselves. Raise has an object: y…
Sensible vs sensitiveSensible means practical and showing good sense. Sensitive means easil…Close in meaning
The dictionary says they match. People don't use them the same way.
UK and US
Both can be right. Which one depends on where you are writing for.
