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# #
# This file specifies common usages that may or may not #
# be actual errors in a particular context. Mostly, these #
# are near-synonyms, homophones, and other words that are #
# frequently misused or confused with each other. #
# #
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accept* : to agree to receive or do
except* : to exclude
- expect* : to regard as likely
adverse : hostile or difficult
averse : disinclined
affect* : emotion, to have an effect on
effect* : a consequence, to bring about
aisle(s) : a passage between rows of seats
isle(s) : an island
all together : all in one place, all at once
altogether : completely; on the whole
aloud : audibly
allowed : permitted
altar(s) : a sacred table in a church
alter(s) : to change
alternate* : every other
alternative(s) : another choice
alternately : cycling through two or more alternatives
alternatively : as another choice
amoral : not concerned with right or wrong
immoral : not following accepted moral standards
appraise* : to assess
apprise* : to inform
assent(s) : agreement, approval
ascent(s) : the action of rising or climbing up
assure* : to instil confidence
ensure* : to verify
insure* : to indemnify against loss
aural : relating to the ears or hearing
oral : relating to the mouth; spoken
awhile : for a short time
- a while : a period of time
balmy : pleasantly warm
barmy : foolish, crazy
bazaar : a Middle Eastern market
bizarre : strange
beg** the question : to use a circular argument
- raise* the question : to call for an answer
- evade* the question : to avoid answering
berth(s) : a bunk in a ship, train, etc.
birth(s) : the emergence of a baby from the womb
border(s) : a boundary
boarder(s) : one who boards
borne : past tense of "to bear"
- born : given birth to
bough(s) : a branch of a tree
bow(s) : to bend the head; the front of a ship
bought : past tense of "to buy"
brought : past tense of "to bring"
brake* : a device for stopping a vehicle; to stop a vehicle
break* : to separate into pieces; a pause
breach* : a gap or break
breech* : the back part of a gun barrel
broach(es) : to raise a subject for discussion
brooch(es) : a piece of jewellery
canon(s) : a general law, rule, principle, or criterion (or collection thereof)
- cannon(s) : a big gun
canvas* : a type of strong cloth
canvass* : to seek people's votes or opinions
carat(s) : 200 milligrams (usually of precious stones)
karat(s) : 1/24 pure gold
caret(s) : a typographical mark
- carrot(s) : a root vegetable
careen* : to swerve from side to side
- career* : to move quickly and out of control, in a specific direction
censure* : to criticize strongly
censor* : to ban parts of a book or film
cereal(s) : grains
serial(s) : happening in a series
chord(s) : a group of musical notes
cord(s) : a length of string
climactic : related to a climax
climatic : related to climate
coarse : rough
course : a direction; a school subject; part of a meal
compliment* : to say something positive about
complement* : something which completes or improves a set
complimentary : saying positive things about, offered for free
complementary : going well together
complacent(ly) : smug and self-satisfied
complaisant(ly) : willing to please
comprise* : to include the following
- compose* : to be made up of
conflate : to combine two or more words, ideas, items into one
- confuse : to mistale one word, idea, item for another
continuous(ly) : uninterrupted(ly)
continual(ly) : repeated(ly)
council(s) : a group that governs, deliberates, or advises
counsel(s) : an individual who advises
consul(s) : an individual who represents a foreign government
credulous : gullible
- credible : believable
critique* : to provide a detailed analysis of
- criticize* : to find fault with
cue* : a signal for action; a wooden rod
- queue* : a line of people or vehicles
currant(s) : a small fruit or berry
- current(s) : a flow (of water, air, electricity, etc.)
defuse* : to make a situation less tense
diffuse* : to spread over a wide area
depreciate* : to reduce the value of
deprecate* : to express disapproval of
desert(s) : a waterless, empty area; to abandon someone
dessert(s) : the sweet course of a meal
disburse* : to give out or distribute (usually money)
- disperse* : to scatter
discreet : circumspect
discrete : separate
disinterested : neutral, objective, unbiased, impartial
uninterested : bored, indifferent to
dissemble* : to be dishonest or deliberately misleading
disassemble* : to take apart
dose* : administered a drug or medication
doze* : fell asleep
douse* : to extinguish with a liquid
dowse* : to search for a liquid
draught(s) : a current of air
draft(s) : a first version of a piece of writing
draw(s) : an even score at the end of a game
drawer(s) : a sliding storage compartment
dryer(s) : something that dries things
drier(s) : less wet
duel(s) : a formal battle
dual(s) : having two of something
economic : pertaining to the economy
economical : money-saving
elicit : to extract
illicit : unlawful or improper
envelop(s) : (verb) to cover or surround
envelope(s) : (noun) a paper container for a letter
exorcise* : to drive out an evil spirit
- exercise* : to perform physical activity
eulogy(s) : a speech praising the deceased
elegy(s) : a type of poem
immanent : inherent or universal
- imminent : likely to occur soon
emulate* : to attempt to replicate or match the performance of
imitate* : to copy the behaviour of
endemic : characteristic of a particular region or group
epidemic : widespread or rampant
envious(ly) : wanting something that another person has (and you do not)
jealous(ly) : wanting to retain (exclusively) something you already have
envy : desire for something that another person has (and you do not)
jealousy : desire to retain (exclusively) something you already have
exult* : to rejoice
exalt* : to raise up
excited : aroused
exited : departed
farther : refers to distance in space
further : refers to duration in time
fawn(s) : a young deer; light brown
faun(s) : a mythical being, part man, part goat
frieze(s) : a decoration along a wall
- freeze(s) : to turn to ice
grisly : gruesome, revolting
grizzly : a type of bear
fearful : experiencing fear oneself
fearsome : provoking fear in others
feint* : a diversion
faint* : weak
fewer : a smaller number of countable items ("fewer marbles", "two fewer")
less : a smaller amount of singular or uncountable material ("less marble", "one less")
fiancé(s) : a man engaged to be married
fiance(s)
fiancée(s) : a woman engaged to be married
fiancee(s)
flaunt* : to show off
flout* : to ignore or show contempt for
founder* : to sink
flounder* : to thrash around trying not to sink
forbear(s) : to refrain
forebear(s) : an ancestor
forgo : to do without
forego : to go before
gaff(s) : a large hook
gaffe(s) : a mistake
gibe* : to tease
jibe* : to agree
jive* : to dance
gild(s) : to cover in gold
- guild(s) : an association
hanged : past tense of "to be hanged (by the neck)"
hung : past tense of "to hang"
hoard(s) : a collection that has been hoarded
horde(s) : a group or crowd or herd
homey : comfortable, cozy, welcoming, unpretentious
homely : unattractive in appearance
humus : rotted vegetable matter covering soil
hummus : a type of dip
impassible : having no feeling, impassive
- impassable : unable to be navigated past
- impossible : not able to occur, exist, or happen
imply : to suggest without explicitly stating
infer : to reach a conclusion using logic
indite* : to write down
- indict* : to charge with a crime
intersession(s) : a period between two sessions
- intercession(s) : to plead on behalf of someone else
interment(s) : burial
internment(s) : imprisonment
ironic(ally) : having an outcome incongruously different to what was expected
- coincidental(ly) : unrelated but happening at (about) the same time
it's : it is
its : belonging to it
jack(s) : a hole into which a plug is inserted
plug(s) : one or more prongs which can be inserted into a jack
jamb(s) : the vertical parts of the frame of a door or window
- jam(s) : a conserve, a congestion, a predicament, or a music session
lama(s) : a monk
llama(s) : a South American mammal
leach* : to dissolve and carry away
leech* : a blood-sucking worm
lessen(s) : to reduce
- lesson(s) : something to be learned
libel : false statements injurious to a person's reputation
liable : responsible under law
lightening : making lighter
- lightning : an electrical discharge in the atmosphere
likeliness(es) : probability
likeness(es) : similarity
literally : actually
- figuratively : not actually
loath : (adj) reluctant, unwilling
loathe : (verb) to hate
lose* : to be deprived of, or unable to find
loose* : to unfasten, or set free
materiel : equipment and supplies for a organization (usually military)
- material : substance, fabric, components, information
maybe : perhaps
- may be : might be
meteor(s) : a chunk of extraterrestrial rock falling through the atmosphere
meteorite(s) : a chunk of extraterrestrial rock that has reached the ground
- meteoroid(s) : a chunk of extraterrestrial rock floating in space
methodology(s) : a system of methods
- method(s) : a way of doing something
militate* : to be a powerful factor against
mitigate* : to make less severe
mucus : a slimy excretion
mucous : pertaining to mucus
mucoid : resembling mucus
nauseous : (noun) something that makes you want to vomit
nauseated : (adj) wanting to vomit
notorious : famous in a bad way
obsolescent : in the process of becoming obsolete
ordnance : mounted weapons
- ordinance : a law or statute
palette(s) : a board for mixing paints
pallet(s) : a platform or bed
- palate(s) : the roof of the mouth
partake(s,n) : to consume
partaking
partook
- participate* : to take part in
passed : a form of the verb "to pass"
past : before now, across this location (never a verb)
payed : let out more rope
- paid : disbursed money to settle a debt
peaked : to have reached a summit or limit
piqued : to have aroused curiousity
pedal* : to turn a crank using a floor plate
peddle* : to attempt to sell
perpetuate* : to cause to continue
perpetrate* : to commit a crime
perverse : stubborn
- perverted : corrupted
podium(s) : a raised platform on which a speaker stands
lectern(s) : a stand to hold a book or notes
poisonous : something that is deadly when eaten
venomous : something that actively injects poison
pole* : a long stick
poll* : a survey or ballot
populous : having (many) people
populace : people
pore* : to study something closely; a tiny opening
- pour* : to flow or cause to flow
practicable : theoretically possible to do
- practical : sensible and useful to do
prey : to hunt and kill for food
pray : to request supernatural assistance
precede* : to go before
proceed* : to go on
premier : top, first, best
premiere : revealed for the first time
prescribe* : to recommend or mandate
proscribe* : to forbid
presently : soon
- currently : at the moment
presumptive : presumed (from the current evidence or under the present circumstances)
- presumptuous : going beyond what is reasonable or appropriate
principle(s) : a rule or precept
principal(s) : most important
prone : lying face down
supine : lying face up
protagonist(s) : the central character of a story
proponent(s) : someone who advocates something
purposely : not accidentally
purposefully : with a definite purpose in mind
rack* : to stretch (usually painfully)
wrack* : to wreck or ruin
rationale(s) : underlying reasons for something
rationalization(s) : false logic justifying something
reactionary : seeking to restore a lost past
- reactive : acting in response to something
rebut** : to argue against a proposition
refute* : to prove a proposition wrong
reticent : unwilling to speak about something
- reluctant : unwilling to do something
remuneration(s) : payment
renumeration(s) : re-counting
resister(s) : one who resists
resistor(s) : an component of a circuit
retch(es,ed) : to vomit
wretch(es,ed) : someone who is wretched
retrospective(ly) : looking to the past
retroactive(ly) : applying to the past (typically laws)
revolve* : to spin around an external axis
rotate* : to spin around an internal axis
rout(s) : a disorderly retreat
- route(s) : a path or course taken
scotch : whisky
- scots : pertaining to Scotland or the Scottish
shinny* : to climb
shimmy* : to shake
shi(mm,nn)ying
shrunk : past participle of "to shrink" ("I have shrunk the head")
shrank : simple past tense of "to shrink" ("I shrank the head")
silicone : a type of polymer
silicon : a chemical element
societal : pertaining to societies
- social : pertaining to a society
sojourn* : to stay at a single place
- journey* : to move from place to place
specie : money in the form of coins
- species : a group of organisms capable of interbreeding
sprain* : a ligament injury
- strain* : a muscle or tendon injury
storey(s) : a level of a building
story(s) : a tale or account
take* a stance : to assume an position (literally or figuratively)
took a stance
take* a stand : to assume a position of resistance or opposition
took a stand
stationary : standing still
stationery : writing materials
straight(en,ened) : in line
strait(en,ened) : tight or narrow or difficult
stripped : having had a layer removed
striped : having stripes
subject to : potentially liable for some action or law
subjected to : having some action or law actually applied to you
secede* : to separate from a nation or organization
- succeed* : to achieve a desired outcome
summery : pertaining to summer
- summary : a precis or summation
systemic(ally) : pertaining to (parts of) a system
- systematic(ally) : in an orderly and logical manner
taught : past tense of "to teach"
taut : stretched tight
tort : a wrongdoing that injures another
tempera(s) : a kind of paint
tempura(s) : a kind of food
that : what follows is essential to the meaning of the sentence
which : what follows merely enhances the meaning of the sentence
their : belonging to them
they're : they are
there : at that location
thereupon : immediately after that
there upon : in that place and on
though : despite the fact that
thought : a mental notion
through : moving into and then out of
threw : past tense of "to throw"
thrown : past participle of "to throw"
throne : a seat for a monarch or other leader
throws : present tense of "to throw"
throes : intense pain or struggle
tick(s) : an insect, a sharp sound, a check mark
tic(s) : a small muscular spasm
timber(s) : wood
timbre(s) : the characteristic tonal quality of a voice or instrument
titillate* : to stimulate or arouse
titivate* : to make more attractive
tortuous : confusingly twisty
torturous : pertaining to torture
troupe(s,r) : a group of performers
troop(s,er) : a group of any other kind
unchartered : not having a charter
- uncharted : not appearing on a chart or map
usage(s) : the manner of employing, the amount used
- use(s) : the act of employing
vein(s) : a blood vessel or mineral seam
vane(s) : a blade that interacts with gases or liquids
vain : conceited, useless
valance(s) : a decorative hanging for furniture
valence(s) : the combining power of an element
vapid : weak, flavourless, insipid
vacuous : unintelligent, trivial, mindless
vary : to alter
very : in a high degree
versus : against
verses : line of poetry or scripture
were : past tense of "to be"
we're : we are
where : at what location
wherefore : why
who's : who is
whose : belonging to whom
whit(s) : a small piece
- wit(s) : intelligence, humour
wont : a habitual custom
- won't : will not
wangle* : to obtain something deviously
- wrangle* : to argue with, to herd livestock
wrapped : surrounded by
rapt : enraptured by
wreath(s) : a ring-shaped arrangement of flowers etc.
wreathe(s) : to surround or encircle
your : belonging to you
you're : you are
yoke* : part of a harness or of an item of clothing
yolk* : the yellow part of an egg
# Warn about subjectives...
- I was : [indicative] indicates something that is actual, sure, true, real
I were : [subjunctive] indicates something merely possible, conjectured, hypothetical
- she was : [indicative] indicates something that is actual, sure, true, real
she were : [subjunctive] indicates something merely possible, conjectured, hypothetical
- he was : [indicative] indicates something that is actual, sure, true, real
he were : [subjunctive] indicates something merely possible, conjectured, hypothetical
- it was : [indicative] indicates something that is actual, sure, true, real
it were : [subjunctive] indicates something merely possible, conjectured, hypothetical