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Online English Handbook1.2.1
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TEXT_138_Word List.txt
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List of Frequently Confused Words
a lot many
alot no such word (slang for "a lot")
allot to distribute
ability power to do something
capacity facility to contain something
abjure renounce
adjure appeal
accede to agree
exceed to surpass
accent vocal emphasis, to emphasize
ascent vertical path upward
assent agreement
accept to receive, to regard as true
except to exclude
acquire to gain possession of
attain to achieve a goal
obtain to gain possession of
adherence attachment
adherents followers
adapt to adjust
adept skillful
adopt to take or accept as one's own
addition something added
edition the total issue or number of copies
adverse against
averse disinclined
affect as a verb-to influence, to change (usual usage)
as a noun-affectation-as in "His accent was an affect."
effect as a noun-a result (usual usage)
as a verb-to bring about-as in "He will effect a recovery."
affectation pretense
affection fondness
affinity connection to
infinity limitless space, time, distance
aggravate to worsen
irritate to annoy, to cause discomfort
aisle passageway
isle land surrounded by water
all ready entirely ready
already reference to time
all together in a group
altogether completely
allay to relieve
alley a narrow passage
ally a comrade, to join
allude to refer indirectly to
elude to evade
refer to direct
allusion an indirect reference
delusion false reasoning
illusion false vision
altar a place of worship
alter to change
amateur a nonprofessional
novice a beginner
amiable good–natured
amicable peaceful
among more than two
between only two
amount measured quantity
number counted entities
anecdote a brief story
antidote a remedy
ante- before or prior to
anti- against or opposed to
anxious worried
eager ardent, impatiently expectant
apparent obvious through deductive reasoning
evident obvious through external signs
appraise to evaluate
apprise to inform
apprehend to seize, to grasp
comprehend to understand
apt appropriate
liable bound to occur, legally obligated
libel written slander
likely probable, probably
arrant notorious
errand a task
errant wandering, roving
assay to analyze
essay a short literary composition, to attempt
assure to remove doubt
ensure to guarantee
insure to protect
avocation a hobby
vocation a profession
bare to uncover
bear an animal, to carry, to endure
bazaar a market
bizarre strange
believe convinced by reason
feel convinced by emotion
berth a sleeping or mooring place
birth origin, beginning of existence
beside next to
besides also
biannual twice a year
biennial every other year
semiannual twice a year
bi- every other period (biweekly, bimonthly)
semi- twice within the period (semiweekly, semimonthly)
billed requested payment
build construct
built constructed
bloc a group of people
block a solid object, to impede
boar a male swine
Boer a Dutch South African colonist
boor a rude person
bore a dull person, a hole, to make a hole
born given birth to
borne carried or supported
bourn or bourne a stream, a limit or goal
borough a governmental unit
borrow to receive temporarily
burro a donkey
burrow a hole, to dig
bouillon soup
bullion bulk precious metal
breadth width
breath an inhalation or exhalation of air
breathe to inhale and exhale air
calendar a register of time
calender a rolling machine
colander a strainer
can is able
may is permitted
cannon a big gun
canon a law
canvas cloth
canvass to solicit, to survey
capital the seat of government, investment money, an upper case
letter
capitol a legislative building
carat or karat weight (four grains)
caret an editor's mark
carrot a vegetable
casual informal, by chance
causal referring to the cause
ceiling the interior upper surface of a room
sealing closing tightly
censer incense burner
censor to criticize, to delete from publication
censure to blame
cession surrender of a title or right
session a meeting
character the whole of an actual personality
reputation the external perception of a personality
chased pursued
chaste pure, virginal
choral, chorale a hymn
corral a pen for animals
chord a combination of musical notes
cord a string
cite to refer to, to summon
sight vision or view
site location
climactic refers to climax
climatic refers to climate
close near, to shut
clothes wearing apparel
coarse not fine
course a route, part of a curriculum, a division of a meal
compare to assess similarities and differences
contrast to assess differences
complement to add to, to improve
compliment to praise
comprehensible understandable
comprehensive inclusive
confidant, trusted one, person in whom we confide
confidante trusted one, female in whom we confide
confident assured
conscience sense of morality
conscious awake
consul an official
council a conference, its members
counsel an advisor, advice
contemptible deserving of contempt
contemptuous feeling of contempt
contend to deal with, for, or against something
content that which is contained within something
contiguous adjoining, bordering
continual occurring repeatedly
continuous occurring ceaselessly
convince to cause to believe
persuade to cause to believe and act upon that belief
core central part
corp a group of people
corespondent legal term
correspondent a writer
credible acceptable, believable
creditable praiseworthy
credulous gullible
criteria standards
criterion a single standard
cymbal a musical instrument
symbol a token, a representative sign
decease die
disease sickness
decent respectable
descent vertical path downward
dissent disagreement
dent a concavity, a surface depression
dint effort
deprecate to express disapproval, to belittle
depreciate to decline in value
desert arid land, to abandon
dessert a sweet food, a reward
device an appliance
devise to plan
die to expire from life
dye a coloring agent, to add color to
discreet cautious or tactful
discrete separate or distinct
disinterested without self–interest
uninterested indifferent, lacking interest
disqualify to judge unfit, to eliminate from
unqualified unfit, lacking qualifications for
divers several
diverse different, distinct in kind
dual two
duel a fight
dying expiring from life
dyeing coloring
either one or the other
neither none
eligible qualified
illegible unreadable
ineligible unqualified
legible readable
elicit to draw forth, to evoke
illicit improper
emerge to come out from
immerge to go into
emigration leaving
immigration entering
eminent of highest status
imminent soon to occur
emulate to equal, to excel
imitate to mimic, to copy
envelop to surround, to enclose
envelope a covering
epigram a witty statement
epitaph a tribute to the dead
epithet a descriptive name
equitable fair, just
equable steady, uniform
exalt to praise
exult to rejoice
exceedingly to a great degree
excessively to too great a degree
exceptional unusual
exceptionable objectionable
excerpt a selection, to select
extract a concentrated portion, to pull out forcibly, to obtain
excite to stir up emotionally
incite to stir into action
expect to believe a thing will happen
suspect to doubt the truth of
extant still existing
extent the measure of, the limit
facetious joking
factious causing dissension
factitious artificial
fictitious imaginary
faint not strong, to lose consciousness
feign to give false appearance
feint a diversionary tactic, to pretend
fair a festival, not foul, light complexioned
fare a toll, a toll payer, to get along
famous celebrated
notable remarkable
noteworthy remarkable
noted well–known, distinguished by reputation
notorious widely known in an unfavorable sense
farther physical distance
further in addition to
feat an accomplishment
feet leg endings
fete a festival
fewer smaller number
less smaller quantity
flair ability, distinctive manner
flare a flame, to flame
flaunt to make a showy display of
flout to disparage, to show contempt
forbear to refrain from
forebear an ancestor, a predecessor
forceful vigorous
forcible by force or strength
foreword a preface
forward a direction
formally in a formal way
formerly at a previous time
fort a fortified building
forte an ability, a strong point
forth forward
fourth between third and fifth
funeral a ceremony
funereal sad, melancholy
gamble to wager
gambol to leap about playfully
genius exceptional ability
genus type
gibe to scoff at, to mock
jibe to change direction (nautical)
gild to overlay with gold
guild an association
gilt overlaid with gold
guilt culpability, the opposite of innocence
good not bad, the opposite of evil
well not ill, skillfully or correctly-as in "well done."
gorilla an ape
guerrilla an irregular soldier
gourmand a big eater, a glutton
gourmet a connoisseur of foods
grisly horrible
gristly tough, tough and elastic
grizzly gray–haired, a type of bear
guarantee to secure, to ensure
guaranty financial security or agreement
hail frozen rain, to call aloud
hale healthy
hair a fibrous growth
hare a rabbit-like rodent
hanged a person is hanged
hung an object is hung
healthful contributing to good health
healthy in good health
hear to perceive sound
here in this place
hoard a cache
horde a crowd
hole a cavity
whole entire
holey having holes
holy sacred
wholly entirely
human pertaining to homo sapiens
humane benevolent, kind
idle inactive
idol an object of worship
idyll a description of a peaceful country scene, or such a scene
impassable can not be passed
impassible without feeling
impossible can not be accomplished
imply to suggest, to state indirectly
infer to draw a conclusion
impostor the person who commits a fraud
imposture the fraud committed
incite to provoke
insight mental vision
incredible unbelievable
incredulous unbelieving
indict to accuse
indite to write, to compose
ingenious talented, clever, original
ingenuous innocent, unsophisticated
intelligent quick to learn
smart in fashion
invaluable priceless
valuable worth a high price
its a possessive pronoun
it's a contraction of "it is"
jealous envious
zealous diligent, devoted, vigorous
knight a rank
night the opposite of day
later after a passage of time
latter the last mentioned
laid past tense of lay
lain past participle of lie (to recline)
lane a track, a path
lay to place, past tense of lie (to recline)
lie a false statement, to state falsely, to recline
lied past tense of lie (to state falsely)
lye a caustic chemical
lean free of fat, to incline
lien a legal claim
leave to depart from
let to permit
lessee lease holder
lessor lease grantor
lessen to make smaller
lesson a unit of learning
levee an embankment
levy an imposition or assessment
lightening decreasing in weight
lightning an electrical discharge
like a preposition (looks like rain)
as an adverb or conjunction (dark as night)
loose free, unrestrained, to set free
loosen to let free
lose to misplace
luxuriant of abundant growth
luxurious rich, splendid
majority more than half
plurality the largest part, but less than half
marital concerning marriage
marshal an official, to organize
martial concerning the military
masterful powerful, domineering
masterly skillful
medal a trophy, an award
meddle to interfere
metal a substance—such as gold, silver, steel, etc.
mettle quality of a person's character
miner a mine worker
minor not of legal age, smaller, less important
moral virtuous
morale state of mind
motif theme
motive incentive
naval pertaining to a navy
navel a dent, a depression, site of the umbilical knot
nausea illness
nauseated feeling ill
nauseous causing nausea
new not old
novel not common, a fictional work
number things counted
quantity amount measured
occultist believes in dark forces, witchcraft, etc.
oculist treats eyes
ophthalmologist treats eyes
optician makes eyeglasses
optometrist checks vision
official an authorized person, that which is authorized
officer an elected or appointed person
officious meddlesome
ordinance a law
ordnance military hardware
orient east, to face or point toward something
occident west
oscillate to swing, to vibrate
osculate to kiss
overdo do to excess
overdue past due
paid past tense of "pay" (in the sense of a payment)
payed out past tense of "pay out" (a hose, cable, line, etc.)
pain discomfort
pane a plate of glass
pair two alike
pare to cut away
pear a fruit
palate the roof of the mouth
palette an artist's board
pallet a bed, a skid
paramount the highest of
tantamount the same as
partially not completely
partly not all of something
passed went beyond
past ago, over
peace serenity, absence of war
piece a portion, a part
pedal a foot lever
peddle to sell
perpetrate to commit
perpetuate to preserve
persecute to oppress, to harass
prosecute to carry on, to pursue a course of action, to sue in a court
of law
personal private
personnel the staff of an organization
physic a laxative
physical material, pertaining to the body
physique the appearance of the body
psychic a seer, of the mind
plain not fancy, simple
plane a flat surface, a tool, an aircraft, to render flat
plaintiff the suing party
plaintive mournful
plait a pleat or braid, to pleat or braid
plate a flat dish, a metal sheet, to coat with metal
portion part of a whole
potion a drink
pray to beseech
prey hunted creature, to hunt
precede to be in front of something
proceed to go forward
prescribe to order, to recommend a remedy
proscribe to condemn
principal first in rank or authority
principle fundamental truth or law
prophecy a prediction
prophesy to predict
proposal a point or offer to be accepted or rejected
proposition a point to be discussed
quiet silent
quit stop doing
quite entirely
rain precipitation
reign to rule, a period of rule
rein to curb, that which curbs
rebound to bounce back
redound to have an effect upon
reek to emit strong odor
wreak to inflict punishment upon
respectfully politely
respectively each in its given order
resume to take up where left off
résumé summation
reverend a clergyman
reverent respectful
right correct, a direction, a guaranteed due
rite a ceremony
wright a craftsman
write to commit to letters
rang past tense of ring (she rang the bell)
ring a bell sound, a finger ornament, a circle, to encircle, to
make a bell sound
ringed wearing, decorated, or formed like a ring; encircled
rung a ladder step, past participle of ring (the bell was rung)
wring to squeeze out
wrung past tense of wring
role the part acted
roll a bakery good, a list, to rotate, to revolve
rout to put to flight
route a road, a way
salary regular pay for non–manual work
wages pay for manual work
satire witty literary work
satyr a lecherous man
seasonable in keeping with the season, timely
seasonal affected by the seasons, periodic
sensual pertaining to grosser appetites (sex, food)
sensuous pertaining to finer appetites (art, music)
set to place
sit to rest (as in a chair)
specie coined money
species type
staid sedate, reserved
stayed remained
stair a step
stare a fixed gaze, to gaze fixedly
stake a post
steak a cut of meat
stationary immobile
stationery writing material
statue a sculpture
stature height, status achieved
statute a law
steal to take without permission
steel a metal
stile a step
style mode, fashion
straight not curved, direct
strait a narrow passage, restricted, tight
suit clothing, a grouping of things (cards, etc.), a
legal action, a romantic move, to please
suite a grouping of things (musical pieces, rooms, etc.)
tare a deducted weight
tear to rip
tasteful having good judgement
tasty having good flavor
taught imparted knowledge
taut stretched tightly
temporal mortal, not eternal
temporary not permanent
tern a bird
turn to change direction, to revolve
their possessive form of "they"
there that place
they're a contraction of "they are"
therefor for this or for that thing
therefore for this or for that reason
threw hurled
though notwithstanding
thorough complete
through in one end or side and out the other
to a preposition (normally suggesting direction)
too also
two the number after one
tortuous sinuous, winding
torturous painful
urban not rural
urbane smooth–mannered
vain useless, self–admiring
vane a wind direction indicator
vein a blood vessel, a body of ore
venal corruptible
venial excusable
vice an evil practice
vise a clamp
waist a narrowing between wider portions
waste superfluous matter, to wear away
wait a delay, to delay
weight heaviness
waive, waiver the relinquishing of a claim or right
wave an undulation, a hand sign
waver to hesitate, to vacillate
want a desire, to desire
wont accustomed
won't a contraction of "will not"
war hostility between factions
wore past tense of wear
ware manufactured merchandise
wear apparel, to have apparel on, erosion, to erode
where in what place?
weather climatic conditions
whether pertaining to a choice
who's contraction of "who is"
whose possessive form of "who"
worm an elongated animal
warm not cold
yawl a sailboat
yowl to howl
yoke a collar
yolk an egg part
yore long ago
you're contraction of "you are"
your possessive form of "you"