Commonly Confused Words

Updated: October 21, 2006






ADVERSE (adjective): contrary; hostile; hurtful.

The medicine has been reported to cause several adverse side effects, such as dry mouth and blurred vision.

AVERSE (adjective): opposed; disinclined.

It is not that John is averse to marriage. He simply prefers things the way they are now. 




ALREADY (adverb): previously.

They had already left for the station when I called.

ALL READY (phrase): prepared.

They were all ready to leave for the station when I called. 




ALTAR (noun): a place where sacrifices are offered to a deity.

The tribesmen built an altar there.

ALTER (verb): to change.

There isn't much that can alter the outcome. 




AMIABLE (adjective): likeable; friendly and sociable.

Her amiable disposition is her greatest asset.

AMENABLE (adjective): willing to co-operate; capable of submission.

This should make them more amenable to the offers we will propose on Friday. 




ANECDOTE (noun): a short account of an amusing incident.

John told his dinner guests an anecdote about the time his mother got lost in town.

ANTIDOTE (noun): a medicine taken to counteract the effects of poison.

I rushed to the hospital after I was bit by a venomous snake. A doctor administered an antidote by injection. 




ASSURE (verb): make sure; convince.

They assured me that they'd take care of the matter.

ENSURE (verb): make certain that; secure.

I ensured that they took care of the matter.

INSURE (verb): to issue an insurance policy.

Don't worry about the accident! We're insured. 




BRING (verb): indicates action towards speaker.

Bring my book back the next time you come over.

TAKE (verb): indicates action away from speaker.

Take these books back to the library. 




COARSE (adjective): rough.

The beach was covered in a thick layer of coarse sand.

COURSE (noun): a series of lessons in a particular subject.

The art course I signed up for starts next Tuesday and lasts three weeks. 




COMPLEMENTARY (adjective): completing.

The people working in the group are individuals possessing complementary skills and qualifications.

COMPLIMENTARY (adjective): praising; provided free of charge.

The hotel bathroom was full of complimentary soaps and shampoos. 




CONSEQUENTLY (adverb & conjunction): following as a result; accordingly.

John never finished his projects on time. Consequently, he was fired.

SUBSEQUENTLY (adverb): following in time, order, or place.

John found a new job at a different firm. Subsequently, he enrolled in a criminal justice program at the local college. 




DISCREET (adjective): showing good judgment in action or speech.

She was very discreet about the whole ordeal.

DISCRETE (adjective): separate or individually distinct.

I teach twenty disabled children, each having discrete needs. 




EXHAUSTING (adjective): causing tiredness.

Collecting all the necessary information was an exhausting task.

EXHAUSTIVE (adjective): comprehensive; thorough.

Have you read John's exhaustive study on the matter? 




FAZE (verb): to disturb the composure of.

Nothing seems to faze her.

PHASE (verb): to carry out in phases.

We phased the construction over a period of five years. 




FORCEFUL (adjective): filled with force; powerful.

Their forceful attack brought victory.

FORCIBLE (adjective): accomplished by force.

Most burglaries are by forcible entry. 




FOREWORD (noun): an introduction at the beginning of a book.

I seldom read forewords.

FORWARD (noun): a player positioned near the front of a team, such as in hockey and soccer.

My son is a forward in that soccer team. 




GOOD (adjective): satisfactory.

The casserole your mother made was good.

WELL (adverb): in a satisfactory manner.

She did well on her exams.

NOTE: Exception is drawn to verbs of sensation. I feel good. 




HANG and HUNG: Hung is the correct past form of the verb when used to mean to suspend. When it is used to mean to put to death by hanging, the correct form is hanged.

Susie hung the picture on the wall. John Smith was hanged in 1925. 




HISTORIC (adjective): famous or important in history.

John enjoys visiting historic places.

HISTORICAL (adjective): relating to history.

Jane enjoys reading historical novels. 




INSIDIOUS (adjective): proceeding gradually but harmfully; treacherous.

Alcohol can have an insidious effect on perception.

INVIDIOUS (adjective): tending to cause resentment, animosity, or envy; containing or showing prejudice.

We need to eliminate invidious discrimination. 




NATIONALIZE (verb): to bring (an industry, etc.) under the ownership or control of a nation.

The parliament voted to nationalize the industry.

NATURALIZE (verb): to admit a foreigner citizenship of a country.

How do I become a naturalized citizen? 




PERCENT and PERCENTAGE: Percent is used with numbers; percentage is used without.

The voter turnout was up twenty-five percent. Motu is spoken by a small percentage of the world's population. 




PERSONAL (adjective): one's own; private.

These boxes contain John's personal belongings.

PERSONNEL (noun): employees; the part of a company dealing with the hiring of new employees.

I sent my resume and cover letter to the ABCD Company's personnel department. 




PRINCIPAL (noun): a head or superior; a capital sum.

The principal of my school just moved here from London.

PRINCIPLE (noun): a basic truth or law; a personal code of ethics.

John is a person of high principles. 




PROPHECY (noun): a prediction of future events.

The prophecy he made in 1888 has come true.

PROPHESY (verb): to predict future events.

He prophesied his own death. 




SKID (verb): to slide out of control.

My car started to skid when I hit the patch of ice.

SLIDE (verb): to move smoothly over a surface.

She slid down the waterslide. 




STATIONERY (noun): writing materials.

I bought my mom stationery for her birthday.

STATIONARY (adjective): still; not moving.

I bought my mom a stationary bicycle for her birthday. 




WHO'S: a contraction of who is or who has.

Who's going to the library this afternoon?

WHOSE: the possessive form of who.

Whose book is this?