Confusables.pdf

5/27/2018 Confusables.pdf

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Vocabulary is a vast ocean and it would be well nigh impossibleto claim that one has managed to learn all words quite

different from say Mathematics (Geometry) where we can claim

to have learnt all the theorem / formulae.

In an effort to provide structured Vocabulary reading, we bring

to you some common words and their confusing alternatives.

These could be words with similar spellings but differentpronunciations called heteronyms, or words with different

spellings but similar pronunciations called homonyms.

This is, of course, not a comprehensive list and the eagerstudent is urged to refer to some good vocabulary building

book or internet resource to further augment his vocabulary.


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CONFUSABLES.

words that have

similar spellings or

pronunciation


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Affect (v): To have an influence on as in affected hishealth

Effect (v): To bring about as in effect changes

Effect (n): result or (in the plural) property

Amend: To improve

Emend: (of a text) remove errors, edit

Appraise: Estimate the value of

Apprise: To inform

Affluent : Wealthy

Effluent : Waste Water


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Adherence: firm attachment Adherent: advocate or supporter

Ail: to cause trouble or discomfort Ale: alcoholic beverage

Altar: the worship table Alter: change

Antecedence: act of going before in time Antecedents: individuals who have gone before


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Abjure : Renounce Adjure : Beseech , Plead

Accent: way of speaking or emphasis Ascent: upward movement

Assent: to agree

Allusion: indirect or casual mention

Illusion: presentation of a false or misleading idea

Delusion: mistaken belief of a confused state of mind

Elusion: clever escape


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Allude: to refer indirectly or casually

Elude: to avoid or to escape

Allusion: indirect reference

Illusion: false idea or image

Amoral: not subject to or lacking moral distinctions

Immoral: violating conscience or public morality

Bail: security given for release from jail

Bale: a large bundle

Bass: deep or low in sound

Base: bottom part which supports that above it


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Born: come into existence Borne: carried or tolerated

Broach: introduce (a topic)

Brooch: ornamental pin

Bouillon: clear soup with a strong flavor

Bullion: precious metals, formed into bars

Bloc: group with shared purpose

Block: chunk, piece or hinder, oppose

Bolder: more daring

Boulder: a large rock


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Balmy: Fragrant, Aromatic, Sweet Smelling Barmy: Crazy, Insane, Lunatic

Cache: hidden storage

Cash: money

Cannon: A gun or a stroke in Billiards

Canon: a clergyman, a law, or a term in music

Canvas: a type of cloth

Canvass: to ask for votes

Callous: unfeeling

Callus: hard thickened skin


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Censer: container for incense (agarbatti) Censor: examines books, films etc before publicrelease

Censure: to disapprove

Confidant: someone in whom you confide

Confident: bold and trusting

Corps: a body of people Corpse: a dead body

Copse: a group of trees

Capitol :A building occupied by a state legislature Capital: A seat of government, Wealth


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Cease: stop

Seize: grab by force Siege: prolonged period of trouble. (The enemy laid

siege to the town)

Chic: stylishness, elegance Chick: small chicken or bird

Clich: overused expression

Click: make a light, sharp sound

Clique: small, exclusive group of people

Climactic: related to the climax Climatic: related to the climate


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Conscious: (adj.) awake, perceiving

Conscience: (n) sense of obligation to be good Conscientious: (adj.) careful or thorough

Cite: quote

Sight: vision

Site: exact location

Cede: yield Seed: beginning of a new plant

Dinghy: a small boat

Dingy: dirty, grimy, in a poor condition

Discreet: tactful or prudent

Discrete: distinct or separate


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Expand: enlarge

Expend: pay out money

Expansive: broad

Expensive: costing a lot of money

Extant: still existing

Extent: limit

Expatiate: write or speak in great detail

Expiate: atone or make amends for

Ewe: female sheep Yew: a variety of evergreen tree


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Exalt: glorify

Exult: rejoice

Essay: a short composition

Assay: chemical analysis

Erasable: of being rubbed out or removed

Irascible: easily provoked to anger

Envelop: enfold or surround completely

Envelope: container for a letter

Eminent: outstanding Imminent: impending, about to happen soon


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Effective: producing the desired result

Efficient: producing the desired result with the leastwaste

Elicit: to draw forth Illicit: illegal

Faun: a rural god or deity

Fawn: a young deer OR to flatter

Forbear: To abstain

Forebear: An ancestor

Fortuitous: Accidental

Fortunate: lucky


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Gourmet: a connoisseur of food Gourmand: Greedy

Grisly: horrible

Grizzly: a type of bear

Hoard: to store, accumulate

Horde: a tribe or a group

Human: (n) referring to a person

Humane: (adj.) kindness, benevolence, sympathy

Immanent: Inherent, by birth, already present

Imminent: impending, in the near future


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Idea: (n) thought, belief Ideal: (n) something/ one embodies perfection

Ideal: (adj.) embodying an ultimate standard ofexcellence or perfection

Lumbar: the lower back of the human body

Lumber (n): wood, timber

Lumber (v): to walk slowly and heavily

Lightening: make brighter or less heavy

Lighting: illumination

Lightning: electrical discharge in the atmosphere

Levee: raised portion along a river to prevent flooding

Levy: impose or collect


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Marital: relating to marriage

Marshal: peace officer Martial: military or warlike

Material: fabric

Materiel: equipment and supplies of an army or anorganization

Mean: lacking kindness

Mien: a persons manner or appearance

Moral: good according to a standard of right and wrong

Morale: spirit or attitude

Meet: come together

Mete: apportion


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Official: authorized

Officious: meddlesome or intrusive

Ordinance: regulation or law

Ordnance: military weapons and equipment

Overdue: past the expected time

Overdo: do too much or go too far

Pail: bucket with a handle

Pale: lacking color

Partially: to some extent (partially blind) Partly: in some parts (. based partly on facts..)


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Peak: highest point

Pique: feeling of sharp anger or resentment Peek: a quick look

Pedal: use a foot operated lever (pedal my bicycle)

Peddle: go from place to place selling (peddle his wares)

Peer: equal

Pier: landing place for ships

Perpetrate: perform or commit

Perpetuate: preserve forever

Perquisite: special privilege accorded a position or office

Prerequisite: something required in advance


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Plaintiff: brings a case in court of law

Plaintive: sad, mournful

Palate: roof of ones mouth

Palette: a flat plate for mixing paints, used byartists

Pallet: a platform or a mattress

Pellet: a small capsule

Persecute: harass, maltreat, oppress

Prosecute: take legal action against

Precede: go ahead of Proceed: go forward


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Physic: medicine

Physics: a subject Physique: well developed body structure

Populace: all the inhabitants of a place

Populous: having many inhabitants

Practicable: workable or feasible

Practical: useful, based on past performance

Prescribe: give as a direction to be followed

Proscribe: prohibit, ban or condemn

Presentiment: premonition, sixth sense

Presentment: offering of a note or bill of exchange foracceptance or payment


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Root: origin OR cheer for

Rout: terrible defeat Route: a well planned path

Review: a survey or a report

Revue: a musical show

Rhyme: matching of sounds in verse

Rime: frost

Scull: oar to row a boat

Skull: the bone of the head

Satire: make fun of, sarcasm

Satyr: a woodland deity / god


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Suit: a legal action, a matched set of clothes, meet

the requirement Suite: matched furniture or connected rooms

Stake: strong stick or post

Steak: slice of meat or fish

Spacious: roomy

Specious: counterfeit, misleading, false

Soluble: capable of being dissolved in anothersubstance

Solvable: capable of being solved or explained

Sleight: skill and dexterity

Slight: slender


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Stationary: unmoving, fixed

Stationery: writing materials

Stile: steps, especially wooden

Style: shape or manner

Troop: a company of people

Troupe: company of performers

Tare: a plant used as a cover crop; net weight

Tear: rip apart

Tear: drop of fluid from the eye

Tier: layer or row of vertical arrangement

Told: the past tense of tell

Tolled: to ring as in: the bells tolled


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Undo: cancel or reverse

Undue: beyond what is appropriate

Urban: relating to a city or city life

Urbane: refined and sophisticated

Vice: defect or fault

Vise: tool having two jaws that can be tightened

Waiver: voluntary relinquishment of a right

Waver: go back and forth on a decision

Yoke: crosspiece holding two things together Yolk: yellow part of an egg


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Two words

or

one word ?


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All together: (adv.) considered as a whole

Altogether: (adv.) completely, entirely

All together, there are 32 students in the class.

His comment raises an altogether different issue.

Anyone: (pronoun) any person at all

Any one: (adj.+ noun) specific item in a group

Anyway: (Adv.) in any case, nonetheless

Any way: (adj.+ noun) any particular course, direction,or manner

Every one: each, without exception

Everyone: all


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All ready: (adj.) complete preparedness

Already: (adv.) expressing timeAt last I was all ready to go, but everyone had alreadyleft.

Awhile: (adv.) for a short time. Doesnt require apreposition

A while: (article + noun) period of time, usually usedwith for

Please wait awhile.We talked for a while.

Maybe: (adv.) perhaps

May be: (verb)Maybe we should wait until the rain stops.

This may be our only chance to escape.


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No one: nobody

None: not oneNo one came to the party

None of the children finished lunch

No body: no group Nobody: no person

No body of laws can be called perfect.

Nobody spoke to him. Some time: a period of time

Sometime: at an unspecified time

Sometimes: now and then

I will need some time to think.

We must have lunch sometime.

Sometimes I feel the need to shout aloud

Documents

Confusables.pdf