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Wordbay · Commonly confused

Commonly confused words, side by side

Pairs that look or sound alike and trip up careful writers. Each pair is shown together, so you can see what keeps them apart.

The pairs

  • adverse adjective. Harmful or unfavourable.
  • averse adjective. Strongly disliking something or unwilling to do it.
  • affect verb. To influence something or make a difference to it.
  • effect noun. A change or result that something produces.
  • allude verb. To mention something indirectly, without naming it outright.
  • elude verb. To escape or avoid someone or something, often by being clever or quick.
  • appraise verb. To judge the worth, quality or condition of something.
  • apprise verb. To tell someone about something; to inform.
  • censure noun. Strong, formal criticism or disapproval.
  • complaisant adjective. Willing to please others and go along with what they want.
  • complacent adjective. Smugly satisfied with how things are, and so not alert to danger.
  • complement verb. To go well with something, completing it or making it better.
  • compliment noun. A polite remark that expresses praise or admiration.
  • continual adjective. Happening again and again, with breaks in between.
  • continuous adjective. Going on without any pause or break.
  • credulous adjective. Too ready to believe what you are told.
  • discreet adjective. Careful about what you say or do, so as not to embarrass anyone or give away secrets.
  • discrete adjective. Separate and distinct from one another.
  • elicit verb. To draw out a reply, reaction or piece of information from someone.
  • eminent adjective. Famous and respected within a particular field.
  • imminent adjective. About to happen very soon.
  • flaunt verb. To show something off proudly so that others are sure to notice.
  • flout verb. To ignore a rule, law or custom openly and without shame.
  • imply verb. To suggest something without saying it outright.
  • infer verb. To work something out from evidence or hints rather than being told it directly.
  • ingenious adjective. Clever, original and inventive.
  • ingenuous adjective. Innocent, trusting and open, sometimes more than is wise.
  • militate verb. To be a strong factor that works against (or, less often, for) something happening.
  • mitigate verb. To make something bad less severe or painful.
  • ordinance noun. An official order or rule, especially a local law.
  • ordnance noun. Military weapons, ammunition and equipment, especially big guns.
  • prescribe verb. To recommend a medicine or treatment, or to lay down officially what must be done.
  • proscribe verb. To forbid or ban something officially.
  • principal adjective. Main or most important.
  • principle noun. A basic truth, rule or belief that guides how someone acts or how something works.
  • stationary adjective. Not moving, or not changing.
  • stationery noun. Paper, envelopes, pens and other things for writing.
  • tortuous adjective. Full of twists and turns; also, needlessly long and complicated.
  • torturous adjective. Causing great pain or suffering; agonising.
  • venal adjective. Willing to take bribes or act dishonestly for money.
  • venial adjective. Minor and easily forgiven.