Confused Words

• B •
WORDS	DEFINITIONS & EXAMPLES
bad badly	Bad is an adjective used after verbs like am, feel, is, seem, and become: They felt bad. (Using badly here would mean that their skill at feeling is poor).
	Badly is an adverb used after other verbs: They played badly. Badly can also mean "greatly": They needed food badly.
baited bated	Baited usually refers to traps: Baiting deer in order to hunt them is illegal in most states.
	Bated is seldom used but means "reduced, abated": Jessica bated her pace to let her running mate catch up.
bare bear	Bare means "naked": Walking in grass with bare feet is refreshing.
	Bear is the animal, and also means "to carry": Sherman must bear the burden of flunking math twice.
bazaar bizarre	Bazaar is an exhibition, market, or fair: The Saturday morning bazaar is worth seeing even if you buy nothing.
	Bizarre means "weird and unworldly": Barry told us a bizarre story last night.
belief believe	Belief is a noun: He had strong beliefs.
	Believe is a verb: She believes she can do anything.
beside besides	Beside means "next to": Place the dishes beside the sink.
	Besides is an adverb or preposition that means "also, additionally": I would enjoy going on a vacation besides.
better had better	Had better is the correct form, used when giving advice that hints at an undesirable consequence if not followed: You had better go to the doctor. Don't leave out have.
between among	See among, between.
biannual biennial	Biannual is twice in one year: My trip to the dentist is a biannual event.
	Biennial means "every two years": These flowers are biennial; they bloom every two years.
bimonthly semimonthly	Bimonthly means "every two months": We order from the co-op bimonthly.
	Semimonthly means "twice a month (biweekly)": We have our house cleaned semimonthly.
blithe lithe	Blithe, an adjective, means "lighthearted and carefree": A blithe mood overcomes us in the spring.
	Lithe is also an adjective but it means "flexible, graceful, and supple": The lithe movements of the yoga instructor impressed us all.
blonde blond	Blonde describes women: Brunettes have just as much fun as blondes (blonde women).
	Blond describes men: Sean was not a natural blond. This distinction is not necessary though: blond is now generally accepted for both men and women.
board bored	Board means a few things. One is "a long sheet of wood": Hiram had to cut the board to make the shelves. It also means "a committee": The board of directors met to decide the fate of the school. Lastly, it can mean "to get onto": She boarded the ship.
	Bored means "not interested": She is bored by the dry lecture.
bore boar boor	A bore is a boring or tiresome person or thing: Jasper is such a bore when he talks about his cats!
	A boar is a male pig: Wild boars abound in this forest.
	A boor is an unrefined, vulgar person: What a boor Guy was to get drunk at the wedding and embarrass everyone.
born borne	Born is newly coming into life: A child was born at 12:01 New Year's day.
	Borne means "carried": All gossip is borne by an ill wind.
borrow lend loan	Borrow is to receive something from someone temporarily: to borrow a book and then return it.
	Lend is a verb that mean "to temporarily give something to someone": Henry will lend (or loan) Francine a book.
	Loan is a noun: a bank loan. Loan is often used in American English as a verb meaning "to lend": Loan me a book, please.
braise braze	Braise means "to cook (usually meat) slowly in liquid": Braised meat is usually tender.
	To braze is to solder or create with metals such as bronze: Shirley brazed a statue of a famous Civil War leader.
brake break	Brake means "to stop": You should brake slowly on ice.
	Break means "to smash": To break a mirror brings seven years of worse luck than you are having now.
breath breathe	Breath is a noun meaning "the air pulled into the lungs": Take a deep breath and relax.
	Breathe, with an E on the end, is a verb: Just breathe deeply and calm down.
bridal bridle	Bridal has to do a bride and her wedding: June May threw her bridal bouquet to the screaming crowd of single women.
	A bridle is a halter or restraint, such as a horse bridle: Old Frosty didn't like the bridle over his head.
by buy bye	By is a preposition meaning "next to": Park the car by the house.
	Buy means "purchase": Grandpa buys an ice cream cone every Sunday afternoon.
	Bye means "farewell or good-bye": Bye, now; I'll see you later.

Vocabularies exercises. Test yourself.

Vocabulary 1 – 20
Choose one word to go in each gap.
about accept accident act actions
adds address advertisements advise afternoon

1 I _____________ you to get to bed early tonight.
2 We all _____________ the new laws.
3 He enjoys the _____________ on television.
4 We have _________ twenty-five people in our class.
5 __________ speak louder than words.
6 On Saturday _____________ we went to a festival.
7 The street _____________ of our school is 1 Kauri Glen Rd.
8 She boils the water then _____________ the rice.
9 Who will _____________ the part of the king in the play?
10 He was hurt in an ____________.



Answers 1 - 10 (A)
1 I advise you to get to bed early tonight.
2 We all accept the new laws.
3 He enjoys the advertisements on television.
4 We have about twenty-five people in our art class.
5 Actions speak louder than words.
6 On Saturday afternoon we went to a festival.
7 The street address of our school is 1 Kauri Glen Rd.
8 She boils the water then adds the rice.
9 Who will act the part of the king in the play?
10 He was hurt in an accident.

COMMON CONFUSED WORDS

WORDS	DEFINITIONS & EXAMPLES
a lot allot	A lot is two words meaning "much": A lot of bologna was left over from the party.
a while awhile	A while is two words meaning "a short period of time": I will meet you in a while.
a an and	A is an indefinite article to be used before nouns beginning with a consonant: a photograph, a tree, a horse.
	An is to be used before nouns beginning with a vowel (or vowel sound): an apple, an hour, an elephant.
	And is a conjunction used between nouns in a list: A blanket and picnic basket are needed for the afternoon.
accede exceed	Accede means "to agree or allow": Hiram Cheaply finallyacceded to accepting the presidency of the company.
	Exceed means "to go beyond, to surpass": The amount of alcohol in his blood exceeded the previous record.
accept except	Accept means "to take willingly": Miss Deeds accepted the cup of hot tea even without a saucer.
	Except is a preposition meaning "excluding": Everyone was disappointed with the party except Ida Goodtime.
adapt adept adopt	Adapt means "to adjust": Minnie Miles quickly adapted to living away from home.
	Adept means "skilled": Lucille is adept at speaking languages.
	Adopt means to "accept as your own": It was difficult to adopt only one puppy from the animal shelter.
adverse averse	Adverse means "unfavorable, hostile": Those driving in adverse winter conditions may be putting themselves at risk.
	Averse means "unwilling or repelled": She was immediately averse to the idea.
advice advise	Advice is a noun meaning "an opinion given with the intention of helping": My mother still gives me advice even though I'm 40 years old.
	Advise is a verb meaning "to give counsel or advice": The meteorologist advised listeners to stay indoors because of the extremely cold temperatures.
affect effect	Affect is most often used as a verb meaning "to influence": The president's speech affected his views of the upcoming election.
	The verb effect means "to cause": Batting her eyes so flirtatiously effected a strong desire in Rathbone to embrace Mirabelle.
aid aide	Aid is help or assistance given: Every Christmas the community gives aid to those less fortunate.
	An aide is a person who helps: Frieda Gogh worked five years as a teacher's aide.
airs heirs	Airs refers to snobbish and artificial behavior: Portia Radclyffe put on airs at the fine dinner party just because she had a few diamonds.
	Heirs are people who, because they are family, will inherit an estate or title.
all right alright	All right is a phrase meaning "everything is right": Is all right here?
	Alright is a single word meaning "OK": Is everything alright here?
all together altogether	All together is applied to people or things that are being treated as a whole: We always had fun when we were all together. To double check this usage, try separating the two words: We all had fun when were together.
	Altogether is an adverb that means "completely or totally": Using a flashlight in bed is an altogether new approach to reading.
all ways always	All ways means "by every means or method": Dirk tried all ways to navigate the storm.
	Always means "forever": Sue St. Marie always responded calmly during emergency situations.
allude elude	Allude means "to suggest indirectly": Leticia can't speak to her husband without alluding to his affair with Martha Snodgrass.
	Elude means "to dodge or escape": Serious relationships always seemed to elude him.
allusion illusion	An allusion is a subtle reference or hint: Rita Book made an allusion to the most recent novel she read in our conversation yesterday.
	An illusion is a deception, mirage, or a wild idea: The teacher said she had no illusions about how much work teaching demands.
almost most	Almost means "nearly all": Almost all my friends have graduated from college by now.
	Most is superlative of more, meaning "the greatest or to the highest degree": Chuck is the most computer savvy guy I know, or Chuck cooked a most delicious supper.
aloud allowed	Aloud means "speaking so that someone else can hear you": Read this paragraph aloud.
	Allowed means "having permission": His boss allowed him to take the weekend off.
already, all ready	Already is an adverb that indicates an action is completed by a certain time: Herschel had already finished that whole pie.
	All ready means "everything is completely prepared": The children were all ready and bundled up warmly to go caroling on the snowy evening.
alternately alternatively	Alternately means "taking turns": We paddled alternately so neither of us would get too tired.
	Alternatively means "as an option": Instead of going by train, we could have gone alternatively by car.
ambiguous ambivalent	Ambiguous is describes a phrase or act with more than one meaning, or one that is unclear: The ending of the short story is ambiguous; we don't know if he died or continue his journey.
	Ambivalent means "uncertainty and having conflicting attitudes and feelings": He was ambivalent as to which candidate to vote for.
amiable amicable	Amiable refers to a person who is friendly, good-natured, and pleasant: Susan was very amiable and liked immediately.
	Amicable means "friendly and peaceable", and is used to describe agreements or relationships between groups or people: After years of disagreement, the two countries came to an amicable agreement.
among between	Among is used for three or more: Shirley had to choose among three universities she might attend.
	Between is used for two things: I couldn't decide between blue and green.
amoral immoral	Amoral means "having no principles at all, good or bad": Percy is totally amoral; he is either helping others or helping himself at their expense.
	Immoral means "bad, lacking good principles": Everything his brother does harms others whether it benefits him or not.
amount number	Amount is used with uncountable and abstract nouns: a large amount of money, amount of work, amount of happiness or amount of dirt.
	Number is used with countable and concrete plural expressions: a number of people, a number of attempts, a number of novels, a number of trials.
amused bemused	Amused is when something is entertaining: The children were amused by watching the kittens play.
	Bemused means "bewildered" or "lost in thought": George was bemused by the unexpected ending to the movie.
annual annul	Annual means "yearly": We must pay an annual tax.
	Annul means "to make void or invalid": They want to annul the marriage.
any one anyone	Any one means "any one person": Any one of you may go, but not all of you.
	Anyone means "anybody, any person at all": Anyone can chew gum and walk at the same time.
anyway anywhere nowhere anyways anywheres nowheres	Anyway, anywhere, and nowhere are the correct forms.
apart a part	Apart is an adverb meaning "in pieces": My plan for my vacation fell apart.
	A part is a noun meaning "one section of": A part of my heart left when he did.
appraise apprise	Appraise is to assess or estimate the worth of: to appraise a diamond.
	Apprise is to inform or notify: the officer apprised us of our rights.
arcane archaic	Arcane refers to things known and understood by few people: Amanda Lynn teaches arcane theories of modern music at the college.
	Archaic refers to things very, very old and outdated: The Oxford English Dictionary contains many words that are archaic.
as like	As may be used as a conjunction that introduce dependent clauses: George talks as his father does. Informally, it may also be used as a preposition in comparative constructions like: Jean-Claude is as forgetful as me (or as I am).
	Like is a preposition is followed by a noun or pronoun: George looks like his mother. It may also be used as an adjective meaning "similar": George and I have like minds.
ascent assent	Ascent is an upward movement: Leo's ascent to the presidency of the company came slowly.
	Assent means "to agree to": Greta could not begin the project unless management assented.
ascetic aesthetic	An ascetic is a person who renounces all material comforts, often for religious devotion: the young man lead his ascetic lifestyle despite his parents' plans for him. It can also be used as an adjective: Ethan Asia led an ascetic lifestyle.
	Aesthetic refers to the philosophy of beauty or the pleasing qualities of something: The statuette Leander created was lacking in aesthetic qualities.
ascribe describe	Ascribe means "to attribute to": She ascribed her feelings of jealousy to insecurity.
	Describe means "to show what something is by drawing a picture with words": Describe in detail what the man looked like.
aspersion dispersion	Aspersion is slander, a damaging remark: The campaign was filled with one aspersion after another.
	Dispersion is the act of scattering: The dispersion of seeds was irregular because he sowed the seeds by hand.
assent ascent	See ascent, assent.
assistance assistants	Assistance is help or aid: the nurses gave assistance to the patients.
	Assistants are more than one assistant, a person who gives help: the emergency room assistants were ready to help anyone who came through the door. (See also patienceand patients.)
assure ensure insure	Assure means "to guarantee": He assured her it was a quality item.
	Ensure means "to make sure by double checking": The custodian ensured the doors to the school were locked at night.
	Insure means "to provide insurance": It is wise to insure your house against flood, fire, or theft.
auger augur	An auger is a tool used for digging holes: If you want to ice fish, you need to first drill a hole in the ice with an auger.
	Augur means "to predict, forecast": Leroy's inheritance augured happiness for him in the future.

Can you find the errors guys?

One of these parts contains an error.
 
1. The fire spread quickly, destroy three houses within minutes.
 
2. She crossed the road without looking and was knock down by a car.
 
3. He got out of the car, than he locked it and walked to the office.
 
4. I hope you will kind consider my application for a job in your company.
 
5. If I know it was going to rain like this, I would have stayed at home.
 
6. To my opinion advertisements are more harmful than beneficial.
 
7. The crowd was little and I had no difficulty in getting a good seat.
 
8. Mrs Salmah bought a lot of furnitures at the sale for her new house.
 
9. If you go I'm sure you will find it enjoy.
 
10. Would you mind go with me to the hospital ?



Answers

1.     The fire spread quickly, destroying three houses within minutes.
2.     She crossed the road without looking and was knocked down by a car.
3.     He got out of the car, then he locked it and walked to the office.
4.     I hope you will kindly consider my application for a job in your company.
5.     If I had known it was going to rain like this, I would have stayed at home.
6.     In my opinion advertisements are more harmful than beneficial.
7.     The crowd was small and I had no difficulty in getting a good seat.
8.     Mrs Salmah bought a lot of furniture at the sale for her new house.
9.     If you go I'm sure you will find it enjoyable.
10.   Would you mind going with me to the hospital ?

ERROR IDENTIFICATION CAN YOU FIND THEM? GOOD LUCK!

One of these parts contains an error.

   

1. To who did you pass the message I gave you ?

   

2. The firemen put off the fire quickly but the house was burnt down.

   

3. The villagers carried out a through search for the missing child.

   

4. Please convey my best wish to your mother when you see her.

   

5. Unless you finish all your homework, you can watch television.

   

6. The contestant hitted the target with great accuracy.

   

7. I am sorry to say that your son has been absence from school for a week.

   

8. Successful applicants will be paid attracting salary, bonus and fringe benefits.

   

9. Can you borrow me your book for a few days ?

   

10. My friend asked me to go for shopping with her but I refused

Answers

1.     To whom did you pass the message I gave you ?

2.     The firemen put out the fire quickly but the house was burnt down.

3.     The villagers carried out a thorough search for the missing child.

4.     Please convey my best wishes to your mother when you see her.

5.     Unless you finish all your homework, you can't watch television.

6.     The contestant hit the target with great accuracy.

7.     I am sorry to say that your son has been absent from school fro a week.

8.     Successful applicants will be paid attractive salary, bonus and fringe benefits.

9.     Can you lend me your book fro a few days ?

10.   My friend asked me to go shopping with her but I refused.