Commonly Confused Words Unit 2 Business English BBS First Year

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Commonly Confused Words

There are many confused words and phrases in English that look similar or sound alike. We should check the spelling and the meaning of these words before we use them in sentences. Let’s see the following:

Accept(v) – to agree Except (N) – besides	Adverse (Adj)- acting against Averse ( Adj) – unwilling
All ready(phrase) – completely prepared Already(Adv.) – describes an previous action	Affect (verb) – to influence Effect (N) – the result of a cause
Altogether- completely All together – everyone together	Appraise – to set a value on Apprise – to tell
Amoral – awareness of moral standards Immoral – rejection of moral standards	Assure – to declare earnestly Ensure – to guarantee sth.
Bare (Adj) – uncovered Bear (N/V) – an animal or to tolerate	Continual – occurring at regular intervals Continuous – continuing without interruption
Compare to – to show likening of two times Compare with – to compare two or more things to  each other	Compliment – two words cause confusion Complement – sth. that completes sth.
Council – an advisory group Counsel –advice or a guidance	Definite (Adj) – clear or unambiguous  Definitive – decisive or authoritative
Device – a tool or method used for sth. Devise – to invent a plan	Discreet – inconspicuous Discrete – separate
e.g.- example i.e. – that is	Elicit – to get something Illicit – describes sth. illegal
Eminent – describes sth better than others Imminent – describes sth happening soon	Ensure – to make certain Insure – to protect sth. against risk
Farther – denotes the physical distance Further – denotes a figurative distance	Fortuitous – by chance Fortunate – lucky
Imply – to hint at sth. Infer – to make an educated guess	Lead – Pre. verb ‘lead’ or a metal Led – past participle of ‘Lead’
Lay – to put sth down Lie – to be in	Lose (v)– to fail to win Loose (Adj)- not tight
Peak – summit of a mountain or sth Peek – a glance Pressure – a pressing Pressurize – to apply pressure	Perquisite – incentive or bonus Prerequisite – required prior Principal – a head of school or main Principle – a theory or rule
Proceed – to begin and carry on the action Precede – to come before	Stationary – fixed or no movement Stationery – a book shop
That – denotes a specific object or item Which – adds information to objects or items	Through – describes sth that has passed from one end to another Thorough – during or up to and including
Uninterested – not interested Disinterested – not biased	Goal – aim or objective Gaol- prison

The difference between British and American English can also create errors when such words are used. Example: cheque / check , colour / color, centre / center, realize / realise

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