English is full of words that look or sound the same (or both), but have very different meanings – so it’s easy to get confused and use the wrong word at the wrong time.
As “wordsmen” and host of the podcast on NPR’s “You’re Wrong,” we’re constantly on the lookout for these mistakes. And we’ve seen them everywhere, from company reports, resumes and cover letters, to major publications.
But if you are aware of the different meanings of these words, you will not fall into the same traps. Here is a list of some of the most commonly confused words in English:
1. implied / inferred
Implied and inferred both involve communicating and understanding information. But when you mean, you are the speaker; you are give information. When you infer, you are the listener or the reader receiving the information.
In other words, imply means to suggest something or suggest it without saying it out loud. Inferring means concluding something based on signals or evidence you have gathered – signals or evidence that are not clearly expressed.
- She include that she wanted a raise, instead of asking for it outright.
- Manager deduce from her comments that she would quit her job if she wasn’t paid more.
2. eminent / imminent
Prominent means something is about to happen, while prominent means to distinguish or stand out. Some linguists suggest that both words come from the same Latin root. windor mountain, makes sense.
Outstanding and special the best person (featured with the prefix “pre”, meaning super stand out) jut out of the crowd, and the things that are about to happen loom before our eyes as we approach them.
- she’s a genially Doctor.
- The appearance of the CEO is going to happenso be prepared!
3. guarantee / guarantee / insurance
To make sure basically means to make sure. Assurance is meant to reassure, or instill confidence in someone. Insurance is to arrange monetary compensation in the event of an unfortunate occurrence.
Three words with three different meanings, and just to make it more complicated, sometimes there is overlap in meaning. For example, especially in the UK, assure can mean insurance. But for the most part, basic definitions should be followed.
- I assure my friend will sure that I guarantee House.
4. advice/advice
There is only one letter that distinguishes these two words, and there is also a huge difference between them: They are completely different in speech.
Advice is a noun, which means information or instructions that someone or something gives you. Advise is a verb, which means to give advice to someone.
- Her boss gave her excellence advice on how to further develop her career.
- Her boss advise her on a variety of professional issues.
5. totally/all together
People always have these two mixed together. Altogether is an adverb that means completely or completely. All together is a phrase that means all in one place or all at once.
(Tip: when “all together” is used properly, you can separate “all” from “together” and it still makes sense.)
- Words that look and sound the same can completely confuse.
- All together Now, sing along with me!
6. surprised / amused
Bemused means to find something confusing or difficult to understand. Like many people think, it is not a synonym for amusing. But those who should know better continue to use enjoy.
When we did a quick Google search of articles with “amazing” in their title, we found only one exact use of it on the first page of results.
- He was amazing with logic puzzles.
- The bartender is enjoy when his client cracked a joke.
7. Additional / Free
This is a pair of confusing words separated by only one vowel. But it’s a very important vowel.
Complementary words with an “e” describe things that combine to enhance each other’s qualities. Extras with an “i” describe things that convey praise or that are free, such as “compliments about the house”.
(Here’s a simple mnemonic to help you remember: If I get something for free, it’s free.)
- Those two product lines are complementary.
- He was very praise about my performance at the conference.
8. flare / flair
Flare and flair are homonyms – they sound exactly the same, even though they’re spelled differently.
Flare, which can be both a noun and a verb, is connected with fire, literally (“flame candle”) or figurative (“flame flare”), or it can mean a something is spreading (“the jeans flare up”). Exquisite is a noun that means a special gift or ability, or a particular style.
(We’ve heard a lot of people talk about someone “burning out” over something, when they definitely don’t mean someone is on fire!)
- Match rise up when he hit it.
- The copywriter had a capacity for clever puns.
9. ostentatious / flattery
Do you often see something about someone “flaunting the rules”? Quite often we bet. But it really should be “ignoring the rules.” This is one of the most common mistakes when it comes to confused words.
It’s an easy mistake because flout and flaunt are acronyms – they look and sound the same. But they are not interchangeable. To flaunt means to flaunt or brazenly flaunt. Flout means openly disregarding a rule or rule.
- Vegas Star show off velvet jacket and giant diamond ring.
- She floating the company regulated too many times and got fired.
10. penultimate / last
This is one of the frequently asked questions from snobs. They want to sound smarter than the rest, so instead of saying something is “ultimate”, they say it’s “penultimate”.
But penultimate is not a flowery way to say last – it is a flowery way to say second from last or last except one in a series. So don’t call your boss the penultimate leader if you’re looking for a promotion.
- He choked on penultimate laps, and by the last lap you can see he’s going to lose.
- We can’t predict supreme race results.
11. conditions / prerequisites
A precondition is a must-have like a precondition. Condition, or perk for short, is something you get in addition to your normal job salary, usually a non-cash benefit like using a company car – or if you’re really lucky. Good luck, take a private jet. (Hey, we can dream…)
- Working knowledge of a foreign language is a Prerequisites for work.
- In addition to a high salary, he also has a delicate: a luxury car for rent.
Kathy and Ross Petras is the co-author of “Awkword Moment” “You are saying the wrong thing” and “It doesn’t mean you think.” Their work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post and Harvard Business Review. Follow them on Twitter @kandrpetras.
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